Energy costs have been spiraling upward at a frightening rate in the last couple of years. Trying to find ways to save money on energy has become a pet project for people from all walks of life. Others are seeking energy sources that reduce the amount of carbon and carbon compounds are released into the air we breathe. Still others are seeking ways to break our reliance on fossil fuels. Now it is possible for anyone to learn how to build your own wind turbine.
If you search the internet, you will find a wide range of plans that are supposed to allow you to build your own wind turbine. The estimated price of building one ranges from less than $200 to over $2000. Your level of electrical knowledge and the materials available to you will play a large part in determining the price.
Electrical engineering types may start with building a generator from scratch using magnets and making coils and assembling everything to exacting tolerances to produce the desired wattage. The rest of us will probably start out with a low voltage dc motor with a high amperage rating. The reason is that while electricity is needed to power the motor under normal conditions, spinning the motor without having it powered will generate electricity. The faster the motor spins, the more electricity it will generate. Having a dc motor produces dc power.
Once a motor is acquired that will function in the proper range, a hub assembly with blades that can be spun by the wind must be attached. The exact number of blades is a variable based on the desired power output. More surface for the wind to strike and push equals more rpm's equals more power. The goal is to achieve an output of 12 to 14 volts and the approximate number of amps needed to power the home or campsite.
Raising the turbine assembly on a tower to catch the wind is probably the easiest part of the construction. Once it is in place in the wind with a tail capable of turning it into the wind when it changes direction, everything can be anchored in place to make this a permanent installation.
Routing the output of the turbine to a 12 volt lead acid battery and then into a 120 volt inverter will provide enough household current to power at least a few items without relying on power from the electric company created by burning fossil fuels.
Of course, this is just a rough overview on how to build your own wind turbine. The particulars can be found on many different websites by performing an internet search.
Dave Roland is an editor with HomeSolarPower.org. Learn about residential solar power and residential wind power including how to build your own solar panels and build your own wind turbines at http://homesolarpower.org. - Get more articles at Read Articles.com
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