Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Home Built Wind Generator - Kits vs Do It Yourself

By Adrian Fletcher

It may sound a bit ambitious to think that you can sack your power company but many people are thinking about this for many different reasons. The number one reason, of course, is money.

It goes without saying that electricity bills go up each year and don't seem to go down. Why this is the case is a subject of debate but the reality is that most of the raw materials that are used in power stations as finite materials that get more expensive to obtain. Whatever the reasons for the rises it is spurring people on to look for alternatives. And one such alternative is a home built wind generator.

Why a Home Built Wind Generator?

Simply put, why not ? Here are some of the advantages

Upon installing your wind generator, you have a pretty much maintenance free source of free energy. Sounds like a good reason to me, however there are a few caveats. You need to be situated in an area that gets an adequate amount of wind. You also need a plot of spare land on your property to locate the turbine.

Kits Versus Home Grown

The growing trend toward alternative forms of energy has caused a great interest in the home built wind generator, so much so that you can buy do-it-yourself kits. These kits include all of the parts needed to assemble one wind turbine which will generate the power, as long as there is adequate wind of course. You can also build your own completely from scratch and this require a bit more ingenuity as well as knowledge of electronics and mechanics.

If you like a challenge or have some DIY skills then the kit is your best bet. Prices will vary depending on what your requirements are but it is a more cost effective solution than paying professionals to install a wind turbine.

For the home built wind generator made from scratch, there are a number of books as well as websites which feature schematics for different models and sizes. The rotor blades can be fashioned out of wood, metal and even PVC and the motors can be found in a variety of places.

It is all a matter of your mechanical and electrical abilities as well as craftiness in substituting materials. However, hopefully the end result is a home built wind generator that actually produces a little energy.

For most people, a home built wind generator will be used to supplement their existing grid power. It may provide enough power to run some of your kitchen appliances each month. This can knock a bit off your energy bills.

And along with the money saving, you are doing your bit for the environment too. Everyone has a part to play and some responsibility in helping reduce carbon emissions. - 16492

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