If you are interested in taking advantage of wind power then you might be interested in learning how to build a wind turbine yourself which can save you a lot of money in the process. You can easily put one together using one of the do it yourself wind turbine kits but you can still expect to pay over $1,000. But if you build it yourself, you can do it pretty easily for under $150.

The best part about this type of design is that you can get most of the parts you need for cheap from your local hardware store. But there are a couple of parts that you cannot make yourself which are really the heart of the wind turbine itself. These parts are the wind turbine generator and hub.

So, if you don’t mind getting dirty then roll up your sleeves and let’s get to work.

How to Build a Wind Turbine – The Generator

The generator, also known as a motor is one part that you will need to invest a little bit of money into. But before you go out and buy just any motor for your homemade wind turbine you need to make sure that you buy the right type of motor.

I highly suggest that if you are new to wind turbine generators that you start with an Ametek motor. The reason is that these motors are already designed to work properly for this exact application.

Ideally you want a high voltage, high current, and low revolutions per minute (RPM) motor. The high voltage and high current determine the power output so it should be obvious that the higher the better. The RPMs determine how fast the motor shaft must spin to produce maximum power. You want low RPMs so that it will produce maximum power even in slower winds. Ideally you will want a motor that will generate at least 15 Volts at around 400 RPM.

Another part that is related to the generator that you will need to buy is the hub plate. This is a metal plate that connects to the shaft of the motor with mounting holes for the wind turbine blades.

How to Build a Wind Turbine – The Blades

You can save a lot of money by making your own wind turbine blades from scratch. This can be done using nothing more than a piece of PVC pipe. Get a hold of a piece of piping that is as long as your desired blade length. This is typically 2 to 3 feet depending on the motor you have.

Then cut the pipe longwise into 4 equally sized pieces. Then cut each of the 4 pieces equally at the same angle. You want to make sure that the blades are well balanced so it might be helpful to weigh each one independently and try to match the weights as much as possible. If the weight is off then you can simply trim whichever ones down so that they better match. Once you have finished all of the blades you can attach the blades to the hub shaft.

How to Build a Wind Turbine – The Housing and Tail

The housing for the wind turbine can also be made out of PVC. Cut a piece of PVC that can act as a shell around the generator to protect it. You can design and build the tail out of a smaller diameter piece of PVC. You can use any piece of plastic, such as plexi-glass for the tail fin. Once you have constructed the tail piece, mount it to the housing structure.

How to Build a Wind Turbine – The Mounting Structure

There are a few different options for mounting your wind turbine. Ideally you want to get it as high as possible in order to get it access to as much uninterrupted wind as possible. So you will want to keep away from trees or other large objects.

One great option is to mount it to the roof of your home which can provide a very solid structure. Other people opt to use a pole mount structure where the wind turbine is attached to the end of an upright pole. One good idea is to recycle a pole from an old basketball hoop. If needed, guy wires can be used to secure and stabilize the pole.

Of course you want to create the best setting for your homemade wind turbine to get the most power out of it but it is important not to overwhelm yourself. As long as it is getting access to wind it will generate power for you. You can always tweak it later if needed.

Now that you know how to build a wind turbine then the best thing you can do is to get to work and build one of your own. Not only is it very rewarding but there is a great sense of pride in knowing what you were able to accomplish.