Diy Wind Power

Do-it-yourself Wind Power

So you want a DIY wind power project. Before you jump up and head to your local DIY center or go on the internet and start searching sites that offer kits for sale to the general public, there are a few issues you should be aware of. First, what exactly do you want? Do you want to recharge batteries or power major appliances in your house? If it is a big demand project you will need to look into the zoning laws for your area. If you are in an urban setting, chances are you will not be able, due to zoning laws, to erect a tall tower that is required to run a turbine that will power your house with electricity. 

DIY Wind Power- Getting Ready

DIY Wind Power- About Wind Speed

You will also need to know the average wind speed where you live. If you do not have an average wind speed of ten miles per hour, you probably do not have enough wind speed to keep your turbine going fast enough to create the electricity required to convert to your home. However, there are various types of verticle axis wind turbines coming on the market that are going to be easier to install, have no need for high towers, and will not require 10mph wind speeds. the company Bluenergy has even developed a verticle wind turbine that incorperates flexible solar cells as well !

DIY Wind Power- Purchasing the Equipment

There are four ways you can purchase a small wind generator. You can purchase one that comes with installation included. This means that a technician will come out to your home and install and set up your turbine and all you have to do is flip a switch when you are ready to run your electricity. The one down side to this is that you will need to call the technician and spend extra money if any thing ever goes wrong with the equipment. The second means is by purchasing a wind power kit that need only be installed by you.

You will receive detailed instructions on how to get your turbine hooked up to your house and by doing it yourself, you will not have to pay a technician to install it. Another great aspect to a do-it-yourself wind power project is that since you have installed it, you will have a decent understanding of how the unit works and if any problems should arise, you will be able to deal with them in most cases without having to call in the technician. This will save you even more money in the long run. Another way to obtain cheap wind power is to buy a kit that comes to you disassembled. You will have to use the items sent to you to construct your turbine from the bottom up.

This is a less expensive method. You will also have the added benefit of knowing exactly how the unit works and you will be able to handle any maintenance or repairs that are required. The final way you can purchase a wind power turbine is to get a blue print that will give you detailed instructions on where to purchase common parts and how to build the unit from complete scratch. This also has the added benefit of knowing how the unit operates and being able to fix it or maintain it yourself.

DIY Wind Power- The Potential Costs

It can cost up to $40,000 for a wind power system on a tower to be completely installed on your property. Unless you are wealthy, this may not be a practical solution to your energy needs. The cost for purchasing a homemade wind power unit that you install is substantially less, but can still take a nice chunk out the check book. The most cost effective way to get a wind power turbine installed is to use the blue print method where the building and installing of your turbine is completely do-it- yourself. Over a long period of time, any type of wind power turbine is a less expensive and more eco friendly type of electricity.

Look at your electric bill, are you spending a high amount on electricity or is your bill in the average range? It may not make economic sense to install this type of system if your power bills are not that high. If, however, you are moving to an area that is not already receiving electricity from the local municipality, you may find that a do it yourself wind power generator may fit your needs perfectly. Finally, you will want to check for any state and federal offers for grants and incentives for those who are using wind power turbines. This can make the cost of purchasing a unit like this  much more affordable.

When using wind power turbines as an alternative to your local utilities, you save around eighty percent on your total yearly spending for power. In some cases, you will not need to use local utilities at all, or only when there is no wind or if you unit is being repaired. There is more info on the cost of wind power here.

DIY Wind Power- Be Prepared !

If you choose to build a unit yourself, there are few steps you will have to take in order to get the unit running. First you need a good wind generator plan. You will need to understand basic mechanics and tools before trying to build you own unit. If you do not know the difference between a flat head and Phillips head screwdriver, you may want to learn a bit more about tools before you start to build a turbine.

If you are uneasy looking under the hood of your car, this may not be the do it yourself project you can accomplish without facing your mechanical fears. This is not to say that you cannot do it or that it cannot be done, you simply need to become more comfortable with the process. Spend some time familiarizing yourself with any issue you may have before you start building your unit so that you will have a solid knowledge of what you are getting yourself in to. This will go a long way when you begin your do it yourself wind power project.

Do not be intimidated or overwhelmed by the steps required to build your own wind power turbine. If you take your time and have patience, you will have a unit that will pay for itself in just a short period of time. The benefits gained by having your own power source, even if it is in conjunction with your local utilities, will far out weigh the time spent building it. For an inspiring story about a great do-it-yourself wind power project, see the video at the bottom of this page.

DIY Wind Power Master William Kamkwamba

Who is William Kamkwamba? When he was just 14 years old William Kamkwamba, a Malawian inventor, built his family an electricity generating windmill with spare parts, and plans that he found in a library book. Below is a video of a talk that Kamkwamba gave at Ted. (www.ted.com) You can also read his fascinating and inspiring story at his blog.

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