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Learn Which Wind Turbine Parts Are the Most Important And Why The Best Option Is Not Always To Go Cheap
We are all looking to save money in uncertain economic times. If you live in a high wind zone, adding wind power can be a beneficial add-on to lowering your home energy bill. However, buying an inexpensive wind power kit or cheap DIY parts to build your wind turbine may not cut your home energy bill as much as you would like.
A wind turbine consists of the tower, control panel, mounting, generator, and the wind blades. That seems simple enough to build from scratch, but the most advanced commercial wind turbines are designed with computers to maximize energy production.
Here are the wind turbine parts you should focus on if you want to maximize both your investment and energy production:
The Generator: Is one of the most important components of a wind turbine which transforms wind power into usable electricity by reversing the direction of a DC motor shaft. You can use any DC motor such as a car alternator, old electric lawn mower motor or inexpensive DC motors in power tools if your goals for electricity production are small.
When deciding which generator to purchase or convert, it may be a good idea to invest in a good generator like those produced by Ametek if you are serious about wind energy production. Focus on the size of the motor, amps, voltage, and a generator with a low RPM rating of 400 or less which produces 12 volts or more.
With a low RPM rated generator, more electricity is produced with lower wind speeds. So unless you live in an area with high winds, or planning to generate your energy production from multiple hurricanes, an RPM rated generator under 400 RPM is usually your best option.
Attaching a larger hub to your wind blades and using a belt to the generator, similar to the gearing of a bike, may produce more electricity for a low cost, high RPM rated generator. However, this setup will require more torque from the wind blades, which will lower your RPMs. Test out the hub configuration that works best to maximize your energy output.
Wind Blade: Is another important component of the wind turbine and just as important as the generator. The RPMs of the wind blades are the result of two opposing forces: the blade’s ability to capture wind which is offset by the wind resistance of the blades. Homemade wind blades can have poor balancing if not properly constructed, which will result in lower RPMs produced, and more stress to the generator shaft bearings.
The most expensive wind turbines use the three blade configuration due to low wind resistance, good balance, and efficient wind capture to maximize RPMs.
If you are using a larger hub to counter a high RPM rated generator, using five blades to increase your wind power torque at lower RPMs may work best. Again, test and see which maximizes your results as five blades will encounter more wind resistance and result in a lower RPM.
Constructing your own wind blades will give you a sense of accomplishment and give you a low cost wind turbine, but commercial blades designed with computers and made out of carbon fiber can be purchased at a relatively low cost and produce more electricity.
Choosing inexpensive wind turbine parts has its advantages in the short run, but investing in quality parts can provide you with a wind turbine that will last longer, has increased energy production, and will save you more money in the long run.
About The Author: Keith Garrett is a wind power and Solar Power enthusiast for the home. His website at www.solarwind4homes.com offers knowledge and tips to the homeowner on transitioning to renewable energy in the 21st century.
