Build a Windmill to Generate Electricity

If you want to build a windmill to generate electricity then you need to go about it the right way. Although in principle it's a very straightforward thing to do, when I tried it I learned the hard way that there are several factors you have to take into account to make sure you build your windmill properly. In the end, I bought an instruction manual which showed me the right way to generate electricity from wind power. Here are some of the things it covered.

Constructing the wind turbine

Any mistakes here will lead to huge inefficiencies in the generation of electricity. The design of the blades and the cowl have a major impact on the efficiency of the system. You need the turbine to work with the wind, rather than against it. You also have to consider the mechanics of the drive mechanism. This is the part that transmits the power from the blades to the dynamo, so it has to be put together properly.

The design of the tower

Clearly the exact siting of your turbine is important, but equally as vital is the design of the tower which supports it. The two main considerations here are:

1. The turbine has to be kept securely in one place. If it's blowing around in the wind, it won't gather all of the available wind energy. Just look at the huge commercial wind turbines - they are sleek and slender, but solid as rock.
2. The turbine mounting has to be safe. The last thing you want is for the turbine blades to break free from their mounting and fall off. If they hit someone or something you could easily end up being sued.

Battery storage

You obviously need to use batteries to store the electricity that you generate. Wind power isn't constant, so you need to generate power when you can, and save it for later. You need to use Deep Cycle batteries - these differ from regular car batteries in that they are designed to run down more slowly over a long period, rather than deliver a short burst of power.

If you're serious about DIY Wind Power, then you need a comprehensive instruction manual. Find out how to build your own wind turbine for less than $200 here, Build a Windmill to Generate Electricity, where you will also find out how to install your own solar power system!

Alternative Home Energy

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