How to Build a Working Windmill

Windmills often are installed on farms and can be built at home.

A windmill is a popular addition to the modern home. For those who want to create a green power system to power their home at all times, many find that a windmill picks up right when a solar system is starting to fail. Building a windmill from scratch is not for the faint of heart, however. It can be a difficult project and one that requires a major investment of time and money.

Things You'll Need

• Windmill tower
• Cement
• Guy wire anchors
• Winch
• Wind generator
• Junction box
• Wire

Instructions

Installing the Tower

1. Locate a site where you wish to erect the tower for installing a wind turbine. You will have a set of choices. The tower can be mounted with "guy wires" or can be mounted as a stand-alone tower. If mounting with "guy wires," you will need a larger clear space around the tower.

2. Dig a large hole for the foundation of the tower. If using a guy wire system, you will likely have a central pylon with a similar structure as the stand-alone tower, and a set of anchors for the cables.

3. As you pour concrete, lift the tower into place using an electric or hand winch. Using anything too strong, like a vehicle, is likely to break or destroy the tower by "overpulling."

4. Wait for the tower to set and connect any cables to the anchors on the ground.

Creating the Wind Generator

1. Purchase or build your wind generator. Wind generators can be bought individually, made from scratch or purchased along with the tower.

2. Install the wind turbine onto the top of the tower, according to the manufacturer's instructions. It is important that you use the manufacturer's instructions, as they will have the best know-how to mount the tower.

3. Wire the output of the wind generator to a junction box at the bottom of the wind tower. You will connect the wire to the "input" junction. The actual wiring process will differ between different technologies, but typically requires stripping the wire's protective coating and wrapping the wire around a screw.

4. Wire from the output junction in the junction box to the input of the next component. This will be a charge controller, inverter or combiner box, depending the structure of your system. The wiring process will once again differ from structure to structure, but will most likely involve wrapping the exposed metal portion of a wire around a junction.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are unfamiliar with pouring foundations, that step may best be left to an expert.

• Ensure you have disengaged any means for the turbine to generate power while you wire the system. Either disconnect the wires from the turbines or make sure the turbines are locked so that they cannot move.

References

• "Power With Nature: Alternative Energy Solutions for Homeowners"; Rex A. Ewing; 2006
• "Build your own Wind System"; Energy2Green; 2008
• "Home Power"; 2010 Wind Generator Buyer's Guide; Ian Woofenden and Mick Sagrillo; June and July 2010