Self-Supporting Towers

There are many possible foundations for a free-standing tower. The exact setup is affected by multiple factors such as tower weight and height, soil type and wind load.

Check with your turbine manufacturer for the right foundation for your soil condition.

Guy Wire Supported Towers

Towers which are supported by guy wires (with or without a gin pole)  cost less and thus are more popular. Such towers are installed using either a crane or gin pole. Turbines smaller than 8ft (2.5m) in diameter have to be pipe tower mounted, using cheap 2.5-inch OD steel pipe. While the guy wire and kit come with the turbine, the pipe is purchased separately.

Lattice towers by ROHN Industries ( www.rohnnet.com/towers-ssv) usually cost more than pipe towers but need fewer guy wires. It is not necessary to climb these towers for servicing.

The tower mast is placed solidly in a tightly-compressed foundation pier. The center pier should hold itself firmly upright without supporting the tower.

The guy wires connect to anchors spaced at 120°. Pipe towers which are structurally weaker need 90° spacing, so each anchor would be positioned at least half a tower's height from the center pier.

The pier is usually concrete–built, though you can drill a hole in open bedrock and put in a tower support instead. Moulds are not needed for the concrete if the soil is solid during pouring. The rebar lines it to prevent cracks in the concrete. Rebar lengths can be cut using a hacksaw and wired together to give a metal "cube", which must be completely inside the concrete for solid support.

If your excavation is around 1 cubic yard, you can hand-mix the concrete. Ready-mix concrete is preferred for easy pouring. The metal rebar pin protruding from the pier center is cut above the set concrete's surface to form the tower's base and stops the tower sliding off the pier.