How to Build a Wind Mill for Power

Building a windmill can save on energy costs.

There are many reasons to consider building a windmill. One is reducing energy costs. There is also the advantage of helping protect the environment. For those who live in extremely remote areas, it may be the only way to get electricity. Capable of producing a lot of energy, especially in windy areas, windmills are a viable alternative to high energy bills. They may not eliminate all energy costs, but they can make a difference. Windmills are also fairly easy and cheap to build.

Things You'll Need

• Controller
• Bolts, washers and nuts
• Belt sander
• Generator
• Palm sander
• 6-inch wide piece of pipe
• Toothed pulley
• Aluminum disk
• Sheet metal
• Scrap wood
• Iron piping

Instructions

1. Purchase a generator. There is no need to build one from scratch with so many different types available. Look for one that has high current, low rotations per minute -- around 325 -- and high DC voltage. The generator will need to produce more than 12 volts.

2. Cut a 6-inch diameter piece of pipe into a 24-inch long section. This section will be used to make the blades. Quarter the pipe, measuring around the circumference. Cut the first blade using only one-quarter of the pipe's circumference. Then use that piece as a template to cut the others. One of the blades will serve as a spare. Smooth and shape the blades using a palm sander and a belt sander.

3. Find a toothed pulley that fits onto the generator shaft. If the surface is not large enough to attach the blades to it, place a round, aluminum disk about 5 inches in diameter and 1/4-inch thick on top of the pulley and bolt it to the pulley. Then secure the three blades to the disk, drilling holes and securing them with bolts.

4. Mount the generator onto a two-by-four piece of scrap wood. The wood can be of almost any size as long as it holds the generator. Next, cut a piece of sheet metal to serve as the trail and attach it to the other end of the two-by-four.

5. Find an iron pipe that is 1-inch in diameter and attach it to the bottom of the two-by-four to serve as the windmill tower. More pieces of piping can be added make it the desired height. It should be around 10 feet tall.

6. Purchase a controller that is capable of storing the energy generated by the wind mill and attach it to the wind mill.

References

• Make Your Own Windmill: Build Your own Windmill for real Cheap
• Mdpub.com: How I Home-built an Electricity Producing Wind Turbine