| Using alternative forms of energy seems to be | | | | You can make use of a simple DC motor to act |
| catching up with home owners around the world. | | | | as the power unit. Although the common use of |
| Be it to supplement the existing grid supply and | | | | the DC motor is to take in power in order to |
| save on electricity bills, or to play a part in fighting | | | | turn, you can actually make the motor generate |
| global warming, alternative energy is our sneak | | | | power by rotating its shaft in the opposite |
| peek into the future. | | | | direction. Look for a DC motor with a low RPM |
| A growing number of home owners are learning | | | | rating, because we need to spin it faster than its |
| to build wind generators in their backyard using | | | | rated RPM in order to produce the rated voltage. |
| recycled materials they find in the garage and | | | | 3) The Area Where You Stay |
| local scrapyard. But are these home brewed | | | | Obviously the amount of power your wind |
| power units good enough to produce sufficient | | | | generator can produce greatly depends on the |
| power supply to the home? | | | | area where you stay and where you are going to |
| The output power you can get from a homebuilt | | | | build it. There is no point in building a wind |
| wind generator depends on a number of factors. | | | | generator when there is scarcely any wind. |
| Let us list down the things that would affect the | | | | If you are staying in the US, check your average |
| efficiency of a "build-at-home" wind generator: | | | | local wind speeds from websites such as |
| 1) Materials Used | | | | AWEA.org. You can also check with your local |
| As I have written in one of my earlier articles, the | | | | authorities if you are staying in other parts of the |
| material used specifically for the wind generator | | | | world. |
| blades have a direct impact on how efficient the | | | | Back to the question of whether a homebuilt wind |
| generator is in producing power. Comparing a wind | | | | generator can produce enough power for the |
| generator that makes use of PVC for the blades | | | | home. |
| and another that uses wood, the blades made of | | | | As you can see, there are various factors that |
| PVC would be able to turn easier in the same | | | | would determine how much energy you can |
| wind condition. A faster turning blade equals more | | | | produce from your build-from-home wind power |
| power output from the generator unit. | | | | system. It is quite unrealistic to expect your |
| 2) Motor / Generator Used | | | | home to be fully powered by just one wind |
| We make use of the turning wind generator | | | | generator, unless you have taken the task of |
| blades to rotate a shaft connected to the motor | | | | ensuring your home is extremely energy efficient. |
| unit in the wind power system. The type of | | | | Personally, I am happy enough with the 30% |
| motor you use and its output power rating will | | | | savings from my electricity bills that a simple wind |
| determine how much %u201Cjuice%u201D you | | | | generator I built from home is providing me. |
| can get for your home. | | | | |