| Learning how to build a home windmill to generate | | | | overcharging. |
| some or all of your electricity needs has finally | | | | System Meter - This piece monitors how much |
| become practical. In the past, the primary way to | | | | power is available from the battery bank and how |
| benefit from wind generated electricity was to | | | | much power is being used at any given time. |
| purchase a commercial wind turbine and have it | | | | One of the conveniences of making your own |
| installed by professionals at a cost of $10,000 - | | | | windmill is that you can keep the system as |
| $20,000 and up. Today with inexpensive | | | | simple or as complicated as your budget and skills |
| technology and improved guide books it is possible | | | | allow. A simple system would not tie in with the |
| to do it yourself for as little as $200. | | | | electrical grid from the power company to your |
| How a wind turbine generates power and sends it | | | | house. Instead it would enter your house |
| to your house is really pretty simple. The wind is | | | | separately and not connect to the house wiring. |
| caught in the blades which turn an electric motor | | | | The power would be specifically designated for |
| backwards generating a direct electrical current. | | | | just certain appliances. This saves the cost of |
| This energy is then stored in batteries. When | | | | hiring an electrician to do the hook up but |
| electricity is needed it is passed through a small | | | | eliminates the possibility of selling excess electricity |
| electrical device and converted from direct | | | | back the utility company. |
| current (DC) to the alternating current (AC) that | | | | A more complex system might merge the |
| your appliances require. | | | | windmill electricity to that of a set of solar panels |
| The main components of a typical home windmill | | | | and to the power grid coming into the house |
| The Windmill - This often consists of 3 blades | | | | from the power company. This configuration not |
| about 4 feet in radius attached to a hub that is | | | | only insures a continual supply of energy on |
| also connected to a DC electric motor. These | | | | windless days but, also provides for the exciting |
| items are suspended vertically by a tower that is | | | | possibility of selling excess power back to the |
| at least 8 to 12 feet tall. A tail fin is attached to | | | | electric company. |
| the back of the motor unit in such a way that it | | | | Building a windmill is not all that complicated but it |
| will pivot the blades to keep them facing the wind. | | | | does require a good set of illustrated plans written |
| Battery Bank - This a group of one or more deep | | | | by someone with direct hands-on experience and |
| cycle batteries that store the generated power | | | | great sources for inexpensive and free materials. |
| for later use. | | | | Links to reviews of some popular windmill plans |
| Inverter - This clever device converts the direct | | | | are available at the end of this article. |
| current (DC) that comes from the stored energy | | | | Now you have no excuse for not cutting your |
| in the batteries into alternating current (AC) that | | | | electric bill while improving the environment. So |
| most household appliances require. | | | | why not have some fun and learn how to build a |
| Charging Controller - This electronic device | | | | windmill? |
| prevents the batteries from being damaged from | | | | |