How to Use Water Wheels to Make Electricity

Water wheels are a time-tested mode of generating electricity.

Water wheels are one of the oldest modes of electric generation known to man. They utilize a drop in a flow of water to spin a wheel, which then turns a generator to turn mechanical energy into electricity. You can find the parts at a hardware store, and you can use them to charge 12-volt batteries. Depending on your water source and location, water wheels can be used day and night to charge a battery.

Things You'll Need

• Water wheel
• Adjustable axle base
• Mounting plate
• Mounting bolts and nuts
• Drive belt
• DC motor
• Wiring kit
• Alligator clips
• Charge controller
• Rectifying diode

Instructions

1. Select the location for your water wheel generator. Water flows fastest at the narrowest parts of streams, making them the best places to build your generator. Narrow passes also mean your axle will be shorter and easier to work with.

2. Mount the axle base securely to the ground. Use a hammer to drive long spikes into the ground through the mounting holes in the bases. Mark the locations for the holes by placing the two bases on either side of the stream and putting the axle in place, then scuffing the ground where the holes are.

3. Mount the wheel to the axle. Use waterproof epoxy to secure the wheel, then allow it to dry. If your wheel is directional, mount it so that rotational direction is such that water catches in the fins rather than running over them.

4. Attach a drive belt to the axle and around the DC motor drive shaft. Place the motor so that there is tension on the belt, and mount the motor to the mounting plate by drilling holes through the plate and bolting the motor to the plate.

5. Connect a red insulated wire to the positive output of the motor and a black wire to the negative output, using wire crimps. Attach the other ends of these wires to the positive and negative inputs of the charge controller.

6. Attach red and black wires to the positive and negative outputs of the charge controller and wire them to the rectifying diode. Attach output wires with alligator clips to the rectifying diode, a red one for positive and a black one for negative. When you need to charge a battery, fasten the alligator clips to the battery posts.

Tips & Warnings

• The drive shaft and the wheel axle should be parallel.

References

• Build It Solar: Making an Undershoot Water Wheel
• David Butcher: Pedal Power Generator

Resources

• Water Wheel Place: Make Electricity Water Wheel Generator