How to Build a Wind Turbine
Warning!
Power Planted LLC assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of these instructions. Follow these instructions at your own risk. These instructions
have not been evaluated by an Engineer. These instructions are intended to be "guidelines" and may be incomplete. Wind turbines can be dangerous. Use caution.
Thanks to those that have been patiently waiting for this section to be completed. We will be adding the pictures to complete
this section as soon as possible.
Ordered Parts
Shopping List
- 4' 2x4 - for frame
- 2 U-bolts with straps and nuts - motor mounts
- Sheet Metal - for tail
- Pipe base plate - for pivot/mount
- Threaded section of pipe - for pivot/mount
- Heavy wall electrical conduit - for tower
- Screws - for mounting pipe base plate and tail
Let's build a wind turbine!
Construction Details
Put up the tower
There are many ways to do this. For convenience, you may want to be able to drop your tower. Since our tower
is only 10' tall, we are going to use a fixed pole and access the top with a ladder. We just dug down about 3'
with a post hole digger and cemented our pole in. This step should be done first to allow time for the cement to
dry.
Cut the 2x4 to make the frame
Cut the 2x4 to 48 inches long if it is not already. This dimension is not critical. Anything close to 48" will
be fine.
Drill holes in the tail
Instructions are coming soon
Attach the tail to the 2x4 frame
Use screws to attach the tail to the side of the 2x4 frame. It will not matter that the tail is off-center.
The back end of the tail should be even with the end of the 2x4.
Attach the motor to the 2x4 frame
Use the 2 u-bolts with plates to attach the motor to the other end (not the tail end) of the 2x4 frame.
Loosely assemble the u-bolts with the plates and nuts then slide the u-bolts and plates over the 2x4.
Next, slide the motor under the u-bolts. Align everything as square as possible, then tighten the nuts down to
hold the motor in place. Tighten the nuts evenly as you go.
Attach the blades to the hub
Secure your blades to your hub with bolts and lock nuts or loctite on the threads. Once the blades are attached
slide the hub onto the motor shaft and lightly tighten one set screw. The hub will be removed after
the next step.
Find the center of gravity
It is best if the wind turbine pivots from the point where it is balanced between the motor and tail. This will
help to reduce binding. With the motor and tail attached, balance the 2x4 so that the motor end and tail end are level. Mark the point
where the frame is balanced on the side of the 2x4. This is where the base plate for the pivot will be attached.
Remove the hub when you are finished marking the 2x4 frame.
Drill a hole for the wires
On the underside of the 2x4 frame, drill a hole in the center that aligns with the mark from the previous step.
Use a drill size of at least 1/2". Make sure that the wires you use will not be tight in this hole.
Attach the base plate to the 2x4 frame
Use screws to attach the base plate to the underside of the 2x4 frame. This should be centered around the hole
that you drilled in the previous step. The motor wires will pass through the pipe once it is attached.
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