Wind Turbine Construction

Wind generators are forever. Ok- maybe not forever, but they last a long long time. If you want to avoid having to pay a utility company for power ever again and have a property with blowing wind, learning to build a wind generator is the best option to choose.

It has the dual advantage of providing total energy independence while assisting in cutting back the world’s emissions from goal and gas power plants. I walked outside just today and noticed the haze over the city and wished we had more of these in place- after all- whatever your opinion, nobody wants to breathe smog.

So why wind energy? First of all, more than 90 percent of the US has access to it. Even though I live in a dead zone on the US wind power map, there are plenty of wind mills around. I drive by one every day on my way to work- and it’s always spinning. Thus, even if you look at that wind power map and think it’s not for you, it’s worth seeing if a micro-climate in your area makes the wind blow more in specific locations.

All you will need is somewhere to mount the blades, an assembly that will keep it facing the breeze, and gears that will turn a turbine in response to movements by the blades. This may seem like a lot, but it truly isn’t that difficult. Knowing how to build a wind turbine will unlock a lot of possibilities. Furthermore, the breadth of available technologies for wind turbines makes them accessible to most people.

An easy route for wind power is to get a kit that can be assembled in only a few hours. While thinking about this, think outside the box. Some kits involve a dozen small plastic wheels that turn in the breeze. Some are like kites made primarily out of nylon. Others are the traditional blade and tower that we think of when we think of a wind turbine.

So where do you put it? Well- to begin with, modern materials have made the blades less noisy than their older counterparts. You can mount it relatively near to someone else’s property without disturbing them too much (check first). However, most people will be mounting it on the roof- and this is an easy option for the DIY enthusiast. Some will even choose to build it out of recycled material, turning scrap into green energy.

Before mounting it, I would recommend spending a few months with a wind meter. This will tell you where on your property gets the most wind and if you’re building a structure to stand for a long time, waiting a couple of months to make sure it’s at its most efficient is probably a good idea. This also helps ensure you have pointed the turbines to face the prevailing wind- a particularly important step if they’re not mobile.

If you’re more or less capable in the DIY field, connecting the gearing and generator will be simple enough. Wiring the motor to a connection- especially to a grid- may be a little more complicated. If you’re good with electrical systems, you may be able to do this yourself, but this step may require the assistance of an electrician- even if just to check that you wired this correctly.

If building off-grid, you will need a location for batteries. A covered concrete slab is good enough- be it in a shed or the garage.

If you are particularly skilled in engineering or electricity work, this process could save even more money. All you need is a plan, some good books, some good websites, some good hardware, and the will to make this happen. It’s an old technology and if you’re skilled in these fields, you could easily put one of these systems into place.