Residential DIY wind power systems that generate electricity are relatively simple to build with only a few components. If you live in a geographical area that gets plenty of consistent wind flow, and if your property has a location that is not obstructed by buildings or trees where you can construct a tower that’s at least 10 feet high, then you’re a good candidate for building a homemade wind turbine. Here’s a basic list of what you will need.
Generator – This is what transforms the wind energy into electrical energy. The easiest and least expensive to find are used or recycled electric lawn mower engines, although there are other types of DC (direct current) motors that will work as well.
Blades – These capture the wind energy and transfer it to the generator. You can purchase manufactured blades in various sizes online at green energy specialty websites or on Ebay. Alternatively, if you prefer to save money and make them yourself, you can cut them from a length of plastic pipe from your local hardware store.
Mounting – The motor and blades need to be attached to a mounting frame that has a tail attached that helps stabilize it in the wind. To envision the mounting frame and tail, imagine an airplane fuselage and tail. The blades and motor are in front facing the wind, the fuselage is aligned with the wind flow and the tail keeps the fuselage and blades aimed straight into the wind for maximum wind exposure.
Tower – The wind turbine needs to be elevated at least 10 feet from the ground in order to be exposed to constant wind flow. It can be mounted on a rooftop as long as there are no chimneys, trees or other structures that obstruct it from the wind flow. If the property is large enough, it can be mounted on a tower that is anchored securely to the ground.
Charge controller – This component monitors the storage batteries and diverts excess electricity from them so that they don’t overcharge.
Batteries – Deep-cycle lead acid DC batteries are used to store the electricity that your wind turbine creates.
Inverter – Your household appliances operate on alternating current (AC), so the direct current (DC) that is stored in your batteries ready for use must be converted into AC, and that’s what the inverter does. It’s the final component of your wind turbine system before the electricity it produces is used in your house.
For detailed instructions, resources and videos about how to build your own wind turbine system. The step-by-step guides will walk you through the process of building your own affordable green energy systems in just a few days.
Green Do-It-Yourself Energy
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