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Forum Index : Windmills : WHY ? build a self-made wind turbine ?
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| anteror Senior Member  Joined: 06/10/2009 Location: FinlandPosts: 189 |
I begin this because, I have tested and built them for a long time. First; windgenerator is not that simple, as you think ! There are many issues to resolve, and what needs to be calculated before it is functional. Too many.. Blades and making them, to be efficient and durable for storms and weatherproof.. Storm protection. Generator, to be efficient and produce rigth voltage. General structure to be good and stand for storms Slip rings with douple contact and right materials Etc, etc... In fact, it's like a small airplane. Did you think to built airplane yorself ? I give you an advice; buy it, and begin to enjoy about own energy. You can get it nowadays, with the price of only the magnets.. My story; http://translate.google.fi/translate?sl=fi&tl=en&js=n&prev=_ t&hl=fi&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.poikkis. net%2Findex.php%3Ftopic%3D5033.0&act=url Nowadays I made all my energy with wind and solar and have no problems. My latest windgenerator has now worked here in seashore 4 years without any maintenance. There has been several severe storms. Survived them all with no faults. Pictures about my systems; http://kuvablogi.com/blog/34560/1/ Antero Finland |
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MacGyver Guru  Joined: 12/05/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 1329 |
[Quote=Anteror] There are many issues to resolve, No kidding! And that's the reason I went back to pumping air with my windmills. Having the wind turbine drive a small air pump circumvents a miriad of problems. The compresed air is then used on the ground to drive a "steam" engine modified (seals & timing) to run on the compressed air. That's about as simple as it gets. Does it work? Yes. Does it work well enough to run your whole house? That depends on how many and how large your individual wind-driven pumps are. I do it merely for fun; I use the compressed air to run model engines as a hobby only. I've been all the way around the block on this and have decided for myself at least, pumping air is as good as it gets. . . . . . Mac Nothing difficult is ever easy! Perhaps better stated in the words of Morgan Freeman, "Where there is no struggle, there is no progress!" Copeville, Texas |
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| anteror Senior Member Joined: 06/10/2009 Location: FinlandPosts: 189 |
If you do not like Chinese..(where everything is made nowadays).. This is something and with a reasonable price; http://www.mwands.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=43_45 I have not tested it, but there is an echo from Wild West windmils.. Blades made from carbon fiber composite, will last forever ! This will really load batteries !! Best and cheapest dump load controllers, that I know, also; http://www.mwands.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=4 Etc Antero Finland |
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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
There's more to building your own wind turbine than the final result. Many people build their own wind turbines for a variety of reasons, and most of these could be under the category of "fun". The reasons I would prefer to build my own are.... I like to use my brain. Apply what I have learned over the years from previous experience, the successes and failures. And tackling something new that I have to think out. I like to use my hands. Nothing makes me happier that working in the shed. I would rather spend 1 hour fixing a $5 part than buying a new one. I get great satisifcation from that, even though economically its silly. Building your own windmill needs brains and hand skils. Doing the research, thinking and rethinking it out, and building it. When its built, you get to sort out the bugs, make little adjustments. Fun stuff! I would ask the question "Why BUY a wind turbine when you can build your own?" Of course, both questions are silly, it depends on the persons abilities, interests and free time. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| anteror Senior Member Joined: 06/10/2009 Location: FinlandPosts: 189 |
My oppinion is based to this; I have used my own "brain" and used / built / tested several windgenerators, to REALLY find good, robust and reliable windgenerator, to make your own energy. That was my point and I have really made a lot of work for this, as a private person and with a lot of costs etc NOW I want to share all my knowledge, about this. I did not really.. understand in the beginning.. that there is no such machine, in the world to make this ? Everything else, we have ! My IQ is 134 and have been tested 1975.(Second best in the whole group of 1000 people at this test.) I know people that have higher and are very stupid.. Lower, and are brilliant and succesfull in all areas.. So.. I am a retired person and have worked in many professions. My point is allso to leave something behind me. I will leave all my knowledge to my children and their houses, to succeed in the future. I started to write here in the internet, few years ago, to share allso. Nothing will stop the information superhighway, which this internet gives us. There is energy all around us, we just need good means to collect it, to everybody, no matter, is it self built or bought, knowledge about all this is increasing and will serve us all. Antero Rantanen Finland |
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| daveames Newbie  Joined: 19/09/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 30 |
Hey Antero, Thanks for trying to spread the word about renewable energy. I've seen great reports on the Exmork machines like you have and some remarkable results posted on many DIY home made machines. So there are lots of good options out there. I would suggest to anyone looking to get into this as a hobby or as a necessity to do their homework! Read, read and read some more, then start asking those in the know as many questions as needed. If anyone goes to that "wild west" link you provided they will see that those folks know very little about wind power..even less about controllers and their ideas about parallel solar modules are darn right dangerous..I believe they may be a profit above all else driven business 
Keep up the good fight. Cheers, Dave |
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Dragonfly Newbie Joined: 25/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 17 |
I have been hanging around this forum for quite a few years now. To date I still have not managed to build a complete "working" turbine. To me, it is a hobby. I might end up with a working one next year, or the year after. I am not desperate for the success because I have other hobbies and, I already have mains power. So why bother ? I do it because... 1. It is a healthy hobby. It is healthy for my body and intellect, as well as for the environment. 2. I get spin-offs in the process. I forced myslef to learn to weld because I needed some parts for the turbine. Now I can build my own pergola because I can weld !!! 3. You get to know how other people deal with a technical problem, such as wire sizes, coil winding, etc. 4. You get the opportunity to mingle with good people. People who are generous to share their knowledge with simple man like myself. People who are not here to make money. 5. It requires me to dig out knowledge I thought never get used except at the final exams. I had to re-learn trigonometry to work out the propeller rotor size. One of my pet hate is laziness. A credit card is a replacement for a good pair of hands and good brain. I venture to say that the stuff you made yourself will be treasured more as opposed to the bought ones. It may look crooked and ugly but, it still looks good because I made it. Learning is a work in progress.... Waste not... |
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yahoo2 Guru Joined: 05/04/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1166 |
you are so right Dragonfly, I cant think of anything I have bought from the shop that I have enjoyed as much as something I have built with a few friends or family. apart from my tractors auto-steer GPS , that pretty good  I'm confused, no wait... maybe I'm not... |
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| electrondady1 Senior Member Joined: 12/02/2009 Location: CanadaPosts: 208 |
you have given in somebody somewhere decided china was going to be the new one. so all the jobs are sent there and all the money follows. so what are we supposed to do.? even if you can only carve it with a dull knife, it could say, PRODUCT OF FINLAND. |
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mac46 Guru Joined: 07/02/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 412 |
Hey guys and gals; I agree, there is nothing better than being able to do it "for you" and "by you". Mac46 I'm just a farmer |
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| anteror Senior Member Joined: 06/10/2009 Location: FinlandPosts: 189 |
I can understand your anger.. This was the cause, the make me TO... do something, also. That is also, what we all need to this, as "young rebels"..., which attitude we need, to move on. I recommend.. further, to buy a windgenerator. Factory made, with warranty and factory made blades, structure etc It is too challenging, or if you want to make it for everlasting project.. Can you take responsibility, if something happens to neighbourhood or children, or to your house etc etc There really is energy all around us, we need good and reliable, means to collect it, with a reasonably price. That was my coal, to start testing factory made windgenerators. To find a robust, cheap unit to everybody. I have found it and I try to share all this. You can find 5kw diesel generator with, engine and generator and all electrical controll etc...price of under 500$ 
2kw windgenerator costs over... Etc I have used safety factor 2-3 times in all parts of my wind power. I can sleap restful night's sleep. So.. Antero |
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| anteror Senior Member Joined: 06/10/2009 Location: FinlandPosts: 189 |
I've read about this, from a number of forums, to be good, over the years. Terry has really worked, for a LONG TIME.. to bring this; http://www.tlgwindpower.com/historyoftlg.htm http://www.tlgwindpower.com/tlg500_whyisitbetter.htm Antero |
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| electrondady1 Senior Member Joined: 12/02/2009 Location: CanadaPosts: 208 |
I'm an old rebel. even more dangerous now that i'm running out of time. i have issues with modern policies. over the last century, many young people fell in the fight against tyranny. are we to forget the sacrifice of our ancestors. and lay down with tyrants? if your afraid of your windmill hurting someone buy some insurance. |
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| Dragonfly Newbie Joined: 25/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 17 |
Hello Electrondady1, What are you on about ? It is not a war. It is merely a hobby, for goodness sake. No one mentioned about "tyranny" and "sacrifices". Take it as a game. Enjoy the journey. Don't take it too seriously. When one begins to compare IQ scores of 134 with mine of merely a single digit, I am way behind. I also find it rather interesting that people like to associate shody products with China. Whether it is a case of moaning about the lost leadership in manufacturing, or financial power, or whatever. Here in Australia, a tools nut like myself will go to Bunnings hardware warehouse. I would venture to say 90% of the gear is from China. Why ? 1. It is cheap. Would you want to pay twice as much for a power tool that you may only use once a month ? 2. They can even be good quality. For example, AEG, Dewalt products are made in China. Are the Chinese the only people capable of manufacturing crapy gear ? The answer is "NO". Jeep is not selling well in Australia because of their build quality. LandRover is having difficulties of similar nature. Japan used to be like that but, they have learnt. To get to where they are now, it takes discipline, leadership, organisation and, most importantly, hard work. It is not an overnight phenomenon, and it is not something that someone decided that's how it should be. I am sorry that I may have deviated from the original topic. I did find the "Knock China" sentiments silly. Waste not... |
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| electrondady1 Senior Member Joined: 12/02/2009 Location: CanadaPosts: 208 |
oh,I'm just a silly guy. so sentimental about stuff , like elections, democracy, human rights records, all that stuff. |
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| brucedownunder2 Guru Joined: 14/09/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1548 |
Whats all this BS about ???? Get on with doing your "thing" ,, post it with Photos, sitting on yer arse and carrying like babies,,,, BS I say Bruce. Bushboy |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
Yeah this is getting off topic. This build versus buy topic pops up from time to time. Some people prefer to build everything from scratch, and some prefer to take a factory built machine and improve it, and there is a bunch of us in the middle. No one method is better, its up to the builder skills, finances and interests. And no one should be judged on what path they choose. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| electrondady1 Senior Member Joined: 12/02/2009 Location: CanadaPosts: 208 |
fair enough , i apologies. |
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