How To Make Your Own Backyard Wind Turbine On A Budget

Creating your own backyard wind turbine is an exciting project that allows you to generate clean, renewable electricity at home. With some DIY skills and the right materials, you can build a simple wind turbine on a budget. Here is a step-by-step guide on how I built my own backyard wind turbine on a budget.

What You Will Need

Building a wind turbine requires some basic materials and tools. Here is what you will need to get started:

• Blades - I used 3 wooden blades made from plywood. The size and shape of the blades will determine how much energy your turbine can generate. Longer blades capture more wind.

• Motor - This converts the rotational motion into electricity. I used a permanent magnet DC motor.

• Tail - This keeps the turbine facing into the wind. I used a wooden plank for the tail.

• Tower - This elevates the turbine to catch more wind. You can use PVC or metal piping to build a tower.

• Batteries - To store the electricity generated. I used two 12V deep cycle batteries.

• Inverter - This converts the DC power from the motor into AC power that you can use at home.

• Charge controller - This regulates the voltage and current coming from the turbine to safely charge your batteries.

• Wires - For connecting all the components. You need different gauge wires for different connections.

• Wood/PVC - For building the turbine frame and tower.

• Nuts and bolts - For assembling the parts.

• Power tools - Like a drill, saw, sander etc.

Designing and Building the Turbine

Once you have all the materials, it's time to start building. I designed my backyard turbine with a simple horizontal axis configuration.

Step 1: Design and Build the Blades

The most complex part is designing efficient blades that can capture as much wind energy as possible. The ideal blade shape is an airfoil like those used on airplane wings. I simply cut three 24 inch long blades from plywood using a jigsaw and sanded them into a roughly airfoil shape. Make sure the blades are precisely weighted and balanced.

Step 2: Assemble the Hub

I then drilled holes into the blades and bolted them onto a circular wooden hub. Reinforce the hub and blades with metal plates on either side. Align the blades 120 degrees apart so the turbine rotates smoothly.

Step 3: Attach to the Generator

I attached the hub directly to the shaft of a permanent magnet DC motor. This generator is responsible for converting the rotational energy into electricity. Ensure the motor shaft lines up perfectly with the hub.

Step 4: Build the Tail

The tail acts as a rudder to keep the turbine facing into the wind. I cut a 12 inch long plank, drilled holes and attached it to the generator at a 45 degree angle using metal fasteners. This allows the tail to swing and keep the turbine oriented.

Step 5: Construct the Tower

I used 3 inch diameter PVC pipes to build a tower for the turbine. You can experiment with different heights but a minimum of 15 feet will allow you to capture faster wind speeds. I cemented the pipes together and reinforced the joints with metal brackets. Build a stable triangular tower base using guy wires for support.

Step 6: Connect the Wiring

I now had to wire up all the electrical components. Follow a simple series circuit:

• Connect the motor wires to the charge controller.
• Wire the charge controller to the batteries.
• Connect the inverter input to the batteries and output to your appliances.

Installation and Safety Tips

After completing the wind turbine build, here are some installation tips:

• Choose an open location on your property with consistent wind flow and no obstructions.

• Carefully lift and secure the turbine onto the preassembled tower. Make sure it is balanced.

• Secure all electrical connections in a weatherproof box at the base of the tower.

• Earth the system properly with copper wiring and grounding rods to protect from lightning strikes.

• Put up caution signs so people keep a safe distance away from the moving blades.

• Monitor your turbine visually and maintain it periodically. Lubricate moving parts and check connections.

Conclusion

Building a DIY wind turbine takes some effort but is a very rewarding project. Follow the safety tips and guidelines above and you can create a fully functional wind generator to harness free wind energy for your home, reducing your electricity bills while also enjoying the satisfaction of generating your own green power.