Wind Power Design

Tips for Building Your Own Homemade
Wind Power

What type of wind power design should you consider if you're looking to build your own wind generator? Homemade wind power can provide a way to go completely off grid, or it can provide power for your home in addition to your local power company.

Let's face it; there are times the wind does not blow, so you'll need an alternate power source, unless you live in an area of the country or world where the wind blows pretty consistently.

What To Consider Before Building a Wind Generator

If you're handy and enjoy a good "do it yourself" project, it can be fun to create your own DIY wind power. You'll need to figure out a few things before hand.

1. How much power do you need to or want to generate with the wind generator? You'll need to determine first how much electricity your home requires.
   
   Once you have those numbers, this will help you determine how strong your generator needs to be and what size blades it will require in order to generate the required amount of electricity.
   
   
2. Do you live in an area of the country or world that has a lot of wind? For example, coastal areas or wide-open plains areas are ideal for pretty consistent and harder winds.
   
   If you're living in a geographical location that doesn't experience wind very often or is rather sporadic, you may be able to glean some benefits from a wind generator, but don't plan on that being your only power source. In that case you may need a combination of wind and solar energy.
   
   
3. The wind turbine you design should be installed as high into the air as possible. This can be a tricky process in residential and urban locations. Before starting your homebuilt wind generator power project, be sure to check with your zoning board (an perhaps your neighbors!)

Basics of Wind Power Design

Wind turbine designs for residential use vary greatly in size and shape nowadays. It's possible to purchase ready-made wind turbines, but if you want to make your own, you'll need to understand the basics that go into the design of a wind turbine.

Because they're designed to use the energy created by the wind, the turbines must have the following systems in place:

1. A system to capture and harness the energy of the wind
   
   
2. A system to convert the rotation of the turbines into electrical power
   
   
3. Systems for controlling the stop and start of the turbine

What Will I Need?

With that said, to build your own wind power design for your home, you'll need the following:

• A generator (motor)
  
  
• Blades for rotation
  
  
• Mounting that keeps the turbine turned toward the direction of the wind
  
  
• A tall enough tower so the turbine can capture the wind
  
  
• An electronic control system
  
  
• Batteries

Benefits of Building Your Own Wind Generator

• Wind energy can potentially be more economical than even solar or geothermal energy
  
  
• You're helping the environment (wind energy is clean)
  
  
• Save a great deal of money by making and installing it yourself
  
  
• Rest easier knowing you're not completely dependent on the power company
  
  
• Wind turbines can be used in conjunction with solar panels to go off-grid

Are There Drawbacks to Your Own Wind Power Design?

Yes, there are a few limitations to using wind power.

• You may encounter resistance from your local zoning board and perhaps your neighbors when they find out you want to erect a wind turbine on your property or your roof.
  
  
• It's possible that you'll have fewer windy days than you'd like, which means you're not generating any power.
  
  
• Building a wind-generating turbine is sometimes still too cost prohibitive for some people.

Yes, there are a few drawbacks, but they aren't easily outweighed by the benefits, so the ultimate answer will depend on your unique needs, your budget, and the area in which you live.

Free Downloads - Build Your Own Homemade Wind Power

If you'd like more detailed information on the nuts and bolts of creating your own diy wind power, there are several places you can get more information.

First, please join our Affordable Solar Energy library which has a great deal of do it yourself information and ebooks ... and they're all free!

Secondly, our friends Les and Jane have been living off the grid for over 15 years now, and they put together their own how to guide on creating your own homebuilt wind generator power.

I like how they have put together their information in a simple and easy to understand manner. I appreciate that because I'm not very technically inclined! :-) They have made the first chapters of their book available for free here Build Your Own Wind Generator.

Download Instructions - To download your Build Your Own Wind Generator eBook, right click on the download link and navigate to the "save as" option which will allow you to save the book to your computer. You will need to have Adobe Reader installed on your computer to view the eBooks. If you don't yet have Adobe you can download it here.