Thursday, January 22, 2009

DIY Turbine Building - Things To Know

By David Sullivan

One thing we can all agree on is that energy prices are on the rise. Every year, your local electricity company implements a rate hike, often in the double digits. These continual increases have led many to think about using alternative energy sources; this can bring about a significant savings on your household energy bill.

If you are interested in saving money on energy, you may want to build a wind turbine of your own. After all, the wind is totally free - all you have to do is harness it. Of course if you are going to try building a wind turbine of your own, there are a few important considerations you'll need to keep in mind.

The first thing you'll need to do if you are going to build a wind turbine is to carefully find a good site for the turbine. Your turbine won't do you a whole lot of good if you put it in a sheltered area that barely gets a breeze. You should be able to get wind speed of 10 miles per hour and higher in the area where you build the turbine.

There can't be any obstructions like trees or other towers that will obstruct the flow of wind to your turbine. Remember, even your turbine is in front of them in the direction of the wind, the wind speed will still be reduced due to the fact that they're there. Take a careful look before you start building to make sure you have a good place to put it.

Another thing you'll need to do if you are going to build a wind turbine is to check with the regulations and permit qualifications in your area. You won't want to build your turbine, only to find out you violated a local law that will end up costing you. So, go check with the local government to ensure that it's okay to put up the turbine and check on any permits you may need.

After the preliminary research is done, make a list of all the building materials you'll need to start.

Look for detailed plans or blueprints which will help you build your turbine, and make sure you follow them exactly. They are specifically engineered to get the most energy out of the wind. You can find great detailed manuals in many books and online.

Building a turbine isn't really that daunting a task. Once you plan out your approach, it may only take you a week or less to finish the building and electrical set up. Just make sure you follow the steps I've laid out for you, and you'll save a lot of money and have a lot of fun! - 16463

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