Building Your Own Wind Generator

What Is A Wind Generator?

At it's most basic, a wind generator is just a machine with rotating blades that captures the energy from the wind. The main purpose is to convert this wind energy to mechanical energy which can then be converted to electricity to power homes. With the rising cost of traditional energy sources, the interest in wind generators is extremely high as it provides a practical way to capture renewable energy.

The problem with wind generators is that they are expensive. Purchasing a wind generator and having it installed can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $20,000 and this is more than most people have to invest. Don't get me wrong, this is an investment. Purchasing a wind generator will save you money in the long-term, but the payback period can be years ... or even decades.

Building Your Own Wind Generator

The world is currently at a heightened state of awareness when it comes to both the environment and the economy. Anything that can be done to save money that also has a positive effect on the environment is something that people can support. Building your own wind generator provides one of those win-win scenarios. Tackling this do-it-yourself project is not as complicated as it may seem and has become a practical option for many homeowners trying to acheive energy independance.

What is the best situation for building your own wind generator?

There are three important criteria that have to be met.

• First of all, you should ideally have at least an acre of land where you plan to install your wind generator. With less space, the blades may not be able to capture enough wind for the to work optimally.
• Even if you have an acre of land, a wind generator may not be the optimum solution in a highly-populated area. It is not advisable to employ the wind generator at a site where factors like high-rise buildings and tall towers block the wind.
• Finally, the average speed of wind in the area should be consistently above 11 miles per hour.

What parts will I need to build my own wind generator?

You will need the following components: blades, a tower, a shaft and a base.

• Blades: The blades are responsible for making use of the wind energy and are typically made of wood or plastic.
• Tower: The tower is the pillar that holds the system high enough to be able to use the wind and is usually made up of hard material such as poly-vinyl chloride.
• Shaft: The shaft is used to join the blades to the tower, at the same time allowing them to rotate smoothly.
• Base: The base of the wind generator is what holds the tower and the blades.

How do I get started?

All you really need to start building your own wind generator is a good set of plans. There are many available for free on the Internet, but for more step-by-step instructions, you'll probably want to purchase detailed plans. A good set of plans will tell you what parts you need, where to get them as cheaply as possible and how to execute each step of the process.

Learn more about building your own wind generator at Earth4Energy.com.