Home wind turbines are one of the newest technologies for capturing and using renewable energy at home. These machines capture and then convert wind power into usable electricity. There are several kinds of wind turbines for use in home settings. The most common are sold as complete packages but the generally more efficient ones are home-made. Although wind turbines produce a significant amount of electricity, they are usually not enough to power whole houses. This is because wind is inconsistent in most parts of the world. If used in conjunction with other power sources, however, wind turbines can be great for saving money.
A lot of designs are available for home wind turbines. No matter what the design, however, the basic parts remain the same. There are five basic wind turbine parts: generator, blades, batteries and an electronic control system, a mounting to keep the turbine facing the wind, and a tower to put it up where there is wind. Each of these parts is significant for the turbine to produce electricity, but the most important can be said to be the generator because it is where wind energy is converted into electricity.
The generator of a home wind turbine converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. DC motors are great for use as generators. They can be bought in junk shops and can sometimes be ordered online. The blades, which can be made using plastic pipes, are attached directly to the generator. Commonly, three blades of uniform shapes and sizes are used. Uniformity can be achieved by first cutting out one blade and then making it the template for the other two blades. To make the blades smoother and more aerodynamic, sandpaper can be used.
Attaching the blades to the generator is the tricky part. First, the blades must be bolted to a small disk–preferably made of light metal like aluminum–with equal spacing. A hole can be drilled at the center of the disk to allow it to be attached to motor. The part where the blades and the disk connect must also be smooth so as to reduce the air friction. A small dome shaped cap can be used to cover this part.
The next step is to make the mounting for the home wind turbine. It should be strong enough to always hold the turbine in the direction of the wind. Wood and some carpentry work can be used to make this part. The tower, which would hold the entire machine, should have a relatively high elevation. It should also be strong. Would or metal tower are ideal for this purpose. One all have been setup. The last step is to connect the turbine to the battery which would store the current. A control switch is necessary in order to protect the battery from getting overcharged and to ensure that enough electricity flows through to the electronic devices powered by the wind turbine. The home wind turbine can be combined with grid systems to save money or with solar power systems to make completely off-grid (self-sufficient) houses or buildings.
