How To Build Wind Generator & Reduce Your Electric Bill

A wind generator is a machine that converts wind energy into electrical energy. The concept isn't new. It's been used for centuries for windmills that converted the power of the wind into mechanical energy for milling grains and for pumping water. Today's devices, called wind generators are technologically more sophisticated and efficient that the old windmills, but they operate on the same principle. They convert wind energy to mechanical energy that runs a generator that creates electricity. This electricity is stored in batteries for use in powering a home's electrical appliances.

Wind is a renewable power source. Although not as ubiquitous as solar energy, some areas do not maintain strong enough winds to support a wind generator, most geographical areas have enough dependable wind to build a wind generator that is productive and efficient. All that a modern wind generator needs to run efficiently and to provide useful electric power is a wind speed of ten miles per hour. It's readily available. Once the wind generator is installed and operating, the power is free. The initial cost of a manufactured and professionally installed wind turbine can be quite pricey, often beyond the reach of the average homeowner. If you know how to build a wind generator and install it yourself, however, you can do so at about one-tenth the cost of the manufactured system.

The component parts of a wind generator include the blades, the body, the motor/generator, the hub, the tail, the batteries, and the wind generator diode. If you have this equipment and a set of hand tools normally found in any home, you can build a wind generator yourself in several weekends.

You can make the blades yourself out of cedar, if you prefer wooden blades, or PVC pipe, if you want plastic blades. Both work equally well. The body and generator of the wind generator can be fabricated from stainless steel chimney pipe. You can probably find this for a bargain price at a local salvage yard. Stainless steel will protect the wind generator's components. The tail, which can be made of wood, aluminum, or plastic, ensures that the blades are always facing directly into the prevailing wind.

The ideal motor, which is really being used as a generator, should be rated for high current and high voltage at low rotational speeds. The motor's size is determined by the size of the rotor blades. The generator hub is simply a circular steel disk to which the blades and the motor are attached with heavy bolts.

The electricity generated by the wind turbine is stored in batteries that are connected to the generator using heavy electrical wiring. The batteries should be housed in an area that is relatively free from wide temperature fluctuations. They should be metered so you can observe whether of not they are charging.

The wind generator diode is attached to the generator output to ensure that the electricity is flowing in the right direction to charge the batteries.

The wind generator diode attached to the generator will allow you to monitor whether the current is flowing in right direction, that is towards the batteries and not towards the generator. The last piece of equipment that you will need is an inverter. This device converts the DC power stored in the batteries, to AC power needed to run your homes appliances.

All in all, it doesn't sound too difficult to build a wind generator and install it. Tool, parts, and time are all you'll need. Perhaps a little patience too!