How to Build a Windmill-Type Trickle Charger

Whether you are looking to help save the environment or charge your electronics, you can build a windmill-type trickle charger to do the job. Wind is a free energy source that can be converted to electricity through a windmill. The windmill turns the rotors on the motor. The motor converts the raw power into electricity which can be stored in a battery. Most windmill-powered generators are trickle chargers. Wind velocity constantly changes as does the power generated. Since the electricity that charges the battery is not constant, it is considered a trickle charger.

Things You'll Need

• Wood plank, 2-by-4
• Hand saw
• Bicycle wheel, 24-inch diameter
• Packing tape
• Aluminum pipe, 1-inch diameter
• Carbide blade saw
• Plywood sheet, 1-inch thick
• Hammer
• Wood nails
• Power drill
• Drill bit, 1-inch-diameter
• Free weight, 10 pounds
• Permanent magnet motor
• Adjustable wrench
• Hot glue gun
• Bungee cords
• 2 electrical wires, 30-inch length
• Wire strippers
• Electrical tape
• Multimeter

Instructions

1. Make the motor base. Cut a 2-by-4 wood plank to a 6-inch length using the hand saw.

2. Make the fan blades. Remove the tire and axle from a 24-inch-diameter bicycle wheel. Attach tape to the spokes of the bicycle wheel, using packing tape. Tape alternate spokes, so that every other spoke is taped together.

3. Make the vertical base. Cut a 1-inch aluminum pipe to a 2-foot length using a carbide blade saw.

4. Make the wind vane. Cut a 1-inch plywood sheet to a 2-by-6-inch dimension.

5. Orient the flat plane of the wind vane to a vertical position and attach the wind vane to the motor base using the hammer and wood nails. The wind vane rotates the motor base to face into the wind to generate maximum wind velocity.

6. Drill a 1-inch-diameter hole into the bottom of the motor base using a power drill and 1-inch-diameter drill bit or hole saw bit. Position the hole 2 inches from the end of the motor base. Insert one end of the vertical base into the hole. Insert the opposite end of the vertical base into the hole in a 10-lb. free weight. The free weight anchors the windmill down in the wind and keeps it from moving or tipping over.

7. Attach the rotor in the center of the motor into the hole in the center of the bicycle wheel. Insert a bolt on the opposite side of the wheel to secure the wheel in place. Tighten the bolt using an adjustable wrench. Position the motor at the end of the motor base. Glue the bottom of the motor to the motor base using a hot glue gun. Tie bungee cords around the motor and motor base to ensure the motor is securely attached.

8. Strip a quarter-inch of insulation from the ends of two 30-inch-long lengths of electrical wires using the wire strippers. Wrap one end of the exposed wire to the positive output on the back of the motor. Cover the exposed wire with electrical tape. Insert the opposite end of the wire into the positive terminal of a rechargeable battery. Cover the exposed wire with electrical tape. Repeat for the negative sides of the motor and battery.

9. Wait for the fan blades to rotate in the wind. As the fan blades rotate, the motor converts the wind energy to electricity and trickles a charge to the battery.

10. Set a multimeter to read DC voltage. Place the red probe of the multimeter to the positive terminal of the battery. Place the black probe of the multimeter to the negative terminal of the battery. If the multimeter displays a voltage when the windmill is turning, your windmill trickle charger is working.

Tips & Warnings

• Warm the hot glue gun for 3 minutes before using it.

• The nozzle of the hot glue gun is extremely hot and burns skin on contact. Wear gloves when using it.

• Wear protective gloves, goggles and mask when handling a saw and power drill.