DIY windmill

[steenoe]

Does any of you guys know a few good links to DIY power windmill construction?? This is a bit OT but what the heck
I really want to build one myself
Thanks a lot.

Steen.

[Bill Fitzpatrick]

Try Google.

[sek]

Depends on what you want to power, I would say.

For a 12V battery charging system (to supply regular solar/wind power inverter equipment), you could do a first attempt with a dc motor (i.e. RC model types), an appropriate gearbox (i.e. pulleys), a large fan blade (i.e. car type) and a simple switcher (i.e. step-up converter IC).

For a full featured installation to supply your household demand from an elevated generator nearby your house, you would need knowledge and equipment that even the large scale industry pays tens of thousands for...

So, what are you trying to power, what winds can you 'provide' etc. ?

Cheers,
Sebastian.

[davesaudio]

http://www.otherpower.com/17page1.html

[jackinnj]

Originally posted by steenoe
Does any of you guys know a few good links to DIY power windmill construction?? This is a bit OT but what the heck
I really want to build one myself
Thanks a lot.

Steen.

the Dutch DIYrs' are all in bed right now, try in the morning.

[rcavictim]

Steen,

After several years of gathering the steel and other parts I've just begun building one this month. I hope to have it up and running this year. Biggest damned DIY project from the ground up from scratch that I have attempted in my entire life. I'm hoping to see 12-15 kW out of it. That is considered large for a domestic unit, DIY or otherwise. Three blade prop is 26 foot diameter. I should be able to power my 805 stereo SET amp in a light breeze!

There are tons of resources on the web. Do a google on "DIY windpower".

First off is you have to decide what it is you want power for, and how much you need. Then you have to evaluate the wind resource in your location. A successful wind power installation is an erection that takes careful planning. I have had a computerized weather station and annemometer by Davis Instruments on a 90 foot tower for the past year doing a study and know that I am in a great location, good enough to generate commercial power, but I knew that before the annemometer got put up.

Note that wind power is not *Free*. It is quite expensive energy, costing more that the utility charges. The benefit is it is completely environmentally clean and eventually gets inexpensive as the hardware is paid off. My DIY installation will have an equivalent value of about a $45-50K commercially available wind machine and tower. Thanx to being resourceful, being able to fabricate everything in house by myself including the design work and only having to build one, I hope to have this done for less than $5K in material costs. It can pay itself off in one year.

BTW, I am looking for able bodied interested volunteers in my area who might like to come over and help me build this beast in exchange for the experience. Once the weather warms up there will be plenty of outdoor welding and steel fitting to do. I am located near Shelburne, ON. Please PM me off list if interested.

[davesaudio]

know that I am in a great location,

should be, dundalk is the highest point in ontario IIRC?

[rcavictim]

Originally posted by davesaudio


should be, dundalk is the highest point in ontario IIRC?

Yes, I'm at 1620 feet on a flat elevated plateau. The DX here is awesome too. Regular off-air TV booms in from Bufallo, NY., about 100 miles away to the south. It is good enough to watch most of the time.

There is a large commercial windfarm going in just about a mile or two just north of me.

[dnsey]

Good luck with your efforts, but please BE CAREFUL!
The amount of energy available from even a small turbine in a light breeze is a lot more than you might imagine.
A friend had just completed a 12" 'propeller' , and mounted it on a simple hand-held shaft to test it. As soon as he turned into the wind, which was minimal, the thing became uncontrollable, and he was very lucky to escape serious injury.

[jacco vermeulen]

Mmm, sure you do not desire some cheese more ?

I have an article on vent designing if you like.
And loads of academic mumbo jumbo on turbine and ship screw design, which is basically the same as prop design criteria for windmill propellors.
there are lots of Tulip munchers who made windmills.
You can google dutch pages looking for : "windmolen"

This is diyaudio, why diy windmill, Steen ?

Shoot, my last name in english is "from the Mill"