Tag Archives: Generators

Dec 20 2009

Homemade Wind Power Generators Guide

by admin in Green Energy

High energy costs and an environmentally battered planet affect each and every one of us in one way or another. The fact of the matter is it is actually quite possible for a good percentage of us to slash our power bill while helping to save the planet. Yes, kill two birds with one stone simply by resorting to renewable energy and the most convenient and practical way to do that is arguably through the use of <a onClick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.earthforenergyguide.com/wind-power-generators/”>Home Made Wind Power Generators</a>. As depicted in the name, the function of wind power generators is to produce power by utilizing the wind as fuel. This is obviously beneficial as wind is natural, free and unlimited in supply. Having that said, it is not always feasible or viable. For example, the wind resource in the locality must be of a certain level and the wind tower or structure must not pose any detriment to the surrounding. And are they cost-effective over the conventional form of power? Wind power generation is based on the principle of energy conversion. Basically, the wind energy turns the windmill which is connected to a turbine alternator or converter to produce electrical power. Traditional windmills are just water pumps but modern wind power generators are complete power systems that come with safety, high-wind survival, lightning and electrical overload protection and emergency shutdown features. Most are equipped with options for storage and interconnection to local utility grids for credit or sale of overflow power. A wind power home is a noble proposition these days but there are criteria to be fulfilled. Ideally, the house sits on a good-sized plot in a relatively spaced-out rural or sub-urban neighborhood. Surrounding wind resource is steady and even. The tower height of the wind system is functionally adequate and is in compliance with building requirements, along with other neighborhood aspects such as noise, endangerment and other hazards or inconveniences. The local supply grid also supports the interconnection of excess power for reverse credit or sale. By nature, constant good year-round supply of wind is rare. That’s why wind power generators are typically used in mutual complement with another renewable energy source namely solar power, sunlight supply of which inherently also is not continuous throughout either. Even if wind power is deployed only as a supplement to the utility grid, it will be beneficial nonetheless in slashing power bills and good for the environment. It’s not rocket science to make wind power. There is plenty of information and literature at your finger tips over the internet. A handful of those DIY handbooks actually do a very neat job in guiding even the totally uninitiated to construct their own wind power generators from scratch. It’s possible to not only slash your power bills but also get paid for the excess that is channeled back onto the utility grid. On top of that, there’s the feeling of gratification from knowing that you have contributed to the green movement. It is not rocket science to build Homemade Wind Power Generators and it slashes your power bills and contributes to the green movement. Let us share our views and information with you at Home Made Wind Power Generators.com


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Dec 19 2009

Wind Power Generators – All Natural Power Plants

by admin in Green Energy

While the technology for using wind power has been with us for thousands of years, the use of this alternative power source for the generation of electricity has never really gone mainstream. Coal and natural gas-fired power plants are efficient and convenient, but they use fossil fuels, and these fuels are definitely finite resources. Wind power is as limitless as the sun and wind. Wind Power is Coming Around.Wind is not a common source of energy today but soaring coal, oil and natural gas costs and the negative eco-effects of these conventional fuels have ignited a new interest in alternative renewable energy sources. Along with solar power panels and collectors, windmills can now be seen blossoming in fields across the country and are proving to be a viable source of energy as long as there is a constant enough supply of quality wind. Are Alternative Energy Sources Reliable?A wind power generator, as the name implies, is technology that makes electrical energy from air currents. As people who live in windy areas of the U.S. know, wind energy is abundant – and free. But is it reliable enough to provide a constant source of electricity – similar to a modern fossil-fueled power plant? The simple answer – no. Harnessing wind energy can be a great addition to an alternative power generation plan (usually paired with solar), but you should always have an alternative (public utilities) as a back-up for those rare times when there is no wind or sun. Of course, before you consider installing a wind power generator, research is in order to determine if the location for the windmill will get enough wind to make the investment worthwhile. Physics Is Your Friend.A wind power generator operates by the theory of Conservation of Energy, or more specifically, kinetic energy. Kinetic energy of the wind or airflow impinges upon the rotor blades of the windmill, then is turned into mechanical energy as the generator is spun. This mechanical energy is converted into electrical power by the generator, to be used immediately, or stored in batteries or capacitors. In the early history of wind power, this rotational energy was used to grind grain and pump water. Wind Power as a Supplement.As was mentioned above, it may be totally impractical to live off-grid with alternative energy as the sole sources of power for your home, although there are those who do live completely off-grid. To live completely off-grid, you must be extremely efficient with energy use (and storage), and alway be aware of reserves and future needs. For most alternative energy users, wind power is used in conjunction with other sources of electrical power – solar and grid. During good times, many generate excess power and can sell this excess power back to their utility companies. Location, Location, Location.There are a few criteria for placing a windmill on your property. Ideally, your home will sit on a good-sized lot in a relatively roomy rural or near-rural development. The tower height that supports the generator can be critical, and research should be done to determine local building codes. Newer and better technology is coming on-line every day that permits installation of power-generating windmills in ever-smaller locations – always do your research and make sure you’re getting the system for your environment. Technology Here Now.Making electrical power from the wind is not a new science, rather it is an continually evolving technology based on actual needs. There’s plenty of information – books and other materials – available now on the topics of alternative power generation. Many new sources of do-it-yourself guides have sprung up lately, and some are of good quality.. With this in mind, always do your research carefully and completely before you commit to any particular system. Then, as you watch the blades of your own wind power generator spin, the satisfaction of knowing you did this yourself (with a little help) can be realized. I’ve looked at some of the more popular plans on how to build your own windmill. What did I learn? Read this review and save yourself a lot of wasted time and money. I’ve looked at some of the more popular plans on how to build your There’s no reason to wait any longer for all the great benefits of free electricity using wind power. Click HERE to join the exciting world of alternative energy generation. The technology is sound, and homeowners all across the country are learning that wind energy is real and can shrink your overall energy costs!


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Dec 16 2009

DIY Wind Power Generators & Turbines – Slash Your Energy Bills and Reduce Your Carbon Emmissions At the Same Time!

by admin in Green Energy

Wind power is an excellent weapon for fighting climate change because wind generation produces no carbon emissions at all. When you consider that every unit of energy generated by wind, is a unit of energy free of carbon pollution, wind makes sense. Producing just 10 per cent of electricity from renewables could cut carbon emissions by 2.5 million tonnes a year. Small wind-electric systems can provide electricity to remote sites, or to houses that are also connected to the utility grid. But the prices! A small turbine can cost $US 2,000! A medium turbine $3,000! A large one can cost $8,500 – and that’s without the rest of the equipment you will need, and installation costs! Although wind systems require some attention, if you build a strong system, following a proven design, wind-electric systems make great economic and environmental sense. How much FREE electricity will I get? There seems to be a myth that wind power produces little power. Strange, when a 1.8-megawatt turbine produces enough power for 1,000 homes. More realistically for the DIY wind turbine maker, a small wind turbine, with a rotor diameter of 7 feet (2.1 m), and a swept area of 38.5 square feet (3.6 m2) will produce, per month, at average wind speeds of 10 mph – 80 KWH! This is enough power for a low-energy home, yacht, or business. A medium sized wind turbine with a rotor diameter of 10 feet (3 m) and a swept area of 79 square feet (7.3 m2) will produce, per month, at average wind speeds of 10 mph – 130 KWH! This would be suitable for a medium-energy home, business, or school. A large wind turbine with a rotor diameter of 12.5 feet (3.8 m), and a swept area of 120 square feet (11.2 m2), will produce, per month, at average wind speeds of 10 mph – 230 KWH! This is for big energy consumers. A huge wind turbine with a rotor diameter of 56 feet (17 m), and a swept area of 2,462 square feet (229 m2) will produce, per month, at average wind speeds of 10 mph – 5,060 KWH! These power large farms, very high-energy businesses, villages, islands, and massive heating projects. Smaller turbines can be built for boats, caravans, cabins, or where only a small amount of electricity is needed. But for significant amounts of energy, you need a large enough rotor, as this is the wind turbine?s ‘energy collector’. When sizing a wind-electric system, you don’t add windmills in as you need them, as you can with solar panels. Because wind is more cost effective as you increase in system size, most people put up only one wind turbine, big enough to significantly slash their electric bills, or to fulfill all of their energy requirements for the foreseeable future. System Components: The turbine is only one component of a wind-electric system, and very often is not even the most expensive component. You need all of the necessary components to have a functional system. Plan ahead to buy quality components properly matched to each other and to your energy use. A complete wind-electric system includes: ? Turbine?blades + hub = ?rotor,? which is the ?collector? of the system. ? Tower?supports the turbine, getting it up out of the turbulent zone created by trees and buildings, and exposes the turbine to more wind ? Wiring and conduit?carries the electricity down the tower and to power-conditioning equipment ? Controller/Electronics?controls charging of battery or input to inverter ? Batteries?used for storage in off-grid systems or grid-tied systems with battery backup ? Inverter?converts direct current (DC) electricity from batteries or rectifier to alternating current (AC) for home use or ?storage? on the utility grid ? Metering?allows user to understand and manage system operation.Small wind turbine: needs a controller or inverter, and is suitable for battery less grid-tie or 12, 24, 48 VDC battery charging Medium sized: needs a controller or inverter, and is used for charging 12, 24, 48 VDC batteries Large: needs controller, dump load, and inverter. Suitable for battery less grid-tie or charging 48 VDC battery. Huge: suitable for battery less grid-tie How does a wind turbine actually produce electricity? The rotating blades convert the wind?s kinetic energy into rotation in a shaft. The rotating shaft turns an alternator, which makes electricity. The electricity is transmitted through wiring, down the tower, to batteries, or an inverter. The blades are designed to intercept wind and capture its energy. Most modern wind generators have three blades, to compromise between the highest efficiency possible (one blade) and balance (multiple blades). The blades must turn to face the wind, so a yaw bearing allows the wind turbine to track the winds as they shift direction. A tail directs the rotor into the wind. In small-scale designs, the rotor is connected directly to the shaft of a permanent magnet alternator, which creates Alternating Current. This wild, three-phase electricity means that the voltage and frequency vary continuously with the wind speed. The AC output is used to either charge batteries or feed a grid-synchronous inverter, which turns it to steady, usable Direct Current. In small designs, the rotor is connected to the alternator, eliminating the need for gears. In larger systems, a gearbox is used to increase alternator speed from a slower turning rotor. A governing system limits the rotor rpm and generator output to protect the turbine from high winds. A shutdown mechanism is also useful to stop the machine during an extreme storm, or when you want to service the system. Understanding the Ratings Wind turbine rating is difficult because rated output is pegged to a particular wind speed, and different manufacturers compare different wind speeds to better promote their particular model. To understand the real power of wind, cube its speed. For example, 10 kph of wind, gives 10 x 10 x 10 = 1,000 watts. Or, a 10% increase in speed gives a 33% increase in power. This means that very small increases in wind speed create huge increases in power. This also means that a turbine that produces 1,000 watts at a wind speed of 28 mph, might produce only 125 watts at a wind speed of 14 mph – so half the wind produces 1/8 of the power. So ignore the rated peak output of a turbine, and look for the monthly (or annual) energy production you require (from your energy audit), estimated for the average wind speed at your site. After all, long-term energy is what you?re after, not peak output! If, for example, you know your home has 10 mph winds, and you need 400 KWH per month, you know what turbine to build. Knowing a turbine?s swept area may also help you calculate the annual energy output for the wind turbine. Jim Green at the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) developed a formula: annual energy output (AEO) in KWH = 0.01328 x rotor diameter (ft.) squared x average wind speed (mph) cubed. Easy! Getting Started: Consider: Is it your aim to slash your bills, or to be completely independent? Are you going to be stand-alone, or will you still be connected to (and adding into/taking from) the grid? If you’re staying connected to the grid, will your local power company pay you for the electricity you generate? First you need an energy audit of your home. Go to www.njcleanenergy.com for an accurate home energy audit, and great ideas on saving electricity and money. Sit down with your family, work out how many kilowatt-hours you all use, and find out where the waste is. But be realistic, reasonable, and think laterally. Just because you are now horrified at how much electricity your plasma TV uses, doesn’t mean the kids are never allowed to watch it. You may consider a smaller, more efficient TV for weekly use, and save the plasma for the weekend family movie. Next, work out your location’s average wind speed, at a website like www.awea.org for the USA. When you know how much energy you need, and how much your wind will provide, you will be able to see the size of turbine you will need. Now that you have a good idea of what you’re after, check out the DIY Wind Power Kits at EarthEnergyPlus.Com These kits have been selected with the DIY novice in mind, and include all the information you will need to build your own electricity-producing windmill! Detailed lists of the tools, parts, and where to get them. Video instructions you can play over and over. Great back-up from dedicated designers! Build your own wind power system this weekend, then sit back and watch your home-built wind generator turn a summer breeze into FREE electricity! Arthur PughEarthEnergyPlus.ComEarthEnergyPlus.Com/blogsales@earthenergyplus.com


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Dec 16 2009

Build Your Own Wind Power Generators

by admin in Green Energy

If you are interested to know how to build your own wind power generators, don?t worry; you have arrived at the right place. You can build your own wind power generators at home and for this you do not require any proficiency in any field. It is quite simple and you can build wind power generators below $200, however if you purchase the equipment from market, it will cost you around $2000. Wind provides us a renewable source of energy and therefore the energy or the electricity available to us from wind is almost free. We require only an initial investment of $200 and thereafter a nominal maintenance is required and we can generate electricity continuously and of course the amount of electricity generated depends on the wind speed. People are generating electricity from wind and are saving up to 70 percent of their electricity bills per month and every month. If you live in a windy area and your electricity consumption is less, you can even generate surplus electricity from your wind power generators installed in your backyard. Electricity companies are ready to purchase this surplus electricity, as this is far better than the electricity produced from non-renewable sources of energy such as coal, diesel and gas. You can build your own wind power generators and you will require a few items such as blades, a tower, a battery, a DC motor and a tail. DC motor should be carefully selected as it is the costliest among all other items and most importantly you should go for quality blades. You can get all these items from a nearby store; however a few items you can make yourself at your home. The next and most important part of building your generator is to assemble them and here you will need a guide. Earth4Energy is a DIY (do it yourself) guide that explains you building you own Wind Power Generator. The step-by-step instructions will enhance your skill so that you can perfectly do the job and make your own wind power generator. Check out Earth4Energy Review


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Dec 07 2009

How Can Wind Power Generators and Solar Help You

by admin in Green Energy

Uses of self made powerWind Power Generators and solar technology offers a way to produce an endless fountain of electricity for the home or for any other uses around the house like to power a work shop area or perhaps to run pool equipment, or saunas, whirlpools, central heat and air, washers and dryers, hot water heaters. Athough units can be built to supply entire homes with electricity the home owner can be very versatile with design in size, capacities, and whether they would like the electricity to just operate certain pieces of home equipment and appliances or if they would prefer to have enough of a supply to run the entire home. Use conventional electricity to run smaller appliances:You may just want to build a system that would supply electricity to all of the units in your home that run on 220 and stay hooked up to the grid and use smaller amounts of electrical power from the electric company to run things like televisions, toasters, refridgerators, lights etc. Just this would still probably easily cut a power bill in half.


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Dec 01 2009

Cheap Personal Wind Power Generators for Residential Use

by admin in Green Energy

Have you ever heard about the cheap personal wind power for residential use? If not yet, don?t worry; here I will discuss some easy steps before you so that you can make your own personal wind power generators and that too within a mere $200. Millions of people are saving huge money per month on their electricity bills by installing their own cheap personal wind power generators for residential use and are producing electricity up to 80 percent of their electricity requirement. If you are one of the person who live near sea shore or an area where wind flow is above five to seven miles per hour, you are one among the lucky people who can utilize the wind energy for making electricity by the use of personal wind power generators, which can be used for running your electrical or electronic home appliances. Although personal wind power generators are available in the market, however the cost of these readymade equipments is few thousand dollars. This is not beneficial and you need to search the alternate resources so that you can make cheap personal wind power generators. You can fabricate and assemble your own cheap personal wind power generators by using a do it yourself guide available at Internet. This guide provides you all the instructions in details including the raw materials required for making your cheap personal wind power generator and the cost of the raw material. So, search a suitable guide at Internet and make your own cheap personal wind power generators within $200 and start saving money on electricity bills from right now. A good guide like Earth4Energy will help you building your personal Wind Power Generators and once you go through the guide, you can easily assemble your own cheap personal wind power generators and can start producing electricity for running your residential appliances. Check out Earth4Energy Review


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Nov 27 2009

Wind Power Generators – A Realistic Alternative

by admin in Green Energy

With the world starting to shift toward green living many are looking into conserving energy. Many people think of solar panels first as this is the most common choice for residential customers. I don’t know about you, but in my area of the world the wind is always blowing. Nothing compliments solar panels than a wind power generator. Keep in mind, with a wind power generator the wind is you fuel. I often see people who invest in creating alternative energy and are disappointed that they aren’t seeing great results. To achieve great results, choose a product that is going to benefit you the most. When you can, combine the use of solar panels and wind power to achieve maximum results. While wind power is a great way to create electricity, you may not achieve the goal of living completely off the grid. Now this depends entirely on your environment as we all know wind is widely unpredictable and is ever changing. You will achieve greater results if you are able to invest in a larger wind mill and have an area for it. There are many claims to living completely off of the grid, and while some may be true its going to be very hard to reach this goal with a small wind mill. Think of it this way, you are literally trying to catch wind. Obviously the larger the blades and the taller the windmill the more you will be able to catch! I am a big believer in alternative energy, whether or not we are able to live off of the grid depends on how big of an investment we are able to make. I know many may not be able to purchase solar panels, or a large wind power generator for that matter but we can all start somewhere. There are so many DIY projects available, you might not achieve all that you want with a small project but you can start somewhere. These projects are great to do with children. You will be able to teach them about wind power while opening up a conversation about what we are doing to our mother earth and what will happen if we don’t take steps to change. I have completed a couple of DIY projects myself, honestly the first didn’t turn out exactly how I had planned. If you want to take steps toward saving energy there are so many affordable options available. Whether you hire a contractor to build your wind power generator


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Nov 26 2009

Residential Wind Power Generators

by admin in Green Energy

Residential wind power works by having a wind turbine attached to the top of a tall tower so that it can collect kinetic energy and change it into electricity so that it may work with your homes electrical system. Wind turbines will have out put if the wind power is over 7 to 10 miles per hour if not then the power that the house needs is purchased by the utility. If the wind turbine puts out more electricity than is needed for the houses supply, then the rest of the electricity is sold to the utility. A small wind turbine can lower you bill significantly. To determine if a small wind turbine will save you money in the long run you?ll have to think about the amount of electricity that your household would be using and also how much wind speed is around your house as well. Before buying a wind turbine you should remember that the owner of the wind turbine should have a minimum of an average of 10 miles per hour wind speed and also be paying a minimum of 10 cents per kilowatt hour for electricity. Wind turbines help the environment because they output no pollution and by using a wind turbine you are stopping the pollution that would have occurred from electricity generation by the utility company. During a wind turbines lifetime they can prevent about 1.2 tonnes in air pollutants. You won?t have to change any wiring in your house because wind turbines can fit any homes and normally they supply an 80 to 120 tower with the wind turbine. A wind turbine?s performance improves as the altitude increase however depending on the manufacturer there are several different turbines available. Depending on size and the manufacturer, wind turbines can cost anything from $ 6,000 to $22,000. Most wind turbines do not require regular maintenance and over the long term is a good investment. If you want more FREE information on residential wind power generators, please visit our website: http://windgeneratorstoday.com


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Nov 15 2009

How Do You Make Wind Power Generators?

by admin in Green Energy

I want to make a wind power generator so that I can put it on the roof of my home. Has anybody done this? They seem to be fairly popular now


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Nov 07 2009

Is A Residential Solar Energy System And Wind Power Generators In Tandem A Good Idea?

by admin in Solar Power

Residential solar energy systems and wind power generators are becoming more popular. More and more people are finding the benefits of generating there own electricity to power there home. There are some situations where you may need both a residential solar energy system and wind power generators. Here we will take a look. With Solar energy, it can work out good to have in your home, but only if you get a moderate amount of sunlight. This is a similar problem to wind power. Wind power generators are only effective, with a moderate amount of wind. If you have a lot of sunlight, then a residential solar energy system will be of great benefit, and you will not need to look for alternative sources of energy. Likewise a lot of wind could mean that sticking with a wind power generator may be your best option. If you find you live in the west of the US, you may have great sunshine, and a residential solar energy system maybe all you need, but what about if you are stuck in a part of the world where blistering sunshine is not a common thing? In the UK for example, there are summer months with days that are very sunny. Residential solar energy systems are similar to a thermometer. As sunlight is more, and hotter, it means you get more power, less sunlight means less power. In either case, a deficit will mean you just don’t have power. An option that many homes that switch to wind or solar power decide on is to have a connection to the electric company. This makes a great option, as you can get to have constant electric, and any excess, you maybe able to sell back to the electric company. If you are in an area that isn’t very sunny or very overcast with clouds, then you may need a wind power generator that can supplement when there is no sun, but a lot of wind. This poses a few extra problems or benefits, however you see it. Investing in a residential solar energy system is going to be a costly affair. Though the energy you get will be for many years, even decades, it still could mean that you still have to pay for electric, especially if you don’t have the sunshine. The problem with investing in residential solar energy systems and a wind generator is that you likely have to invest twice the amount of money. This can mean a longer time to make a return on investment. It is always advisable to seek advice from the company you plan to buy the energy system from, as they can give you an indication of whether you need a residential solar energy system, wind power generator or both. The benefit with both is that with the excess energy you can, in most cases, sell it back to the electric company. It can be a great feeling, having the electric company send you a paycheck a few times in the year. Looking for the pros and cons of solar energy? Are you looking for residential solar energy systems for your home or solar panles? Visit the links for more details or visit – USA Today Articles


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