| It is relatively easy to build a wind turbine, providing | | | | blades are also available. A three blade design is the |
| some directions are followed. While for most people | | | | most common, not just for professional wind farms, |
| the thought of building a wind turbine generator could | | | | but also for DIY homemade windmills, as this design |
| be too much, it should not be the case with a proper | | | | offers the best compromise between energy |
| plan of action. The reward for the effort will be few | | | | efficiency and construction costs. It is also appealing |
| $thousands saved over ready made kits and a much | | | | to the eye. |
| lighter electrical bill. | | | | Very important is how to get hold of batteries for |
| Materials to build a wind turbine can be purchased at | | | | the generator battery bank. They can be had for |
| a local hardware shop, shipped from a store or even | | | | free or a pittance from old fork lift trucks, pulsed |
| self made. The main components of a windmill are | | | | back into life and recycled. Batteries from old fork |
| the mast with the rigging, a nacelle to contain the | | | | lifts can also be recycled and sold as a stand alone |
| generator, the blades, a bank battery, wire and | | | | business on top of the money saved from electricity |
| possibly a DC motor analyzer. The mast can be made | | | | bills. Last but not least, a DC motor analyzer |
| of steel pipe rigged up with steel lines and can be set | | | | software can help increase the efficiency of the |
| up with the help of a friend. The mast should be | | | | generator for maximum savings. The more wind |
| positioned above the highest obstacles, however a | | | | energy is converted into kinetic energy, the stronger |
| too tall a mast will increase size and weight | | | | the power output. |
| exponentially, bringing the costs up. | | | | Blade yawing and furling are simplified for homemade |
| Several smaller units on shorter masts will deliver the | | | | turbines, they do not require complex hydraulics or |
| same power output without increasing the costs too | | | | be motor assisted. Instead, a simple tail to adjust to |
| much. Should one fail, the others still work. A home | | | | wind direction and a spring loaded system to furl the |
| made wind turbine could produce between 1000 and | | | | blade in strong gusts is all is needed. A good design |
| 3000 watt, costing between $150 and $250. The | | | | should include all the above points to build a wind |
| generator can be either purchased or delivered, while | | | | turbine for home. |
| the blades can be even made in few hours. PVC | | | | |