| With steadily increasing energy prices and a desire for | | | | controller. For small DIY projects, a generator can be a |
| more environmentally friendly living, wind generated | | | | simple motor from an old tape deck, kitchen blender, or |
| power is becoming more and more popular. Large | | | | any scrap appliance you have laying around. The key |
| wind farms are being built in locations around the | | | | to the generator is to find a motor that gives the most |
| country, and individual property owners are building their | | | | volts at the lowest RPM. Normal winds are in the |
| own smaller turbines. While wind generated power | | | | range of 15-20 mph, so on average your turbine won't |
| won't be enough to supply all of your energy needs, if | | | | be turning 7200 RPM all that often. |
| you want to build your own it will most certainly reduce | | | | Blades can be made of wood, PVC, plastic, whatever |
| your electric bill. A wind turbine also makes a great | | | | you can get your hands on. You'll need some scrap |
| supplement to an already existing solar or water | | | | wood for the tail, conduit or steel piping for the mast, |
| power generator. | | | | some deep cycle batteries, and some common |
| Building a wind turbine on your property is not difficult, | | | | electrical components for the controller. Parts lists and |
| but you'll need some tools, some basic knowledge of | | | | assembly instructions can be found all over the |
| electrical systems, and a willingness to do it right. | | | | internet. A few hours of research should yield just |
| Before beginning a turbine project you should check | | | | about all the information you need. If you're not |
| with your local municipality to see if turbines are | | | | confident enough to build from scratch, you can also |
| regulated in your area. Once that hurdle is cleared, you | | | | purchase a kit which just requires assembly. |
| can begin the design phase, assemble the parts, and | | | | Once your turbine is up an running you'll be spending |
| begin building. | | | | less money with the local electric utility, and producing |
| The standard wind turbine can be broken down into | | | | power without pollution. Those are two pretty good |
| six basic components: the generator, blades, tail | | | | reasons to go wind powered. |
| assembly, pivoting mount, mast, batteries, and load | | | | |