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Forum Index : Windmills : Can somebody help me to get started?
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The_Hermit_1971 Newbie  Joined: 22/09/2008 Location: Puerto RicoPosts: 5 |
I'm a complete newbie to renewable energy and I was wondering if somebody can explain to me how to make a generator from a motor, pvc pipe blades, etc in order to make my own windmill. A link to a tutorial would also be fine. I would like to start with something small enough to charge a marine battery with no appliances attached. Please keep in mind that I'm not so skilled and I have a limited budget. Thanks in advance. |
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Dodgeman Newbie Joined: 19/07/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 33 |
I was where you are, about 1.5 years ago, Heres a link to what little I know and have done so far, maybe it will help. link to my stuff I dont know it all, but during my experiments, I have had a few setbacks that you could possibly avoid. I am waiting for enough wind to test drive my newest one now. Hang around a while and see, maybe this one will work  |
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| The_Hermit_1971 Newbie Joined: 22/09/2008 Location: Puerto RicoPosts: 5 |
Thank you for taking the time to reply to my post Dodgeman. Unfortunately I don't understand half the words in your post. I'm a complete newbie and I need concepts and procedures to be explained real slow. Maybe I should do some research and repost at a later time with more specific questions. If that is the case, can somebody tell me where I can find those concepts explained in a way a real newbie can understand? |
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Tinker Guru  Joined: 07/11/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1904 |
Have you tried 'Google'? Just type in the word you don't understand or a brief question about the 'concept' and you'll get heaps of hits to sort through and most likely find an answer. The internet is a wonderful resource, use it
Once you are up to speed and to a level to be able to ask specific questions come back here and ask. By 'up to speed' I would suggest to be able to follow Dodgeman's ramblings, they will all make sense eventually. Just take your time. Klaus |
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Gill Senior Member  Joined: 11/11/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 669 |
G'day hermit, I thought this site gives a good idea of concepts through it's various projects. The DIY windmill scope is so broad and is heavily influenced by the builders knowledge, existing skills, resources and budget that tutorials are nonexistent as such, but research of the web and it's various projects reveals details that can and must be applied to most constructions. We all gained our knowledge that way, so most are prepared to help when someone gets stuck. Though it's impossible to mind read a situation and state "this is what you should do without you first having any background knowledge". So research, research research. That is the start. No one can build a windmill over the phone, but you sure can learn that way. Look forward to hearing of your projects in the future.  was working fine... til the smoke got out. Cheers Gill _Cairns, FNQ |
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| The_Hermit_1971 Newbie Joined: 22/09/2008 Location: Puerto RicoPosts: 5 |
I used Google but didn't find any useable information about the following: I have an old machine washer motor and would like to know if it can be used as a generator. The motor is like the one found here I read that a machine washer motor needs to be modified in order to be used as a generator. Can somebody tell me what kind of modification needs to be done or post a link where I can find information? I also would like to know how can I be sure if it works because I'm not sure if it works. |
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oztules Guru Joined: 26/07/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1686 |
This motor is not for windmills.... at all. You can be sure it won't work. 
........oztules Village idiot...or... just another hack out of his depth |
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| The_Hermit_1971 Newbie Joined: 22/09/2008 Location: Puerto RicoPosts: 5 |
Thanks oztules for your reply, I realized it was a silly question. What about this motor and a combination of that and that turbines? I'm pretty sure that I have enough skills to make any of those or a combination of both turbine designs. Now I need to know what kind of modification, if any, do I need to do to the motor in order to turn it into a generator. Also what kind of device do I need to prevent the batteries from overcharging, hook them together, etc... Thanks in advance for your help. |
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| oztules Guru Joined: 26/07/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1686 |
I'm probably the worst person to ask this of, as I like alternators with no brushes, and no iron in them. However, if this is a fun project, then this style of motor will get you up sooner than any other motor, for a reasonable outlay. You will learn a lot from the experience, and will be in a better position to get your second one going.... there's always a second one  It rarely stops with one.
If you need power for any reason (off grid) then this is not the way to go other than for learning purposes. But for simplicity, ease of installation and just plain good fun, this is a suitable thing to start with. The shaft size will limit what size prop can be safely installed. The tutorials you pointed to can give you as good a start as any. Cogging may be a nuisance for the blade size you need, but once turning this won't be a problem. ( or a stiff breeze) .........oztules Village idiot...or... just another hack out of his depth |
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| The_Hermit_1971 Newbie Joined: 22/09/2008 Location: Puerto RicoPosts: 5 |
Thanks again oztules for your reply. With this project I plan to acquire enough knowledge and skills to be in a better position to make a turbine or set of turbines capable to supply enough electricity to fulfill all my power needs (about 1500 watts) but yet get a usable turbine at the end so this is a learning project. Like I said I just want to recharge a Champion 1300 CCA's size D battery with this project, no inverter attached and keep it charged for emergency purposes. I think that's the one usually used in large trucks. None of those tutorials provide enough information to be able to convert the motor into a generator so I would be very thankful if somebody can give me more details about what changes need to be made to the motor in order to achieve that or point me to a tutorial. Also I would like to know how to hook a controller and more than one battery. I was wondering how much time does it takes to recharge a completely dead battery with a turbine made with this motor and also the peak wattage that can be obtained. |
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| oztules Guru Joined: 26/07/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1686 |
try this randy's place Charge time is dependant on your wind and your machine... it is indeterminate to judge this from a vague concept. You will need to know what your average output is once you have built it. Then it is kwh of your battery v's kwh of your mill ........oztules Village idiot...or... just another hack out of his depth |
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| Dodgeman Newbie Joined: 19/07/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 33 |
I am no rocket scientist either, (though I do work with many of them) and I also need things explained really slow sometimes, If you have questions, please ask, I do tend to ramble on sometimes, I have also been guilty of over complicating my explainations and descriptions from time to time as well. Research never hurts, but who has time for all that reading when there is a windmill to build, trial and error has always produced results in every project I take on ;) and like they say, the only stupid question is the one you didnt ask. Good luck and have fun with it. |
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