| Wind power is not quite a mainstream energy source | | | | blades will face into prevailing winds. The wind turns |
| yet, at least in the U.S., but it is for some a viable | | | | the blades and the kinetic energy is converted into |
| way to power their homes. It can be expensive to | | | | electrical energy. All of this happens in the shaft |
| buy a wind power system, so some who have made | | | | motor assembly. |
| the choice to use alternative energy sources instead | | | | TURBINE > MOTOR > BATTERY > |
| opt for a homemade wind mill instead. Basically, a | | | | INVERTER |
| turbine for wind power is made up of three | | | | This is the pathway that the energy will follow. There |
| components.o Rotoro Generatoro Tower | | | | are other elements (such as wiring) that will control |
| This sounds simple enough, but keep in mind that a | | | | the current and turn your meter back when you |
| wind turbine should be built of strong materials which | | | | generate more power than you are using. |
| can stand up to the elements for at least five years. | | | | 1. Once you have all of your materials together, then |
| This periodic replacement is a great tradeoff when | | | | cut your blades from a round section of pipe - PVC is |
| you compare it to the electricity savings of at least | | | | typically the material of choice, but remember to cut |
| 10% over the next five or six years. You might want | | | | your blades to a uniform size for balance. |
| to talk to someone who has already built their own | | | | 2. Typically, windmills rotate on a horizontal axis. This |
| wind turbine before going ahead and building your | | | | axis will be mounted at the top of your tower. For |
| own. | | | | the sake of balance, the back needs to be longer |
| You can generate enough energy to power your | | | | than the front. Bolting your axis to the tower will |
| home with a wind turbine that turns at an average | | | | keep it from rising up as it is turned by the wind. |
| speed of 10 mph. While you may not be able to | | | | 3. Your tower needs to be sturdy, but that's the only |
| generate enough power with wind alone to meet all | | | | real requirement. You can use metal pipes, a satellite |
| of your electricity needs, you can store surplus | | | | dish stand or anything else which will be sturdy and |
| electricity in batteries and even sell it back to the | | | | stable. Use cement to secure it to the ground. |
| utility company in your area. If your home is in a very | | | | 4. You'll need to wire everything together to make |
| isolated area, however, wind power and other | | | | the system functional. Run wires from the motor to |
| alternative energy sources may be your only options | | | | a controller for saving energy and then to the |
| for generating the electricity you need. | | | | battery to hold excess energy. From this point, the |
| Before you get started, make sure that you have all | | | | wiring continues to the household electrical system |
| of the necessary supplies. Here's some of the most | | | | via your breaker box. |
| important:o Motoro Towero Bladeso Hardware and | | | | These are the basics of creating a home made wind |
| Wiringo Hubo Rotoro Battery Backupo Tail and Body | | | | mill. If you are a bit handy and can use the tools you |
| Assembly | | | | probably already own, then you can easily make your |
| Typically, a wind turbine is built like so: the rotor | | | | own home made wind mill. |