How to Build a Wind Generator
Given current concerns about global climate change and conventional fossil fuel availability, many people are looking into alternative means of powering their homes. Among the cleanest and most convenient forms of alternative energy is wind power. Unfortunately, commercial wind generators are often quite expensive. Fortunately, you can learn how to build a wind generator, either from a kit or on your own. These little wind power generators may or may not power your whole home, but at the very least they can augment your power from the grid.
Recommended How To Guides
Top Pick: HomeMadeEnergy - One of the most comprehensive and popular how to guides. In addition to showing you how to build a wind generator, the guide shows any novice step-by-step how to install a full alternative energy system in your home. It shows you how to do this for hundreds, not thousands of dollars.
There are two main ways to use alternative power. The first is to go entirely off the grid. This strategy is more complicated and requires careful maintenance of the power system and batteries, as well as monitoring of power usage. It does, however, allow you to live wherever you choose, without regard to the local power lines, and permits full self-sufficiency. For those not yet ready to live fully off-grid, a grid tie-in is more likely to be the desirable choice. In the United States, utilities are legally required to buy power from you at the rate it costs them to generate it. Many utilities find that installing two meters is difficult, and will pay you for power at the rate that you are charged for it. This means that a wind generator can allow you to run your electric meter backwards if you are not using the power it generates.
Whether or not you should have a wind generator is determined by your site. Many people believe that their homes are in windy locations, but it's necessary to have a steady wind, rather than frequent strong gusts. Trees and buildings around your house can break the force of the wind, and create undesirable gusting. Tall towers can help get your turbine above any walls and objects that can be a problem, but are more difficult to engineer, and may be against your local regulations. It's important to make certain that you check your local laws before building a wind generator, even a small one, as some municipalities view turbines as eyesores or have other rules against them.
While learning how to build a wind generator, consider the size and power of the generator you will be installing, and what kind of generator to use. Wind generators need to be reasonably large to produce much power. For instance, a wind generator that will be used to power an entire modern household must be around fifteen feet across. This is too large for most people, given the size of the tower to support such a turbine. However, a smaller machine can help to provide additional electricity for your home. A six foot diameter wind turbine will produce about 500 kWh of electricity a year, if properly situated on a good site. The average household uses around 4,500 kWh per year.
The generator is actually the part of the system that produces electricy. It resides within the whole apparatus what is called both a wind generator and wind turbine. Technically a wind turbine that is used to generate electricity, as opposed to mechanical power (a windmill), is called a wind generator. So as to not confuse you, the "generator" is also a component within this whole system. This "generator" is one of the most important components of your wind turbine, and one of the hardest to build.
Car alternators are quite often used as generators, but must be modified, because they normally operate at a higher speed than the wind can produce on most days. The low RPM rates provided by most wind speeds mean that a lot of people use purpose-built magnet generators. However, these are not simple to build on your own. Because of this, the generator is the one part of the wind turbine that it's often easier to buy, even if you're dedicated to doing the rest of it yourself. Many people are able to make their own turbine blades, of wood or metal. If you want to do this, be sure to investigate many designs and find out how other people have accomplished the trick of making their own turbine blades. This keeps you from reinventing the wheel and improves safety and efficiency.
For those with the do-it-yourself attitude, but don't want to learn how to build a wind generator from scratch, there's the option of purchasing a small generator kit. These include the generator, blades, and controller, and may include a tower. It is possible that the tower kit will need to be purchased separately, or, if you feel like doing so, you can design and build your own tower. This is simpler than building a generator or other parts of the turbine from scratch, so you don't need to be as worried about whether or not the finished product will be successful. Most people with basic skills should be able to produce an effective turbine tower, if the intended finished product is fairly small. Choose a wind generator kit that is meant for your intended application, whether you're going to be off-grid, or want a tie-in. The voltages required a different, and manufacturers build different turbines for these applications. Also pay attention to the amount of power the generator is rated to produce. However, make sure that you remember these numbers are ideal figures, and are based on a particular wind speed. They may not be accurate to your site. Most turbines will produce power at rates lower than the stated maximum. Go with a well known manufacturer that has a good track record.
Two excellent producers of wind generators for the home are SkyStream and WindBlue.
When you put together your wind generator, make sure that you place it in the right location on your site. The wind direction and speed must be regular and generally around ten miles an hour for most wind generators. Pay attention to the rules about structure height, as well. However, with the right research and location on your site, a wind generator can be a great clean energy source and augment your existing power.
Home Made Power Plant- Also an excellent guide for installing alternative energy in your home. Like Earth4Energy, it is a step-by-step guide for both solar and wind power. It is not quite as clear in the instructions, which is why it is not our top pick, since it almost the same price. If the price comes down on this product, it should be considered a top pick as well.
There are two main ways to use alternative power. The first is to go entirely off the grid. This strategy is more complicated and requires careful maintenance of the power system and batteries, as well as monitoring of power usage. It does, however, allow you to live wherever you choose, without regard to the local power lines, and permits full self-sufficiency. For those not yet ready to live fully off-grid, a grid tie-in is more likely to be the desirable choice. In the United States, utilities are legally required to buy power from you at the rate it costs them to generate it. Many utilities find that installing two meters is difficult, and will pay you for power at the rate that you are charged for it. This means that a wind generator can allow you to run your electric meter backwards if you are not using the power it generates.
Whether or not you should have a wind generator is determined by your site. Many people believe that their homes are in windy locations, but it's necessary to have a steady wind, rather than frequent strong gusts. Trees and buildings around your house can break the force of the wind, and create undesirable gusting. Tall towers can help get your turbine above any walls and objects that can be a problem, but are more difficult to engineer, and may be against your local regulations. It's important to make certain that you check your local laws before building a wind generator, even a small one, as some municipalities view turbines as eyesores or have other rules against them.
While learning how to build a wind generator, consider the size and power of the generator you will be installing, and what kind of generator to use. Wind generators need to be reasonably large to produce much power. For instance, a wind generator that will be used to power an entire modern household must be around fifteen feet across. This is too large for most people, given the size of the tower to support such a turbine. However, a smaller machine can help to provide additional electricity for your home. A six foot diameter wind turbine will produce about 500 kWh of electricity a year, if properly situated on a good site. The average household uses around 4,500 kWh per year.
The generator is actually the part of the system that produces electricy. It resides within the whole apparatus what is called both a wind generator and wind turbine. Technically a wind turbine that is used to generate electricity, as opposed to mechanical power (a windmill), is called a wind generator. So as to not confuse you, the "generator" is also a component within this whole system. This "generator" is one of the most important components of your wind turbine, and one of the hardest to build.
Car alternators are quite often used as generators, but must be modified, because they normally operate at a higher speed than the wind can produce on most days. The low RPM rates provided by most wind speeds mean that a lot of people use purpose-built magnet generators. However, these are not simple to build on your own. Because of this, the generator is the one part of the wind turbine that it's often easier to buy, even if you're dedicated to doing the rest of it yourself. Many people are able to make their own turbine blades, of wood or metal. If you want to do this, be sure to investigate many designs and find out how other people have accomplished the trick of making their own turbine blades. This keeps you from reinventing the wheel and improves safety and efficiency.
For those with the do-it-yourself attitude, but don't want to learn how to build a wind generator from scratch, there's the option of purchasing a small generator kit. These include the generator, blades, and controller, and may include a tower. It is possible that the tower kit will need to be purchased separately, or, if you feel like doing so, you can design and build your own tower. This is simpler than building a generator or other parts of the turbine from scratch, so you don't need to be as worried about whether or not the finished product will be successful. Most people with basic skills should be able to produce an effective turbine tower, if the intended finished product is fairly small. Choose a wind generator kit that is meant for your intended application, whether you're going to be off-grid, or want a tie-in. The voltages required a different, and manufacturers build different turbines for these applications. Also pay attention to the amount of power the generator is rated to produce. However, make sure that you remember these numbers are ideal figures, and are based on a particular wind speed. They may not be accurate to your site. Most turbines will produce power at rates lower than the stated maximum. Go with a well known manufacturer that has a good track record.
Two excellent producers of wind generators for the home are SkyStream and WindBlue.
When you put together your wind generator, make sure that you place it in the right location on your site. The wind direction and speed must be regular and generally around ten miles an hour for most wind generators. Pay attention to the rules about structure height, as well. However, with the right research and location on your site, a wind generator can be a great clean energy source and augment your existing power.