How to build your own wind generator - photos and instructions

[IChing]

http://www.mdpub.com/Wind_Turbine/index.html

For people with land, this guy gives a great breakdown on making you own simple wind generator
from parts found on e-bay and at your local hardware store. A good reference and bookmark
for people that are interested.

"So how much did all this cost to build? Well, I saved all the receipts for everything I bought related to this project."


Part Origin Cost



Motor/Generator Ebay $26.00
Misc. pipe fittings Homecenter Store $41.49
Pipe for blades Homecenter Store $12.84
Misc hardware Homecenter Store $8.00
Conduit Homecenter Store $19.95
Wood & Aluminum Scrap Pile $0.00
Power Cable Old extension cord $0.00
Rope & Turnbuckles Homecenter Store $18.47
Electronic Parts Already on hand $0.00
Relay Auto Parts Store $13.87
Battery Borrowed from my UPS $0.00
Inverter Already on hand $0.00
Paint Already on hand $0.00



Total
$140.62

[corkhead]

1. an interesting read, thanks for posting

[jebediah]

2. Excellent. Thanks. nt

[mahina]

3. What a neat guy, great work, interesting read!

Thanks, I loved it! He's kind of funny too, in a factual way. I hope he's a Democrat. Pretty good chance of that, upwards of 90% last I read, since he is a scientist.

[unpossibles]

4. very cool!

I love home engineering.

[Old and In the Way]

5. Sites down...bookmarked for later

I'd like to do something along these lines this summer with my son...kind of a good thing to do in our spare time.

[IChing]

6. Here is a mirror site.

http://duggmirror.com/environment/Build_your_own_backyard_wind_turbine_Cut_your_electric_bills/

When I first caught this story it had 7 diggs now it has over 400 so the site is getting a lot of attention.

[glitch]

7. I love it! Thanks for posting. K & R nt

[SnowGoose]

8. The "blades" are brilliant!

I guess I figured they'd be like aircraft propellers (airfoils, that is), but turning the pipe into a "scoop" type blade is just way too cool.

However, with the popularity on Digg, you can probably forget about getting any of the good motors on ebay for a while.

Thanks for posting.

For those who may not have seen it, there's another simple, cheap wind power generator made from small plastic parts. A random article on it can be seen here: http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/03/21/micro-wind-turbines-small-size-big-impact/

Here's a picture:

[Carni]

9. Thanks!

I am saving this!

[FogerRox]

10. Figure the real cost of gas=$13.00 a gallon, even a 30k solar installation or a

10-15k wind install pays for itself in 12 yrs or so. Even sooner if you do it yourself.....


Nice article

[M155Y_A1CH]

11. Thoreau 's Ghost

Really cool!