Make a Wind Generator

To make a wind generator, and generate your own electricity, is easier than you might think. This is just as well, because electricity costs are not likely to come down any time soon. In addition to the cost savings, you may also want to "do your bit" for the environment. Wind power is one of the most renewable power sources known to man, so it really makes sense on all levels to get involved. You can BUY wind generators of course, but they are still relatively expensive. If you have some basic DIY skills, you can build one yourself. So what's involved?

Making your wind turbine

This is probably the most difficult part of the process, because of the shaping of the turbine blades, and the cowl. Any mistakes here will lead to huge losses in efficiency, because your turbine will be working against the wind, rather than with it. In addition to this, any inefficiencies in the drive mechanism which transfers the energy from the blades to the dynamo will reduce the amount of electricity you make.

Building the tower

This is a less complex part of the process, but you have to remember that if the tower is not sturdy enough, then it will sway around in the wind, and of course, this is yet more wasted energy. You see, there's a pattern forming here - it's all about keeping all the wind energy, not letting it be wasted on unwanted movement, or badly constructed mechanics. Where you site your tower is also important, and it's not necessarily at the highest point available.

Storing the power in batteries

The very nature of wind generated power is that it isn't a constant supply. When there's a lot of wind, you will need to store the electricity somewhere, and this is where a well-designed battery system is essential. Make sure you use the right batteries too. Car batteries are no good, because they are designed to provide a short burst of high power to start your engine. You should use Deep Cycle Batteries, which are designed to be run down slowly over a longer period of time.

Connecting to the main power supply

This is where safety is paramount! This isn't the most difficult part of the process, but it's the one where you really do need the specialist knowledge. A mistake here could be fatal. Also, check your local power company's regulations about connecting into your home supply. you may need to get one of their engineers to do the work. Also, if you ever generate more electricity than you need, you may be able to sell it back to the power company, and have this taken off your bill when your demand is high.