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If you live in a place where the wind is blowing most of the time, then you could harness it to generate electricity. One way to do so is through a home-built DIY wind generator. The items you will need are:

  • DC motor with high voltage, low RPM and high current
  • 6” PVC Pipe
  • Sandpaper
  • Toothed Pulley
  • 5” Aluminum Disk
  • Bolts
  • 2”x4” Wood
  • 4” PVC Pipe
  • Aluminum Sheet
  • 1” Iron Floor Flange
  • 10” Iron Pipe Nipple
  • Plywood
  • 1 inch pipe fittings
  • Latex Paint
  • Batteries
  • Power Controller
  • 10 foot 1 ¼ inch conduit

Once you’ve gathered the materials needed for your home-built wind generator, it’s time to assemble it. Here are the simple steps to complete the DIY project:

  1. Cut the PVC pipe and shape them into airfoils. Get the 6” PVC pipe and cut it into a length of 24 inches.
  2. Quarter the pipe so that you have four blade pieces.
  3. Shape one blade into an airfoil. You can now use it as template for the other blades. You will need only three for this project.
  4. Use the sandpaper to smooth the edges of the airfoils.
  5. Bolt the toothed pulley and the aluminum disk together to form a hub for your blades.
  6. Drill holes for the bolts so that you can attach the airfoils to your hub.
  7. Make the mount. Get the 2×4 wood; any length will do.
  8. Attach a 4” diameter PVC pipe in one end to act as shield for the motor.
  9. Cut an aluminum sheet into an 8.5-inch by 14-inch rectangle. Attach this to the other end of the mount. This will act as the tail of the turbine and will help turn the mount to the direction of the wind.
  10. Attach the iron floor flange 7.5 inches centered from the back of the generator end of the 2×4 mount.
  11. Screw the 10-inch long iron pipe nipple into the floor flange.
  12. Drill a hole in the 2×4 at the center of the pipe for the wires from the generator.
  13. Cut the plywood into a 2-foot diameter circle.
  14. Make a U-shape out of the 1-inch pipe fittings with a T-pipe in the middle.
  15. Add a close nipple, 1 ¼ to 1 reducer, and a ½ inch nipple.
  16. Paint the wooden parts with white latex paint.
  17. Assemble your turbine into the mount.
  18. Erect your home-built wind generator. Get the 10 foot 1 ¼ inch conduit and connect it to the base. Use guy-lines to keep it straight.
  19. Connect the wire from the turbine to the controller and to the battery. Now you’re all set.

This is how a home-built wind generator is made. With the right amount of wind, you’ll be able to produce electricity that can power your electronic devices.