A DIY wind turbine is perfect for anyone wanting to invest in wind energy — you’ll be able to reap the benefits of wind power at home without breaking the bank on expensive, pre-built turbines. Contact online >>
A DIY wind turbine is perfect for anyone wanting to invest in wind energy — you’ll be able to reap the benefits of wind power at home without breaking the bank on expensive, pre-built turbines.
Going this route can help you decide if a manufactured turbine is worth it, as you’ll be able to test out your turbine and measure your site’s wind speeds and power outputs.
Sure, we understand that building your own wind turbine sounds daunting, but we’re here to help! This article serves as a guide to the DIY construction process, step-by-step.
We’ve read multiple research papers about wind turbines, from small-scale turbines for school projects to in-depth case studies. We’ve combined this knowledge into an all-you-need-to-know package.
After reading this, you’ll better understand DIY wind turbines and be ready to tackle your own project.
Before starting a new project, ensure that you have the right tools. We’ve compiled a list of what you’ll need for this DIY wind turbine.
Bear in mind that you won’t necessarily have to go out and buy each tool. Many hardware or power tool stores rent out tools per hour/day. Renting a tool might be the cheaper option if you don’t plan on using it again.
There are also a couple of non-specific tools that you’ll need for this DIY wind turbine:
It’s hard to say how much it would cost to build a DIY wind turbine. But depending on the model you use, it can cost between $150 and $700.
While this cost analysis may not be 100% accurate, it does give you a rough idea of how much the components will cost. It also doesn’t reflect the cost of the tools required or the battery system.
It’s also important to note that you always have the option to buy a manufactured wind turbine. Manufacturers offer warranties and have all the parts necessary to set up your turbine. The only downside is that manufactured wind turbines are more expensive than DIY wind turbines.
The average manufactured turbine costs around $1,000. That’s an $800 difference!
Now that you have your budget and tools ready let’s look at building the turbine step-by-step.
We’ve broken the process into seven parts. Tackling each step one at a time will break down the complex project into bite-sized chunks.
Before you start, you’ll need to determine wind availability. An easy way to do this is to look up a wind map for your area. Alternatively, contact a local turbine supplier for more information, even if you don’t buy a prefabricated turbine.
The available wind speed will determine the size of your blades and the height of your turbine. For example, if your land has many trees, you’ll need to install the turbine above the treeline. If that’s not possible, try placing your wind turbine on the other side of the property.
The goal is to place the wind turbine in a location with the least interference and drag; drag is when the wind loses speed because of the friction between it and other surfaces.
Lastly, you should consider the cut-in speed of the average turbine — this speed is how fast the wind needs to blow before the turbine starts generating power. The typical turbine needs between 6 and 9 mph wind to get moving.
Now let’s gather all the components together to ensure you have everything you need.
Here is a complete list of all the materials you’ll need:
You’ll find most of these at your local hardware store.
This step aims to turn the 8-inch piping into blades and fix them to the motor rst, it’s good to establish a blade design. Then, you’ll need to cut the PVC pipe and fix the blades to a flywheel. We’ve included a sketch below.
The blades need to be long enough to catch as much wind as possible but don’t make them too large. If the blades are too large, they may cause an imbalance in your system or even become dangerous — this is especially true for roof-mounted turbines.
Next, sand down the edges. The leading edge should be rounded, while the trailing edge needs to be tapered.
The next part can be tricky. Depending on the size of your motor, you can use a flywheel or a pully. However, we recommend a flywheel as its design purpose suits this project better.
Mark where the blades will fit onto the flywheel and drill and tap hole where needed. The inner fixings should be through bolts, while the outer fixings are machine screws. If you’re not sure how to drill and tap the flywheel, take it to your local metal workshop for assistance.
The final step is to test how the flywheel would fit onto the motor. We don’t recommend attaching the two parts just yet. It’s better to mount the motor first and then attach the flywheel.
We’ve cut 2 feet of 2″ x 1″ lipped steel channel for this project. But the length of the mount is up to you and the size of your blades.
Cut the tail for your wind turbine using aluminum sheet metal. The tail can look however you’d like. However, keep aerodynamics in mind, so think along the lines of a plane tail.
On one end, attach the tail to the mount with any technique you’d prefer. One way is to drill pilot holes into the channel before bolting the tail down.
Next, cut a base plate for the motor — this isn’t 100% necessary, but it’ll give the hub a little more support.
Congratulations, you’ve mounted the turbine hub!
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