Many individuals are switching to alternative energy sources like wind turbines and solar panels to decrease electricity costs and air pollution. Wind turbines can be very expensive to buy however, if you are really interested you can build your own wind turbine, here's what you will need.
Required Tools
Power Sander
Saw
Sander
Drill
Required Materials
Cement and sandbags
Plastic PVC pipes
Nuts and bolts
Sails/blades
A generator
Batteries and a Power Control System (PCS)
2x4 board
Straps
Heavy sheet aluminum
5 inch flat disc
Electrical wires
Instructions
Let us start with the sails/blades of the wind turbine; take the PVC pipes and cut them to create your sails/blades. The blades have to be shaped in a particular way to catch the wind therefore follow a guide for cutting the blades like the one found. Use the saw to cut the blades and then use the sander to smooth the edges of the blade to make them more effective.
A hub is required to connect the blades so take the flat disc and drill holes into it. Then drill matching holes into the blades and use the nuts and bolts to connect the blades to the hub and put them aside.
Next is the nacelle that holds the mechanical parts of the wind turbine. For a generator you can make your own if you possess the experience to do so however, an easier choice is simply to purchase a permanent magnet DC motor and use that as the generator. You want a motor that has a low RPM but that will give a good amount of current thus presuming that your wind turbine is about 5 feet tall, the motor ought to be about 30 volts and be rated at about 325 RPM.
As soon as you possess a generator for your wind turbine you have to mount both the blades and the nacelle. For this take the 2x4 piece of board and the straps, and strap the motor to one end of the 2x4 board and use a piece of PVC pipe to function as a nacelle and protect the motor from the elements. Secure the heavy sheet aluminum to the opposite side of the 2x4 to work as a tail for the wind turbine. If needed cut it to make it fit correctly. Lastly secure the blades to the motor and the working section of the wind turbine is done.
PVC or aluminum pipe is probably your best bet for a tower. Any one you decide to use, dig a hole and cement the tower into the ground. The base of the windmill is now made around the tower to hold the tower; the base is simply a layer of concrete laid around the pole. When it dries place sandbags around the pole to stabilize it additionally. You can additionally tie guy lines to the tower for increased security. Cut a hole in the side of the pole close to the bottom for power lines to run through from the motor to the PCS.
The PCS is used to transfer energy from the generator to the batteries for storage. While the PCS can be made it is better to buy one from an Alternative Energy Store. The electrical wires need to be connected from the motor, down through the tower and out to the PCS, then more wires are needed to link the PCS to the batteries. Make the necessary connections and the windmill is ready for work.
Tip
You can use 2 flat discs if you wish, one in front and one behind the sails/blades for increased security.
