INSTALLATION & MAINTENANCE

• What tasks are involved in installing the LES6000? A foundation put must be dug and anchor bolts suspended over the pit while it is filled with concrete. Once this has set, the tower can then be placed onto the anchor bolts and secured. The turbine nacelle can then be fitted and fastened on with 2 bolts, which then requires the blades and none cone to be assembled. 2 wires also need to be run up the tower and terminated at both the turbine nacelle and in the control cabinet. A cable to connect the control panel to the electricity supply to convey the electricity produced is also required.
• How long does it take to install the LES6000? Digging the foundation pit, setting the foundation anchors and filling the pit with concrete can be done in one day. The concrete should be left to harden for a minimum of 10 days. The placement of the tower and the fitting and installation of the nacelle can be done in a further day.
• What materials are required to install the LES6000? With the exception of the concrete to form the foundation and the cable to connect the control panel to the electricity supply, all materials required to install the turbine are supplied?
• How complicated is it to connect the LES6000 to the grid? It is extremely straightforward to connect the LES6000 to the grid and all that is required is a spare slot on your existing consumer unit. Should one not be available, a secondary consumer unit will have to be fitted.
• What maintenance does the LES6000 require? It is recommended that the LES6000 be serviced once every 2 years. This can be carried out quickly and efficiently by 1 person and involves checking that all fasteners are secure and that there are no signs of fatigue.
• Is planning permission required to install the LES6000? Yes. You must obtain permission from your local authority before beginning any work to install the LES6000.
• Do I have to tell my electricity supplier that I’ve installed a LES6000? You need to inform your local Distribution Network Operator (DNO), who are the people who own the wires in your area. You need to inform them what you intend to connect to their network. If you want to receive payment for the electricity that you export onto the National Grid, then you also need to enter into a contract with a supplier who has an appropriate supply package that recognises microgeneration.
• How far away from dwellings should the turbine be situated? The turbine should be installed far enough away that noise from the turbine can’t be heard inside the dwelling, but not so far away as to significantly increase the installation cost from having to run long cables to the dwelling consumer unit. This will typically be in the region of 50 – 100m.