DIY Guide: Tips and Tricks For Building Your Own Windmill Generator
Building a windmill generator can be a cost effective way of reducing your power bills. With the right plans and proper parts, anyone can build their own windmill generator for their home.
Getting the right plans is crucial, as the right set of blueprints or plans will provide you with the necessary information and guidance in completing the task. Many hobby stores will be able to provide you with the necessary plans and blueprints.
The heart of a windmill generator is the motor. DC permanent magnet motors are best to use as they have high voltage ratings and low rpm revolutions. For the fan, or propeller, you have the option to purchase a kit or to carve one out of plastic or balsa wood. You can use trial and error to find the best size blades for your fan, but it’s best to use a blueprint to determine the optimal size. The fan will also need to be properly balanced and you can accomplish this by carefully shaving down a heavy blade, if necessary. Generally, a triple blade fan is the most efficient choice for most wind generators.
To protect from the elements, the generator will need to be placed in a waterproof nacelle, most of the time made up of PVC tubing and tightened with jubilee clips. To close the back and front of the nacelle, use a piece of rigid plastic or rubber sheet. The front face will need to be drilled to accommodate the drive shaft of the motor. The motor will be connected to the fan using a dual female coupling. If the drive shaft is threaded, you can use those threads to attach the fan blade.
To keep the generator facing into the wind, a tail needs to be attached to the nacelle. Also, a pivot point will be used where the generator will swing on a vertical pipe attached to the top of the generator tower. Make sure the tower is tall enough and secure enough to receive the best wind flow. If you don’t want to build a tower, you may be able to use a roof ridge or wall bracket. You can also source a pre-built tower from a surplus store.
Once the generator is assembled, you will need to get a battery or system of batteries to store the electrical energy produced. Heavy duty car batteries are good for this purpose. A diode should be connected between the batteries and the generator to prevent the generated power from running back into the generator, which is a waste of energy.
All in all, building a windmill generator is a rewarding and cost effective task that anyone can do with the right plans and parts. It’ll take some effort, but it’ll be worth it in the end and you’ll be one step closer in reducing your power bills. With the right blueprint, building a wind generator is within the capacity of most house holders. Make sure to get a good plan and find the right parts, and you’ll have your own windmill generator in no time.
