Learn how to make a wind generator and freedom from power out and the high cost of electricity will be yours. Another important benefit is that making home electricity is good for the environment because it does not create pollution.
A wind generator is loosely defined as any device that can extract some of the energy from the wind and convert it into usable electricity. The terms windmill and wind turbine are often used interchangeably to describe similar devices.
The generator is comprised of 5 main parts:
- The Blades
- The Generator
- The Tower
- The Battery Storage Bank
- The Electrical System
The Wind Generator Blades
The design of the blades are the single most important factor for determining how efficient a windmill generates electricity. The horizontal spinning, airplane-propeller style blades can be one of the most efficient designs in consistently strong winds. Their count, length and pitch are the factors that have the biggest impact.
When the wind tend to be lighter, inconsistently or constantly changing an upright spinning blade design, often referred to as a vertical axis wind generator is sometimes best. This type requires less energy to begin spinning and does not have to be reoriented when the wind shifts. The vertical style is usually much more quiter than its horizontal cousin which makes it more neighbor friendly.
Another version of the vertical axis windmill uses a helical style of blade. This is ideally suited for rooftops where the wind becomes vertical as a result of impact with a building.
The Generator
This is the part of the wind turbine system that converges the rotation of the blades into electricity. Direct current electrical motors are often used for this purpose. When rotated backwards they change from electricity consumers to electricity producers.
The Tower
For a wind turbine to work well, it needs to be exposed to as much consistent wind as possible. The height of this tower is prioritized determined by how much open space you have, local community zoning laws, and how high you need to get the turbine to avoid obstacles.
Towers typically range from 8 and 75 feet tall. The shorter heights are more appropriate for areas with a high natural elevation such as a hill or a rooftop. Some towers are designed with a hinge so that the tower can be lowered to ground level for convenient maintenance of the blades and generator.
The Battery Bank
This purpose of the battery bank is to provide the freedom to use the wind generated electricity whenever you want to instead of only at the moment it is produced. Deep cycle batteries are often connected in combination patterns of both series and parallel depending on the voltage you are working with.
A small electrical device called a charge controller is typically connected between the batteries and the wind generator to prevent damage from overcharging.
The Electrical System
Power stored in the batteries is in the form of direct current. This usually is converted to alternating current of the correct voltage and amperage in order to be able to run common household appliances. This is accomplished with a device called an inverter that is connected between the output of the battery bank and the house.
The easiest connection with the house consists on not connecting with the household grid system. Instead the wires from the inverter enter the house and are connected to one or more new electrical outlets that are not integrated with the house wiring. With this method only certain lower energy appliances like televisions, computers, lights or dvd players are plugged into these outlets. The big energy consumers like the air conditioner, heater and stove would be left to the power company.
The connection with the house can alternately be integrated into the household wiring at the main circuit box with the help of a licensed electrician. This method reduces the amount of outside electricity that is needed from the local power company. In some communities, any excess electricity is sent out on the local power grid for other houses to use. Some utility companies will actually pay you for this.
The Need For Plans
Because of the many variables it can be complicated to design one yourself. It is wise, at least on the first project, to purchase plans where the specific dimensions have already been worked out by someone else. Some of the best plans even show you where to scrounge low cost or even free parts and materials. It is possible to learn how to make a wind generator in less than a week for just a few hundred bucks.