Making your own wind turbine from scrap materials can be a fun and rewarding project. With some basic mechanical skills and recycled parts, you can build a turbine that can help power small electronics or even supplement your home's electricity.

Gather the Necessary Materials

The most important components for a scrap wind turbine are the rotor blades, a generator or alternator, and a tower structure.

• For the rotor blades, look for lightweight wood, plastic or even cardboard in sheets at least 2 feet long. Three blades will maximize power output.

• For the generator, salvage a permanent magnet DC motor or alternator from an old electric appliance like a fan or washing machine. Larger is better.

• The tower can be made from wood beams, metal pipes or poles at least 10 feet tall. This raises the turbine up into stronger winds.

• You'll also need bolts, washers and screws to fasten the blades and attach the generators, wire to connect the components, a tail vane to orient the turbine, and bearings to allow the blades to spin freely. Scavenge as needed.

Design and Build the Rotor Hub

The rotor hub holds the blades and connects them to the generator shaft.

• Cut a circular 3/4 inch plywood disk about 1 foot in diameter for the hub.

• Mark and cut slots into the edge of the disk 120 degrees apart. These are for attaching the blades.

• In the center, drill a hole slightly larger than the generator shaft.

• Insert bearings in the central hole to reduce friction as the shaft spins.

• Bolt the blades into the slots at their center point. Make sure they are evenly spaced.

Attach the Generator and Tail

The generator and tail vane mount on the back of the hub.

• Mount the generator so its shaft lines up with the hub's central hole and bearings.

• Make a simple tail from a triangle of wood and attach it to turn the turbine into the wind.

• Connect the generator's electrical wires so you can access its output.

Build the Tower

The tower elevates the turbine high above obstructions where wind speeds are greater.

• Use 3 or more sections of wood beam or metal pipe joined together with bolts and brackets.

• Make sure the tower is braced and anchored securely in concrete footings.

• Leave a hole near the top to run the generator wires down inside.

• Attach the assembled rotor at the top oriented into the wind.

Connect Load and Monitor Output

With the wind turbine fully assembled, you can connect a load to utilize the power it generates.

• Start with a low power DC load like LED lights. Later you can step up the voltage to run larger loads.

• Use a multimeter to monitor the turbine's power output in different wind conditions.

• For consistent power, add a battery to store and provide energy when the wind is low.

• Consider also connecting your turbine to a charge controller that regulates power to batteries without overcharging.

Tips for Maximizing Power

Here are some key points to get the most out of your homebuilt wind turbine:

• Choose as large a generator as possible - more capacity equals more power.

• Go for at least 3 blade rotors longer than 2 feet for good wind capture.

• Point the turbine into the wind with a quality tail vane to get the best angle.

• Place high on a tower in clear, consistent winds for optimal operation.

• Use a charge controller to get the right voltage and protect batteries from damage.

With smart scavenging and some elbow grease, you can build an effective renewable energy turbine from scrap! Let neighbors know you made it yourself from recycled materials.