How to Generate Wind Electricity

A basic wind turbine

Constructing a working wind turbine is a great energy-saving idea to let you generate and store your own electricity. You will require an electrical generator as your power system (running at least 325 rpm at 30 Volts); batteries that can store electricity generated by the turbine; a blocking diode to prevent waste power; a secondary load to discharge power when the batteries are fully charged; a charge controller to run the device and; a sturdy tower and turbine blades.

Things You'll Need

• A 1340 Watt DC Permanent Magnet Generator
• Blades
• A rotatable mounting
• EMT Conduit (10' x 1 and ¼")
• Batteries
• Electrical Wire
• Electronic control system
• 80' length steel guy-lines
• 4 Steel stakes
• 4 steel hose clamps

Instructions

Source Your Materials

1. 

   An open site is best

   Source the correct motor. Avoid low voltage and/or high rpm motors. Your generator should produce 12+ volts at fairly low rpm. Advice on this may be found at "How I home-built an electricity producing Wind turbine" (see link below).

2. 

   Obtain your blades and a sturdy hub to attach them to. You may make your own blades by carving them from wood or cut them from PVC pipe. Form them carefully into blade shapes. A guide to making your own PVC blades is found at DIY PVC Blades (link below).

3. 

   Construct a simple but sturdy mounting for your generator motor. A length of 2" X 4" wood will suffice-have it at least 30" long. Attach a piece of 4" diameter PVC pipe as a weather cover for it. Add a tail approximately 12" long to keep your device turned into the wind. A suitable material for this is sheet aluminum.

4. Design and construct a sturdy tower. It must allow the mounting head to turn freely in the wind. At minimum, use a 1" diameter iron pipe-that will provide a good slip-fit inside a steel 1 and ¼" diameter electrical metallic tubing (EMT). Cut the length of the EMT to suit the height of your tower.

   Locate and center a 1" steel floor flange to the 2" x 4" generator mounting 7 and ½" inches back from the generator then attach securely.

   Manufacture and fit a 10" length steel pipe nipple to the mounting head. Ensure the nipple fits neatly and smoothly in the top of the flange conduit. Pass electrical wires from the generator through a hole drilled in the 2" x 4". Run your electrical cable down the inside of the pipe and bore an outlet hole for the cable at the base of the tower.

5. 

   Electrical cable

   Obtain a wind charge controller (information link below). Fit the charge controller to the wind turbine with the electrical lines. Run the wires from the controller to the battery and then test.

   If your budget permits, add an automotive-style voltage and charge/discharge meter to manage the system. Extend your EMT tower to full height and secure carefully to the ground with the 4 cables and 4 stakes ( steel is best). Cut the 80' cable into four equal length guy-lines. Attach the guy-lines to the tower with the 4 steel hose clamps.

Tips & Warnings

• Wide open plots get most wind. So site your wind turbine tower carefully, preferably in a clearing, to catch the most wind.

• Deep-cycle batteries are best. Choose a sealed lead-acid type, if possible.

• Use the additional resources in the links below for detailed plans and further step-by-step guides.

• Always apply standard electrical safety procedures to avoid possible injury. It may be advisable to have someone help you to erect your tower.

References

• How I home-built an electricity producing Wind turbine
• Quick PVC Blades
• Wind Charge Controller

Resources

• Build a Wind Generator
• Free Wind Generator Plans