Homemade Wind Generator

When I was a boy, I constructed a homemade wind generator for my 8th grade science fair project (similar to the one described below, just a lot smaller). I didn’t win any prizes, but I didn’t care because I was exposed to a whole new way of thinking about how we could use natural forces to generate electricity. If I got a few volts using the air from a hair dryer, how many volts can the wind produce?

Then a few years later the first wind farms went up. Apparently lots of other folks had come to the same realization. Twenty five years later, instead of providing cheaper or even free electricity, alternative energy actually costs more than electricity produced by processing and burning of fossil fuels. The good news is advancements in technology and the Internet have made it possible to construct your own homemade wind generator for a truly reasonable cost.

 

A  homemade wind generator can connect to your home’s incoming utility supply and offset the power consumption of the whole house or for just major appliances, like air conditioning units. A professional, licensed electrician should be the one to ensure the unit is connected correctly. You will need a permit, so the connections have to be to code and may be inspected.

When there is enough wind to generate power, your utility meter stops. When there is no longer enough wind, the meter starts up again. If you can generate enough power for an entire month, your utility bill would be $0. In some states you can even sell power back to the utility companies; the payback on investment can be achieved in as little as few months for a typical diy homemade wind generator project.

The best approach to making a homemade wind generator is to look online for the most complete plan of instructions you can find. You’ll find plans for 2 types of wind generators, vertical blade construction and horizontal. Most of the homemade wind generators you’ll see plans for are designed vertically; the blades are positioned on an upright standing shaft or tower.

You can either find, buy, or make the components yourself (the shaft or tower, the blades, the housing, etc.) or you can purchase a complete kit. Even with the kits you will have to construct most  of the components yourself. The better kits, however, will also come with customer support in case you need answers to things you can’t figure out.

Click Here To Discover What You Will Get In A Homemade Wind Generator Kit

Wind generators can be free standing (on a tower) or can be situated on the roof of most homes. Your site will need to have a regular supply of wind, naturally, and be clear of trees, utility lines, and not blocked by other buildings. The site should not be easily accessible to children, pets, or wild animals.

Before beginning a DIY wind generator project, decide which kind of homemade wind generator you want to make and where it will be placed. Remember the ultimate goal, apart from saving money, is to benefit the environment.

If the roof is a consideration, you will need to first make sure your roof is in sound condition and how much load bearing it can handle.

If going the tower route, checks should be made for any building height restrictions that may apply in the district.

The next step in the pre-construction phase is to decide what power output is desired. To determine how many Kilowatts are necessary, you can look at your past year’s power consumption from your utility bills. Some utility companies allow you access records up to 2 years or more if you don’t keep copies.

Whether making all the components or purchasing a kit, the main parts of most homemade wind generators are a blade, a tail assembly, gearing systems for the generator, a generating unit and the necessary additional wiring and cables to join the unit to the storage battery. Assembly is a task for at least two people.

The lightweight construction of modern generators means they can be fixed to the roofs of most homes producing little noise or vibration to disturb the inhabitants. The average DIY enthusiast should have no problem building the roof mounting  for this – and the chance to use recycled timber shouldn’t be overlooked.

To ensure proper placement, wind atlases can be purchased from online sources that are government authorized. For the truly enthused, investing in a wind meter that will confirm the direction and strength of the local prevailing wind over a few months should do the trick.

As homemade wind generators become more popular, prices drop. There are many reasons to construct a homemade wind generator, and they are all good.