Introduction
Building your own DIY wind turbine from scrap materials can be a fun and rewarding project. Wind turbines harness the power of the wind to generate electricity. Constructing one yourself allows you to generate clean, renewable energy and reduce your carbon footprint. This article will provide a step-by-step guide on how I built my own small scale wind turbine using recycled materials.
What You Will Need
To build a DIY wind turbine, you will need the following materials:
Generator
The generator is the crucial component that actually converts the rotational energy into electrical energy. I used a permanent magnet DC motor salvaged from an old electric drill. Make sure it can spin freely.
Blades
The blades capture the kinetic energy of the wind. For this I recycled 3 wooden boards from an old pallet. Their curved shape makes them ideal blades.
Shaft
A metal rod connects the blades to the motor. I used a 1 meter length of steel rebar.
Tail
The tail keeps the turbine facing into the wind. I constructed mine from a sheet of plywood.
Frame
This houses the components. I welded a simple frame from scrap steel tubes and bars.
Bolts, nuts, washers
For assembling the parts.
Charge controller
Regulates the turbine's output voltage. I used an inexpensive CC I bought online.
Battery
To store the electricity generated. An old car battery works perfectly.
How I Built My DIY Wind Turbine
Follow these steps to build your own wind turbine from recycled materials:
Step 1 - Design and Create the Blades
I made my blades by cutting 3 pallet boards into long triangles. Their inherent curve formed the ideal aerodynamic shape. I sanded the blades to optimize airflow over them.
Step 2 - Attach the Blades to the Shaft
I drilled a hole through the exact center of each blade. Then I inserted the steel rebar shaft through the aligned holes and secured the blades with nuts and bolts. I spaced the blades 120 degrees apart to balance the turbine.
Step 3 - Build the Tail
The tail aligns the turbine into the wind. I cut a plywood sheet into a triangle and drilled holes to attach it to the shaft with bolts and nuts.
Step 4 - Attach the Generator
I removed the casing from the DC motor and secured it to the shaft on the opposite end from the tail. This allows the spinning blades to turn the motor and generate electricity.
Step 5 - Construct the Frame
I cut and welded scrap steel tubes into a stable frame to elevate and anchor the turbine. I used angle grinder to cut tubes and bars to required lengths before welding them together with an arc welder.
Step 6 - Assemble the Turbine
I bolted the assembled blades, shaft, motor and tail onto the top of the frame using U-bolts. Then I inserted the steel rebar shaft through bearings attached to the frame to allow it to spin freely.
Step 7 - Connect the Charge Controller and Battery
I soldered the motor's positive and negative wires to the CC input. Then I ran wire from the CC output to connect it to the positive and negative terminals of the battery to store the electricity.
Step 8 - Test and Troubleshoot
I tested my turbine in windy conditions and monitored the voltage output. I troubleshooted any issues with the spinning or electricity generation and made tweaks to improve performance.
Step 9 - Find an Optimal Location
Once fully functional, I installed my DIY wind turbine in a elevated, open location with consistent wind. Angle and height are important for catching the most wind.
Results of My DIY Wind Turbine Project
Creating my own small wind turbine from recycled materials was an extremely fulfilling project. Here are some key outcomes:
- My turbine can generate up to 50 watts in optimal wind conditions.
- It produces enough electricity to help offset my home energy usage by powering lights and appliances.
- Building it myself saved money compared to buying commercial turbines.
- Using scrap materials was an eco-friendly approach.
- I learned valuable skills about wind turbine construction and operation.
- Seeing it spinning and generating free, clean energy is very satisfying!
With some basic mechanical and electrical skills, recycled materials and a bit of patience, I successfully built a fully functioning DIY wind turbine for a fraction of commercial costs. This project enabled me to harvest renewable wind energy and reduce my environmental impact.