Home Built Wind Generator – A Way To Save On Utility Bills
Home Built Wind Generator
Inflation in the price of utilities, like electricity and gas, is provoking a rethink on using alternative methods to generate power. If you have ever traveled in remote parts of the country recently (or even on some remote parts of the coastline) you will have noticed wind turbines cropping up. They are generally hard to miss as they are massive pylon like constructions with a large rotor at the top. The rotors are turned by wind power that is converted to electrical power by a generator. Utility companies will sell this electricity to homeowners connected to their grid. So let us consider home built wind generators …..
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It is becoming popular for many people to build their own windmill systems to create electricity. This can help to reduce your energy bills and also lessen your reliance on traditional sources of energy, like coal and gas. This article will discuss how to go about making a home built wind generator.
Why a Home Built Wind Generator ?
Traditionally wind generators are found in remote or isolated homes that have to find alternate ways to create power rather than rely on the grid for power. Generally the home will have a good amount of space to erect a wind generator. In most cases it is used alongside other energy generating methods. Thus it can be used in combination with another energy generating system, like a gas powered generator or, more commonly these days, a solar power system.
The major plus of a solar power/wind generator system is that the wind power system can work at producing energy when the solar system is down (or rather the Sun is down). Thus you have a energy creating system 24/7.
Two considerations when it comes to wind power systems is that you have enough wind and enough space. If you live in a suburban neighborhood, you may also want to consider the views of your neighbors as the wind generator will be a tall structure that may raise a few eyebrows. By letting your neighbors know of your plans they are more likely to be agreeable during the construction.
Kit Versus Do It Yourself
The next question is whether to buy a kit or do it yourself. The basic argument for each option comes down to the cost. A kit will cost more to buy but will be easier to set up and install. The seller of the system will probably have a service to install it if you have no interest or aptitude for DIY projects.
A system that you build yourself from scratch will be harder to make and will probably involve more time to finish. This depends on your level of expertise in DIY. You can make your life a little easier by getting one of the many DIY manuals that can be found on the internet or in bookstores now.
A home made wind generator that is made from one of these manuals will cost about $200 (excluding your time) so it can be far more cost effective than buying a kit or getting a professional to construct the system.
The amount of electricity that you get from your wind turbine will obviously dpend on the wind strength and consistency and the size of the rotors. Depending on where you are located, a wind generator could go a long way to providing all the energy you need or may just knock a few bucks off your energy bill each month.
Get more information on a step by step guide to building your own wind generator and a solar power system at Earth4Energy guide and many other facts and figures about alternative energy at solar powered appliances
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