How to Make a Wind Powered Generator
As the prices for oil, natural gas and coal continue to rise at increasing rates, many people are becoming interested in alternative sources of power to supplement or replace the expensive electricity offered by the local power companies. One of the most economical ways to generate power per watt is with a wind generator. Compared to solar, it is much less expensive to build a wind system with off-the-shelf equipment. If you have a bit of mechanical ability and a knack for tinkering, you can reduce that cost even more by building some of the components yourself. By using the instructions below, you will learn the basics of how to make a wind powered generator. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Electric motor/generator/permanent magnet alternator
- Blade hub (circular saw blade or similar)
- Blades (PVC, wood, or pre-built carbon fiber)
- Body (square steel tubing or wood 2 by 4)
- Tail (plywood or sheet metal)
- Mount (steel pipe and floor flange)
- Motor/generator cover (PVC pipe or sheet metal)
- Wire
Instructions
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1
Cut a piece of square tubing or 2 by 4 for the body. The length needed will depend on the size of the motor and the tail fin. Extra space should be added between the tail fin and the motor, to allow the wind to easily spin the generator into the best position for power generation.
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2
Attach the motor to the front of the body. If necessary, use custom brackets to ensure that the motor is secure. Wire the motor and install the cover to protect it from the weather.
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Cut a slot into the rear of the body to accept the tail fin. Bolt the plywood or sheet metal into place. If desired, the front edges of the tail fin can be cut at an angle, so that it is more visually appealing.
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4
Drill holes into the hub for the blades to be bolted to. Divide 360 degrees by the number of blades you will be using, to find the distance between blade mounts. If you were using three blades, for example the holes would need to be 120 degrees apart. A circular saw blade is a popular choice for a hub, though any circular piece of steel would work.
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5
Mount the hub to the output spindle of the motor or alternator. If the spindle is threaded, use a nut to secure it. If the spindle is slotted or D-shaped, the hub may need to be modified to fit.
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Build the blades for the generator, if you are not using pre-manufactured blades. These can be made out of wood, PVC pipe, carbon fiber, and a number of other materials. Thousands of sources are available on the topic of airfoil design, but there are also many sites on the internet that can help you to find a reasonably easy design to construct, which will be efficient enough for the home-built wind generator. The size and shape of the blades should be determined by the amount of power you wish to generate, the type of motor you have, and the wind conditions at the location of the generator. Once built, bolt the blades to the hub securely.
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Find the balancing point of the now-assembled wind generator. Mark the balance point, and drill a hole large enough for the wires from the motor to run through. On the underside of the body, at the balance point, attach the flange and steel pipe that will be used to mount the generator to the tower. Thread the wires from the motor through the flange and pipe.
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Mount the wind generator to a tower, wire it into your home or battery bank, and enjoy the savings of alternative energy.
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Tips & Warnings
The process of building and using a wind generator can be dangerous. There are moving parts, the danger of falling objects, the possibility of working at great heights and the dangers of electricity to consider before going forward with the project.
