Do-it-yourself wind turbines for 220v 4kw. DIY wind generator: detailed instructions

Due to the constant rise in the price of electricity consumed, most enterprising people are thinking about alternative energy sources that can be made at home. In some regions of our country, it is most convenient to use a wind generator as such a tool (see the figure below in the text).

When considering the question of how to make a wind generator, it is necessary to remember that in order to provide electricity even for a small structure, a powerful unit will be required, the cost of which may turn out to be "unaffordable". For this reason, most users choose the simplest version of this device, suitable for powering not very power-hungry consumers.

The efficiency of these devices (in contrast to a traditional gas generator), as a rule, does not cause any doubts in them.

Features and purpose

Before making a wind generator with your own hands, you should carefully calculate all the possible costs associated with the assembly and operation of this unit (otherwise, with the efficiency of its work). To do this, it is necessary to determine in advance what needs it is intended for, that is, to designate the circle of consumers of generated energy with a capacity of about 1 kW.

Typically, such units are used as additional energy sources, which are sufficient to:

• Provide electricity to a heating system of not very high power;
• Heat some water yourself if necessary;
• Illuminate individual recreation areas and walking paths (if equipped with rechargeable devices).

Before making an electric generator with your own hands, it is also necessary to find out the features of the wind rose in a given region, which is very important for choosing the main parameters of its mechanism.

So, for most regions of our country, where the winds are not constant and of sufficient intensity, it is more expedient to use a homemade unit designed for a relatively low voltage (no more than 12 volts).

In this case, the power of the generator will be limited (no more than 1-3 kilowatts), which is explained by the inertia of the processes taking place in too massive and energy-intensive devices.

To spin them up, a “powerful” rotating impulse is required, which in the case of weak winds cannot be obtained even with large blades. A simple, not very large and low-inertia device - this is the best option for making an electric generator with your own hands in a domestic environment (see the photo below in the text).

Note! Such generators for a windmill, assembled with their own hands outside the city, can be used when the 220 Volt power supply is turned off in order to charge a mobile phone and other gadgets.

Some of the parts of the future electric motor can be taken ready-made, remaking them accordingly.

Choice of design and details

When choosing the design of a wind generator set, one should proceed from the climatic conditions characteristic of the area. So, for areas with low wind activity, wind power generators equipped with sail-type blades are optimally suited (its appearance is shown in the figure below).

In regions with strong wind loads, a homemade wind generator for a home is most often made in the form of a vertically placed device of limited power.

Despite the fact that wind turbines with a vertical axis of rotation are somewhat more expensive to manufacture than their horizontal counterparts, they are better able to withstand strong wind loads. For their manufacture, homemade blades collected from improvised means can be used (some craftsmen have adapted to make them from a barrel cut into separate metal fragments).

It is more expedient to buy more efficient "catchers" of wind ready-made and adapt them to a generator, which can be used as a converted motor from a printer. In any case, before starting work, a sketch of the future generator should be worked out, which should show a detailed diagram of the prefabricated unit.

Additional Information. When choosing purchased blades, one should proceed from the fact that the so-called "sailboats" are considered the cheapest.

On their basis, the easiest way to make a vertical wind generator.

To complete the description of possible designs, we add that the future device can be made from an automobile starter or any autogenerator that has served its life. Let's consider each of the proposed options for making do-it-yourself electric generators in more detail.

Generator from scanner

Before you independently make the simplest 2 kW wind generator, for example, you will need to select a motor of the appropriate power suitable for these purposes.

In this case, to assemble a wind generator for a house with your own hands, you can use an old, but not yet expired, engine from a scanner (see photo below).

Before assembling a horizontal wind turbine, it is recommended to pay attention to the following important points:

• At a rotor speed of 200-300 rpm, the voltage can be raised to a maximum of 12 volts, and the power generated by it will be no more than 3 watts;
• This will only be enough to charge a small battery;
• To assemble a more powerful device, the number of revolutions will have to be raised to 1000, but in this case a gearbox will be required;
• On the other hand, if the assembled transmission chain contains an additional element, then the braking torque increases, which will lead to a decrease in the efficiency of the entire device (decrease in its recoil).

When using a reducer, the cost of the converter increases significantly, which should also be taken into account when choosing its scheme. In a situation where a decision is made to assemble a wind generator with your own hands without a gearbox, the contractor will definitely need the following components and parts:

• A small and powerful motor taken from an old scanner;
• A set of any rectifier diodes in the amount of 8 pieces required for the assembly of 2 rectifier bridges;
• A capacitor with a capacity of at least 1000 microfarads (more is possible) and a stabilizer of the LM7812 type;
• Mechanical parts for making blades and hubs (plastic pipe and aluminum billet).

The figure below shows the electrical diagram of the future generator.

It follows from it that from the output of the stepper motor, the EMF induced in its windings goes to the rectifier bridge with a smoothing filter connected to its output (capacitor C).

Note! Since the motor contains two separate windings, two diode assemblies are required to rectify the AC current.

After the smoothing electric filter, the rectified voltage goes to the LM7812 stabilizer, at the output of which a constant voltage of 12 volts is formed (if necessary, it can be used to charge the batteries).

Manufacturing of the drive (blades)

An arbitrary-shaped aluminum plate is taken as a drive unit, convenient for axial fixation of 3 blades spaced 120 degrees apart (photo below).

Do-it-yourself working blades for a wind generator are cut out of an ordinary plastic pipe, on which 3 blanks 50 cm long and 10 cm wide are pre-marked with a felt-tip pen.

After cutting, their edges are simply processed with a file and sandpaper, and then they are fixed on an aluminum sleeve plate, which is subsequently attached to the engine shaft near its flange.

Once the vane structure has been manufactured, it is fixed to the shaft by means of several clamping bolts, ensuring a rigid installation in a miniature power plant.

Additional Information. Hand-made homemade blade blanks should be made with a margin (their total number can be increased to four or five).

The need for this is due to the fact that over time, a self-made unit wears out, and with strong gusts, the blades sometimes break. To extend their life, more wear-resistant materials can be used in the manufacture. In addition to this option, you can assemble a wind generator with blades made of aluminum alloys.

Installation and configuration

Balancing of plastic blades is carried out by cutting off excess material from the ends, and the angle of inclination is adjusted by bending them under heating. The electric generator itself is bolted onto a piece of plastic pipe, which in turn is welded to the vertical support.

The final assembly of the generator is reduced to fixing this support inside the vertically installed mast tube using a bearing. Thanks to this installation, the entire structure can freely rotate 360 \u200b\u200bdegrees around its axis.

The board with electronics is fixed directly on the body of the moving generator, and the voltage is removed from it through slip rings with a set of brushes. A self-made wind generator for a private house is fixed at a height of about 5-8 meters.

Vertical wind turbine

You can build a 220 volt wind generator with your own hands in the form of a vertically oriented structure, the drawings of which are given below.

The blades of this design are small fragments of an iron barrel cut along a pre-prepared profile. And as the basis on which they are fixed, you can choose a hub from a car's DC generator.

Before making a generator of this type, it is necessary to take into account that, due to the low speed of the original installation, the power of the current generator will be limited and is unlikely to exceed 2-3 kW. To increase them, you will need to make or buy a special converter with a gear ratio of 1:12 (it is called a multiplier or gearbox). With one rotation of the blades 360 degrees, the generator shaft will make 12 revolutions.

There is enough information on the Internet about how to make an electric generator with your own hands from a car generator. It also indicates that, despite the additional load introduced by the gearbox, it still does not exceed the same indicator for an automobile circuit with a starter.

The blades for such a product can be cut from an aluminum sheet with dimensions corresponding to the prepared profile. When installed on a wind turbine used for heating, for example, at least 6 of them are required.

Magnetic generator

Those looking for information on how to assemble a generator in a normal home should be aware of another common method of making it. We will talk about such a well-known design as a generator with neodymium magnets.

It is quite simple to make such a unit. It is based on the hub from the wheel, which serves as a rotor, after which about 20 neodymium magnets are glued to it by means of a special composition. For greater strength, they are additionally filled with epoxy on top.

Stator windings are manufactured in the form of coils with a total number of turns of the order of 1000-1200. A device based on neodymium magnets of 5 kW of power, for example, should provide a constant current of about 6 amperes at the output of the rectifier. This is enough to charge a 12-volt battery.

In conclusion of the review on how to make an electric generator with your own hands, we note that for its manufacture only a little skill and concentration is required from the performer. Subject to a careful study of the materials given here, it will not be difficult to assemble the generator device.

Video

Every year people are looking for alternative sources. A self-made power plant from an old car generator will come in handy in remote areas where there is no connection to the general grid. It will be able to freely charge rechargeable batteries, as well as provide the operation of several household appliances and lighting. Where to use the energy, what will be generated, you decide, as well as assemble it yourself or purchase it from manufacturers, which are abundant on the market. In this article, we will help you figure out the do-it-yourself wind generator assembly scheme from those materials that any owner always has.

Consider the principle of operation of a wind farm. Under a fast wind flow, the rotor and propellers are activated, after which the main shaft comes into motion, rotating the gearbox, and then generation occurs. We get electricity at the exit. Therefore, the higher the speed of rotation of the mechanism, the greater the productivity. Accordingly, when placing structures, take into account the terrain, relief, know the areas of the territories where the vortex velocity is high.

Assembly instructions from a car generator

To do this, you need to prepare all the components in advance. The most important element is the generator. It is best to take a tractor or bus, it is able to generate much more energy. But if this is not possible, then it is more likely to do with weaker units. To assemble the device you will need:
voltmeter
battery charging relay
blade steel
12 volt battery
box for wires
4 bolts with nuts and washers
clamps for fastening

Assembling a device for a 220v home

When everything you need is ready, proceed to the assembly. Each of the options may have additional details, but they are clearly specified directly in the manual.
First of all, assemble the wind wheel - the main structural element, because it is this part that will transform the wind energy into mechanical. It is best if it has 4 blades. Remember that the smaller the number, the more mechanical vibration and the more difficult it will be to balance it. They are made from sheet steel or an iron barrel. They should not wear the same shape as you saw in the old mills, but resemble the wing type. Their aerodynamic drag is much lower, and the efficiency is higher. After you, with the help of a grinder, cut out a windmill with blades with a diameter of 1.2-1.8 meters, it, together with the rotor, must be attached to the axis of the generator by drilling holes and connecting with bolts.

Assembling the electrical circuit

We fix the wires and connect them directly to the battery and voltage converter. It is required to use everything that at school in physics lessons you were taught to tinker when assembling an electrical circuit. Before starting development, think about what kW you need. It is important to note that without the subsequent alteration and rewinding of the stator, they are not at all suitable, the operating speed is 1.2 thousand to 6 thousand rpm, and this is not enough for energy production. It is for this reason that it is required to get rid of the excitation coil. To raise the voltage level, rewind the stator with a thin wire. Typically, the resulting power will be 150-300 watts at 10 m / s. After assembly, the rotor will magnetise well, as if power was connected to it.

Rotary self-made wind generators are very reliable in operation and economically profitable, their only imperfection is the fear of strong gusts of wind. The principle of operation is simple - a vortex through the blades makes the mechanism spin. In the process of these intense rotations, the energy is generated, the voltage you need. Such a power plant is a very successful way to provide electricity to a small house, of course, in order to pump water out of the well, its capacity will not be enough, but it is possible to watch TV or turn on the lights in all rooms with its help.

From a home fan

The fan itself may be inoperative, but only a few parts are required from it - this is the stand and the screw itself. For the design, you need a small stepper motor soldered by a diode bridge in order for it to give out constant voltage, a shampoo bottle, a plastic water pipe about 50 cm long, a plug for it and a plastic bucket lid.

A sleeve is made on the machine and fixed in the connector from the wings of the disassembled fan. This bushing will hold the generator. After fixing, you need to start making the case. Cut off the bottom of the shampoo bottle using a machine or manually. During cutting, it is also required to leave a hole of 10 in order to insert an axle turned from an aluminum rod into it. Attach it with a bolt and nut to the bottle. After all the wires have been soldered, one more hole is made in the bottle body to output these same wires. We stretch them and fix them in a bottle on top of the generator. They must match in shape and the body of the bottle must reliably hide all of its parts.

Shank for our device

In order for it to catch wind streams from different directions in the future, assemble the liner using a pre-prepared tube. The tail section will be secured with a twist-off shampoo cap. A hole is also made in it and, after putting a plug on one end of the tube, they stretch it and fix it to the main body of the bottle. On the other hand, the tube is cut with a hacksaw and the wing of the shank is cut out of the lid of the plastic bucket with scissors, it should have a round shape. All you need to do is simply cut off the edges of the bucket that secured it to the main container.

We attach the USB output to the back of the stand and put all the received parts into one. You can mount your radio or charge your phone through this built-in USB port. Of course, it does not have strong power from a household fan, but it can still provide lighting for one light bulb.

DIY wind generator from a stepper motor

A device made of a stepper motor generates about 3 watts even at low rotation speeds. The voltage can rise above 12 V, which allows charging a small battery. A stepper motor from a printer can be inserted as a generator. In this mode, the stepper motor generates an alternating current, and it can be easily converted into direct current using several diode bridges and capacitors. You can assemble the scheme with your own hands. The stabilizer is installed behind the bridges, as a result, we get a constant output voltage. An LED can be installed to monitor eye tension. In order to reduce the loss of 220 V, Schottky diodes are used to rectify it.

The blades will be PVC pipe. The workpiece is drawn on the pipe and then cut out with a cutting disc. The span of the screw should be about 50 cm, and the width should be 10 cm. It is necessary to grind a sleeve with a flange to the size of the SM shaft. It is pushed onto the motor shaft and secured with screws; plastic “screws” will be attached directly to the flanges. Also carry out balancing - pieces of plastic are cut from the ends of the wings, the angle of inclination is changed by heating and bending. A piece of pipe is inserted into the device itself, to which it is also bolted. As for the electrical board, it is better to place it below, and bring the power to it. Up to 6 wires come out of the stepper motor, which correspond to two coils. They will require slip rings to transfer electricity from the moving part. Having connected all the parts together, we proceed to testing the structure, which will start revolutions at 1 m / s.

Wind turbine made of motor-wheel and magnets

Not everyone knows that a wind generator from a motor-wheel can be assembled with your own hands in a short time, the main thing is to stock up on the necessary materials in advance. The Savonius rotor is best suited for it; it can be purchased ready-made or independently. It consists of two semi-cylindrical blades and an overlap, from which the rotor rotation axes are obtained. Choose the material for their product yourself: wood, fiberglass or pvc pipe, which is the simplest and best option. We make the junction of the parts, where you need to make holes for fastening in accordance with the number of blades. You will need a steel swivel mechanism to make the device withstand any weather.

From ferrite magnets

A wind generator with magnets will be difficult for inexperienced craftsmen to master, but you can still try. So, there should be four poles, each will contain two ferrite magnets. They will be covered by metal pads with a thickness of a little less than a millimeter to distribute a more even flow. There should be 6 main coils, rewound with a thick wire and should be placed through each magnet, occupying a space corresponding to the field length. The fastening of the winding circuits can be on the hub from the grinder, in the middle of which a pre-machined bolt is installed.

The flow of energy supply is regulated by the height of the stator fixing above the rotor, the higher it is, the less sticking, respectively, the power decreases. For the windmill, you need to weld a support-stand, and fix 4 large blades on the stator disk, which you can cut out of an old metal barrel or a lid from a plastic bucket. At an average speed of rotation, it gives out about 20 watts.

Wind turbine design on neodymium magnets

If you want to know about the creation, you need to make the basis of the car hub with brake discs, this choice is quite justified, because it is powerful, reliable and well balanced. After you clean the hub of paint and dirt, proceed to the placement of the neodymium magnets. They will need 20 pieces per disc, the size should be 25x8 millimeters.

Magnets should be placed taking into account the alternation of the poles; before gluing it is better to create a paper template or draw lines dividing the disk into sectors so as not to confuse the poles. It is very important that they, facing each other, have different poles, that is, they are attracted. Glue them with super glue. Lift the curbs around the edges of the discs, and wrap tape or plasticine in the center to prevent spreading. In order for the product to work at its maximum efficiency, the stator coils must be sized correctly. An increase in the number of poles leads to an increase in the frequency of the current in the coils, due to this, the device gives more power even at a low frequency of rotation. The coils are wound with thicker wires in order to reduce the resistance in them.

When the main part is ready, the blades are made, as in the previous case, and they are fixed to the mast, which can be made from an ordinary plastic pipe with a diameter of 160 mm. In the end, our generator, working on the principle of magnetic levitation, with a diameter of one and a half meters and six wings, at 8m / s, is capable of providing up to 300 watts.

The price of disappointment or an expensive weather vane

Today there are many options for how to make a device for converting wind energy, each method is effective in its own way. If you are familiar with the methodology for manufacturing equipment that generates energy, it will not matter on the basis of what to make it, the main thing is that it meets the intended scheme, and gives good power at the output.

We talked about in one of the previous materials. Today, your attention will be presented to the wind turbine models built by users of our portal. We will also share useful tips to help you build the installation and avoid mistakes. Building a wind generator with your own hands is a difficult task. Not every (even experienced) practitioner can deal with its solution accurately. However, any error detected in time can be corrected. That's what the head and hands are for the master.

The article addresses the following questions:

• What materials and what drawings can be used to make wind turbine blades.
• Assembly procedure for the axial generator.
• Is it worth remaking a car generator for wind turbines and how to do it correctly.
• How to protect a wind turbine from the storm.
• At what height to install the wind generator.

Blade manufacturing

If you do not yet have experience in making screws for home wind turbines on your own, we recommend not looking for complicated solutions, but using a simple method that has proven its effectiveness in practice. It consists in the manufacture of blades from an ordinary PVC sewer pipe. This method is simple, affordable, and cheap.

Michael26 FORUMHOUSE user

Now about the blades: made from 160th red sewer pipe with a foamed inner layer. I did it according to the calculation shown in the photo.

The "red" pipe was mentioned by the user for a reason. It is this material that holds its shape better, is resistant to temperature extremes and lasts longer (in comparison with gray PVC pipes).

Most often in home wind power, pipes with a diameter of 160 to 200 mm are used. You should start your experiments with them.

The shape and configuration of the blades are parameters that depend on the diameter of the pipe from which they are made, on the diameter of the propeller, on the speed of the working propeller and other design characteristics. In order not to bother yourself with aerodynamic calculations, you can use the one posted on our portal by its author. It will allow you to determine the geometry of the blades, substituting your own values \u200b\u200bin the calculation table (pipe diameter, propeller speed, etc.).

Michael26

I got used to sawing with a jigsaw. It turns out really quickly and efficiently. Note: Be sure to place a large free play on the jigsaw so that the file does not bite or break.

Axial generator design

When making a choice between a three-phase or single-phase generator, it is better to opt for the first option. The three-phase power source is less susceptible to vibrations due to uneven load, and allows you to get constant power at the same rotor speed.

BOB691774 FORUMHOUSE user

Single-phase generators are not worth winding: they have been tested and proven in practice for a long time. Only three phases can get decent generators.

The calculated parameters of the generator, which we talked about in our previous material, are determined by the current needs for electricity. And so that in practice they correspond to the amount of power generated, the design of the axial generator must meet certain requirements:

1. The thickness of all discs (rotor and stator) must be equal to the thickness of the magnets.
2. The optimal ratio of coils and magnets is 3: 4 (for every 3 coils - 4 magnets). For 9 coils - 12 magnets (6 for each rotor disk), for 12 coils - 16 magnets, and so on.
3. The optimum distance between two adjacent magnets located on the same disc is equal to the width of these magnets.

Increasing the distance between two adjacent magnets will result in uneven power generation. It is possible to reduce this distance, but it is better, nevertheless, to observe the optimal parameters.

Aleksei2011 FORUMHOUSE user

It is a mistake to make the distance between the magnets equal to half the width of the magnet. One person was right when he said that the distance should not be less than the width of the magnet.

If you do not delve into the boring theory, then the scheme of overlapping the coils of an axial generator with permanent magnets in practice should look like this.

At each moment of time, the same poles of the magnets similarly overlap the windings of the coils of a single phase.

Aleksei2011

This is how it is in real life: everything coincides with the picture by almost 100%, only the coils differ quite a bit in shape.

Let us consider the assembly sequence of an axial generator using the example of a device assembled by a user Aleksei2011.

Aleksei2011

This time I am making a disk axial generator. The diameter of the discs is 220 mm, the magnets are 50 * 30 * 10 mm. In total - 16 magnets (8 pieces per disc). I wound the coils with a wire Ø1.06 mm, 75 turns each. Coils - 12 pieces.

Stator manufacturing

As you can see in the photo, the coils are shaped like an elongated drop of water. This is done so that the direction of movement of the magnets is perpendicular to the long side sections of the coil (this is where the maximum EMF is induced).

If round magnets are used, the inner diameter of the coil should roughly match the diameter of the magnet. If square magnets are used, the coil turns must be configured so that the magnets overlap the straight lengths of the turns. Installing longer magnets does not make much sense, because the maximum EMF values \u200b\u200boccur only in those sections of the conductor that are perpendicular to the direction of movement of the magnetic field.

The manufacture of the stator begins with winding the coils. The easiest way to wind the coils is to use a pre-prepared template. Templates range from small hand tools to miniature homemade machines.

The coils of each individual phase are connected in series: the end of the first coil is connected to the beginning of the fourth, the end of the fourth to the beginning of the seventh, etc.

Recall that when the phases are connected according to the "star" scheme, the ends of the windings (phases) of the device are connected into one common node, which will be the neutral of the generator. In this case, three free wires (the beginning of each phase) are connected to a three-phase diode bridge.

When all the coils are assembled into a single circuit, you can prepare a mold for pouring the stator. After that, we immerse the entire electrical part in the mold and fill it with epoxy.

Making a rotor for an axial shaft

Most often, homemade axial generators are made on the basis of a car hub and brake discs compatible with it (you can use homemade metal discs, as did Aleksei2011). The scheme will be as follows.

In this case, the stator diameter is larger than the rotor diameter. This allows the stator to be attached to the wind turbine frame using metal studs.

Aleksei2011

Studs for fastening the stator M6 are (in the amount of 3 pieces). This is solely for the generator test. Subsequently, there will be 6 of them (M8). I think that for a generator of such power, this will be quite enough.

In some cases, the stator disc is attached to the stationary axis of the generator. This approach makes it possible to make the design of the generator less overall, but the principles of operation of the device do not change from this.

Opposite magnets should be directed towards each other with opposite poles: if on the first disk the magnet faces the generator stator with its south pole "S", then the opposite magnet located on the second disk should face the stator with its pole "N". In this case, the magnets located side by side on the same disk must also be oriented in different directions.

The strength of the magnetic field created by neodymium magnets is quite high. Therefore, the distance between the stator discs and the generator rotor should be adjusted using a stud-threaded connection.

This is a design option in which the rotor diameter is larger than the stator diameter. In this case, the stator is attached to the stationary axis of the device.

Also, to adjust the distance between the discs, you can use spacers (or washers) that are installed on the stationary axis of the generator.

The distance between the magnets and the stator should be minimal (1 ... 2 mm). You can glue the magnets on the generator discs with ordinary superglue. It is best to stick the magnets using a pre-prepared template (for example, from plywood).

Here is what the user pre-tested generator showed Aleksei2011using a screwdriver: at 310 rpm, 42 volts were removed from the device (star connection). From one phase, 22 volts are obtained. The design resistance of one phase is 0.95 Ohm. After connecting the battery, the screwdriver was able to spin the generator up to 170 rpm, the charging current was 3.1A.

After lengthy experimentation with propeller upgrades and other smaller-scale improvements, the generator showed its maximum performance.

Aleksei2011

Finally, the wind came to us, and I recorded the maximum power of the windmill: the wind intensified, and gusts at times reached 12-14 m / s. The maximum recorded power is 476 watts. With a wind of 10 m / s, the wind turbine produces about 300 watts.

Wind turbine from car generator

A popular solution among people who practice the manufacture of wind turbines with their own hands is the alteration of an automobile generator for alternative needs. Despite all the attractiveness of such an undertaking, it should be noted that an automobile generator in the form in which it is installed on a vehicle engine is rather problematic to use as part of a wind power plant. Let's figure out why:

1. First, the winding of the coils of a standard car generator consists of only 5 ... 7 turns. Therefore, in order for such a generator to start charging the battery, its rotor must be spun up to about 1200 rpm.
2. Secondly, the magnetic induction in a standard car generator is due to an excitation coil built into the rotor of the device. In order for such a generator to work without connecting to an additional power source, it must be equipped with permanent magnets (preferably neodymium) and make certain adjustments to the stator winding.

Michael26

The converted autogenerator (for magnets) has the right to life. I have two of them now. At 8 m / s wind with two-meter propellers, they give an honest 300 watts each.

Alteration of an automobile generator for wind turbines requires a certain skill. Therefore, it is advisable to start it with the experience of rewinding induction motors or generators with a standard cylindrical stator (both, if desired, can be turned into an alternative power plant). Alteration of an automobile generator has its own nuances. It will be much easier to understand them if you apply who have managed to achieve certain success in this area.

Cable kink protection

As you know, the wind has no constant direction. And if your wind turbine rotates around its axis like a weather vane, then without additional protection measures, the cable going from the wind generator to other elements of the system will quickly twist and become unusable within a few days. We bring to your attention several ways to protect yourself from such troubles.

Method one: detachable connection

The simplest but completely impractical method of protection is to install a detachable cable connection. The connector allows you to manually untangle the coiled cable by disconnecting the wind turbine from the system.

w00w00 FORUMHOUSE user

I know that some people at the bottom put something like a plug with a socket. Twisted the cable - disconnected it from the socket. Then - unscrewed and stuck the plug back. And the mast does not need to be lowered, and current collectors are not needed. I read this on the forum on homemade windmills. According to the author, everything works and does not twist the cable too often.

Method two: using a hard cable

Some users advise connecting thick, resilient and rigid cables (eg welding cables) to the generator. The method, at first glance, is unreliable, but it has the right to life.

user343 FORUMHOUSE user

Found on one site: Our method of protection is to use a hard rubber coated welding cable. The problem of twisted wires in the design of small wind turbines is highly overrated, and welding cable # 4 ... # 6 has a special quality: the hard rubber prevents the cable from twisting and prevents the wind turbine from turning in the same direction.

Method three: installing slip rings

In our opinion, only the installation of special slip rings will help to completely protect the cable from twisting. This method of protection was implemented by the user in the design of his wind turbine. Michael 26.

Wind turbine protection from storm

It is about protecting the device from hurricanes and strong gusts of wind. In practice, it is implemented in two ways:

1. By limiting the speed of the wind wheel using an electromagnetic brake.
2. Driving the plane of rotation of the propeller from the direct impact of the wind flow.

The first method is based on a wind turbine. We have already talked about it in one of the previous articles.

The second method involves the installation of a folding tail, which allows the propeller to be directed towards the wind flow at a nominal wind strength, and during a storm, on the contrary, to take the propeller out of the wind.

Protection by folding the tail takes place according to the following scheme.

1. In calm weather, the tail is slightly inclined (down and to the side).
2. At rated wind speed, the tail straightens and the propeller becomes parallel to the air flow.
3. When the wind speed exceeds the nominal values \u200b\u200b(for example, 10 m / s), the wind pressure on the propeller becomes greater than the force created by the weight of the tail. At this point, the tail begins to fold, and the propeller leaves from under the wind.
4. When the wind speed reaches critical values, the plane of rotation of the propeller becomes perpendicular to the wind flow.

When the wind weakens, the tail, under its own weight, returns to its original position and turns the propeller towards the wind. In order for the tail to be able to return to its original position without additional springs, a swivel mechanism with an inclined kingpin (hinge) is used, which is installed on the tail pivot axis.

The optimal tail area is 15% ... 20% of the wind wheel area.

The most common version of mechanical protection of a wind generator is presented to your attention. In one form or another, it is successfully used in practice by the users of our portal.

WatchCat FORUMHOUSE user

In a storm, the propeller should be slowed down by pulling it out of the wind. For me, for example, when the wind is too strong, the wind turbine overturns the screw up. Not the best option, because the return to the working position is accompanied by a noticeable blow. But in ten years the windmill did not break down.

A few words about the correct installation of the wind turbine

When choosing the place and height of the mast that would be optimal for installing a wind generator, you should focus on a variety of factors: the recommended height, the presence of obstacles near the wind turbine, as well as your own observations and measurements.

In order to calculate the optimal mast height for a home wind turbine, it is necessary to add another 10 meters to the height of the nearest obstacle (tree, building, etc.), which is within a radius of 100 meters from the wind turbine mast. This gives you the height of the bottom point of the propeller.

Leo2 FORUMHOUSE user

In the USA, for example, the minimum recommended mast height for wind turbines with a capacity of several kW is 15 m, but the higher the better. The bottom of the wind turbine must be at least 10 m higher than the nearest tallest obstacle. Of course, it is necessary to first survey the terrain and choose the optimal mast height. Only a very experienced specialist can do this by eye. In all other cases, careful measurements should be taken throughout the year (at least).

In the process of installing self-made wind turbines, theory very often diverges from practice, therefore, on average, home-made masts have a height of 6 to 12 meters. The main advantage of self-made towers (masts) is that if any parameters do not meet your needs, the design, dimensions and installation height can be changed at any time.

Before carrying out welding work related to repair or modernization of the structure, the generator must be turned off and removed from the mast. Otherwise, the permanent magnets can be damaged (demagnetized) under the influence of welding currents.

The rich experience of FORUMHOUSE users is collected in one of the sections of our construction portal. If you are seriously interested in alternative energy, we recommend reading the article on (batteries). Surely, you will also be interested in a small video about the features of the correct construction of a powerful and functional power supply system for a country house, which is connected to a standard transformer substation according to the classical scheme.

A wind generator made from a car generator can help in a situation where there is no possibility of connecting to a power line in a private house. Or it will serve as an auxiliary source of alternative energy. Such a device can be made with your own hands from scrap materials, using the experience of folk craftsmen. Photos and videos will demonstrate the process of creating a homemade wind turbine.

There is a huge variety of species of wind turbines and drawings for their manufacture. But any design includes the following required elements:

• generator;
• blades;
• storage battery;
• mast;
• the electronic unit.

With some skills, you can make a wind generator with your own hands

In addition, it is necessary to think over in advance the control and distribution system of electricity, draw an installation diagram.

Wind wheel

The blades are perhaps the most important part of a wind turbine. The operation of the remaining units of the device will depend on the design. They are made from different materials. Even from a plastic sewer pipe. The blades from the pipe are easy to manufacture, are cheap and are not affected by moisture. The manufacturing procedure for the wind turbine is as follows:

1. The length of the blade must be calculated. The pipe diameter should be equal to 1/5 of the total footage. For example, if the blade is a meter long, then a pipe with a diameter of 20 cm will do.
2. We cut the pipe lengthwise into 4 parts with a jigsaw.
3. We make a wing from one part, which will serve as a template for cutting out subsequent blades.
4. Smooth the burrs at the edges with an abrasive.
5. The blades are fixed to an aluminum disc with welded strips for fastening.
6. Next, a generator is screwed to this disk.

Wind wheel blades

After assembly, the wind wheel needs balancing. It is fixed horizontally on a tripod. The operation is carried out in a closed room from the wind. In case of correct balancing, the wheel should not move. If the blades rotate themselves, then they need to be sharpened until the whole structure is balanced.

Only after successful completion of this procedure, you should proceed to checking the accuracy of rotation of the blades, they should rotate in the same plane without skewing. An error of 2 mm is allowed.

Generator assembly diagram

Mast

For the manufacture of the mast, an old water pipe with a diameter of at least 15 cm and a length of about 7 m is suitable.If there are buildings within 30 m from the proposed installation site, then the height of the structure is adjusted upward. For efficient operation of the wind turbine, the blade is raised above the obstacle by at least 1 m.

The base of the mast and the pegs for fastening the guy wires are concreted. Clamps with bolts are welded to the stakes. For stretch marks, a galvanized 6 mm cable is used.

Council. The assembled mast has considerable weight; for manual installation, you will need a counterweight from a pipe with a load.

Alteration of the generator

For the manufacture of a wind turbine generator, a generator from any car is suitable. Their designs are similar to each other, and the alteration is reduced to rewinding the stator wire and making a rotor on neodymium magnets. Holes are drilled in the rotor poles to fix the magnets. Install them by alternating poles. The rotor is wrapped in paper, and the voids between the magnets are filled with epoxy.

Car generator

In the same way, you can remake an engine from an old washing machine. Only magnets in this case are glued at an angle to avoid sticking.

The new winding is rewound along the coil onto the stator tooth. You can make a loose winding, it's as convenient as anyone. The more the number of turns, the more efficient the generator will be. The coils are wound in one direction according to a three-phase scheme.

The finished generator is worth trying out and measuring the data. If at 300 rpm the generator produces about 30 volts, this is a good result.

Generator for wind turbine from car generator

Final assembly

The generator frame is welded from a shaped pipe. The tail is made of galvanized sheet metal. The pivot shaft is a tube with two bearings. The generator is attached to the mast so that the distance from the blade to the mast is at least 25 cm. For safety reasons, it is worth choosing a windless day for the final assembly and installation of the mast. The blades under the influence of strong wind can bend and break on the mast.

To use batteries to power equipment that operates on a 220 V network, you will need to install a voltage conversion inverter. The battery capacity is selected individually for the wind generator. This indicator depends on the wind speed on the ground, the power of the connected equipment and the frequency of its use.

Wind generator device

To prevent the battery from being damaged by overcharging, you need a voltage controller. You can make it yourself if you have sufficient knowledge in electronics, or buy a ready-made one. There are many controllers on the market for alternative energy mechanisms.

Council. To prevent the blade from breaking in strong winds, a simple device is installed - a protective weather vane.

Wind turbine maintenance

A wind generator, like any other device, needs technical control and maintenance. For the smooth operation of the windmill, the following works are periodically carried out.

The scheme of the wind generator

1. The current collector requires the greatest attention. Generator brushes need cleaning, lubrication and maintenance adjustments every two months.
2. At the first signs of a blade malfunction (vibration and imbalance of the wheel), the wind generator is lowered to the ground and repaired.
3. Once every three years, metal parts are coated with anti-corrosion paint.
4. The fastenings and tension of the cables are regularly checked.

Now that the installation is complete, you can connect the appliances and use the electricity. At least while it's windy.

DIY wind turbine generator: video

Do-it-yourself vertical wind generator, drawings, photos, video of a wind turbine with a vertical axis.

Wind generators are classified according to the type of placement of the rotating axis (rotor) into vertical and horizontal. We considered the design of a wind turbine with a horizontal rotor in the last article, now let's talk about a wind turbine with a vertical rotor.

Diagram of an axial generator for a wind generator.

Manufacturing of a wind wheel.

The wind wheel (turbine) of a vertical wind generator consists of two supports, upper and lower, as well as blades.

The wind wheel is made from sheets of aluminum or stainless steel, and the wind wheel can also be cut from a thin-walled barrel. The height of the propeller must be at least 1 meter.

In this wind wheel, the bending angle of the blades sets the rotational speed of the rotor, the greater the bend, the greater the rotational speed.

The wind wheel is bolted directly to the generator pulley.

To install a vertical wind generator, you can use any mast, the manufacture of a mast is described in detail in this.

Wind generator connection diagram.

The generator is connected to the controller, which in turn is connected to the battery. It is more practical to use a car battery as an energy storage device. Since household appliances are powered by AC, we will need an inverter to convert DC 12V to AC 220V.

For connection, a copper wire with a cross section of up to 2.5 squares is used. The connection diagram is described in detail.

Video showing the wind generator in operation.