How to Use an Alternator in a Wind Mill
A common farming windmill can be used to generate electricity instead of pumping water, using an automotive alternator. Automotive engine pulleys and belts can be fitted to the windmill's primary output shaft, giving the alternator enough rotary motion to generate 12 volts up to 100 amps. Some windmills can support multiple alternators, which would boost the power output. The average windmill can be made into a power station in about three hours. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Socket set
- Wrenches
- Auto pulleys (single belt style)
- Alternator
- Alternator mount bolts and nuts
- Welding equipment
- Automotive drive belt
Instructions
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Disconnect the water pump from the primary drive shaft of the windmill using the wrenches and socket set, uncoupling the pump as if to replace it. Most models of windmill have a vertical shaft that drives a horizontal water pump; some types can have a differential that turns, making the output shaft horizontal. In either case, once the pump is removed there will be a naked primary drive shaft.
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Couple the drive shaft to an automotive pulley wheel by pressing the pulley onto the drive shaft and tack welding it together. The pulley can be bored out, but in most cases it will be possible to find a pulley that will fit from junkyards or older automobiles. It is recommended that the pulley be the single belt style used prior to serpentine systems common in automobiles today. The serpentine belt is not as durable, and can increase maintenance costs.
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Mount the alternator onto the pump's mounts (or the windmill's structure itself) by drilling holes for bolts and securing the alternator with the stock mounting hardware that was used to put it into the automobile. Use the sliding adjustable mount on the alternator, as well as one other mount hole, when bolting the unit to the mount. The alternator should be mounted at the same angle as the drive shaft's pulley wheel, and close enough to maintain belt tension. The alternator's body is its ground, so be sure to mount the unit onto a metal surface, or run a wire from the body to a suitable ground. Many older domestic alternators came with internal voltage regulators, and single pulley systems, making them ideal for the application. Wire the alternator's red positive lead (or positive terminal post) to the grounded battery or appliance.
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Set the belt between the pulleys, adjusting for tension by moving the alternator's adjustable mount bolt. Single belt systems use V-shaped belts, and they work best when they have about 1/2 inch of play. "Play" is determined by pushing on the belt between the pulleys and noting how far it travels.
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Tips & Warnings
Use multiple pulley wheels to attach more alternators, until the windmill's capacity is reached.
Use extreme caution when working with moving parts and electricity.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit windmill image by blaine stiger from Fotolia.com
