Home Wind Turbine Design Uncovered

A few years back if I were to ask you what a home wind turbine was, you would most probably describe a massive tower with over-sized rotors plaguing the fields. But, with technology advancing and the ever-increasing energy crisis, it is now possible to have your own, scaled-down home wind turbine. What’s more is if you want to avoid the exorbitant prices of expert systems, you can learn to build and erect it yourself.

How a home wind turbine works

A home wind turbine produces power by moving a small turbine. This turbine is attached to a hub, where 3 or 5 blades are fixed, which in turn is placed at the top a tall tower. To keep the blades spinning, a guidance system or tail is attached to the hub, to keep it facing the wind.

The generator is basically an electric motor. As the coils in the motor spin past the magnets, an electric current is produced. The power produced is stored in batteries, which are connected to an inverter to change the direct current to alternating current, which can then be used to power your home. The advancement of motor efficiency, is the reason wind turbines have become so popular for home use.

The tower’s main purpose is to hold the blades high up in the sky, to catch those stronger winds. It windy areas, it can be slightly shorter, and in calmer regions, the tower will be taller.

With more money being put into research, the blades have changed drastically over the years. The rotors generally have 3 instead in of 5 blades now, since the blades have become lighter, stronger, and able to spin in very light breezes. The blades also come an assortment of diameters, according to the average wind speeds and energy needs.

Up until now I have been talking about your average horizontal axis home wind turbine. But there is also another design taking off. It is a wind turbine that spins on the vertical axis. Also know as a VAWT (vertical axis wind turbine), this generator’s blades resemble some type of water-wheel on its side. The problem with the VAWT is that it spins rather close to the ground, making it unable to catch the stronger, higher up winds, so it is not a good option for residential home-owners. Also when erected in open areas, the blades are large and spin so fast birds do not see them and fly straight into them – which is not very eco-friendly.

What you need to know before you buy a home wind turbine:

How big is the property?

A home wind turbine will operate more efficiently on a large open piece of land about an acre in size. Or in an area where there are no buildings in the way to affect the air movement.

Wind conditions:

Ideal wind conditions should be at least 11 mph, but otherwise a taller tower with larger blades will help to catch the high-altitude winds.

What else can I use the wind turbine for?

If you could use the turbine for other purposes, such as pumping in water from outside, then it may be more useful than you think. This is the reason you see so many windmills scattered over farms – they help pump water from reservoirs to the farmhouse.

Does my house need a constant power supply?

If you’re a home business owner that requires a constant power supply, or are just tired of the electricity company cutting off the power, then a home wind turbine may be the right solution. Even if the wind turbine is not strong enough to power the entire house for an extended period of time, it will be able to store the power for when you really need it.

Taking the above points into consideration will help you determine how much power you require, the length of tower needed, the diameter of the blades, and the benefits and costs of using a home wind turbine.

The good news is that technology is forever evolving. The motors have become so light and efficient that they can be used in a number of smaller wind turbines attached right to your roof, instead of having to rely on one large wind turbine.

While commercially available wind power kits can cost up to $100,000, you can learn to make your power for a fraction of the cost, with part and materials sourced at home and the nearby hardware outlet. Even better news is that the United States and other countries offer tax relief for green energy homeowners, so not only can you cut your electricity costs, but your tax expenses too.

Forget about using the home made energy guide to make your own power at home! Try the Earth4Energy Instructions for free, and see how you can cut your power costs by up to 80% with your own home wind turbine and solar power.