The cost of a wind turbine is a vital consideration, but it is rarely answered by the currently available information sources.
Some say that you could do it for under $50, but this is tough unless you happen to have lots of spare metal and other hardware at your house already.
Here's what you'll need to build your own wind turbine in your backyard, and how much each part will cost:
1) To actually make the electricity, you'll need a generator. You can find a 30-40 vdc one on eBay for between $30-$50.
2) Next, you need to construct the tail and body of your wind turbine with sheet metal - you don't need anything fancy, so get this for around $5 from your local hardware store.
3) Material for the construction of the rotor blades for your turbine, PVC Pipe, is available for around ten dollars, either online or at the hardware store.
4) To attach the blades of your wind turbine to the motor, you need a "hub" - either make it yourself from circular metal alloy, or buy it at your hardware store for $10.
5) Now you need a shaft (or "tower") to support your wind turbine - for this, you can pick up an old satellite TV tower or purchase other materials for around $10.
6) To store your wind turbine's energy, you need a deep cycle battery - $10 online, or free at your local golf course if they're disposing of them.
7) A charge controller to protect your battery from the elements is also a good idea - expect to spend about $25.
8) You'll also need a dump load to dispose of "extra" energy - use an old water heater or back-up battery pack for this, so it doesn't cost you anything.
9) If AC power is being used, you need an AC Inverter. If you need one, you can get one for between $50 and $75, depending on the wattage needed.
10) You need hardware to attach the blades to the hub and tools such as screwdrivers, sockets, a grinder, a jigsaw and sandpaper. If you dont have any hardware or tools already, allow about $10.00 for purchases at the hardware store.
Adding up all these items, you see that the cost comes out to $160 to $225 - and if you already have a few of these items, you might get this as low as $100.
Some say that you could do it for under $50, but this is tough unless you happen to have lots of spare metal and other hardware at your house already.
Here's what you'll need to build your own wind turbine in your backyard, and how much each part will cost:
1) To actually make the electricity, you'll need a generator. You can find a 30-40 vdc one on eBay for between $30-$50.
2) Next, you need to construct the tail and body of your wind turbine with sheet metal - you don't need anything fancy, so get this for around $5 from your local hardware store.
3) Material for the construction of the rotor blades for your turbine, PVC Pipe, is available for around ten dollars, either online or at the hardware store.
4) To attach the blades of your wind turbine to the motor, you need a "hub" - either make it yourself from circular metal alloy, or buy it at your hardware store for $10.
5) Now you need a shaft (or "tower") to support your wind turbine - for this, you can pick up an old satellite TV tower or purchase other materials for around $10.
6) To store your wind turbine's energy, you need a deep cycle battery - $10 online, or free at your local golf course if they're disposing of them.
7) A charge controller to protect your battery from the elements is also a good idea - expect to spend about $25.
8) You'll also need a dump load to dispose of "extra" energy - use an old water heater or back-up battery pack for this, so it doesn't cost you anything.
9) If AC power is being used, you need an AC Inverter. If you need one, you can get one for between $50 and $75, depending on the wattage needed.
10) You need hardware to attach the blades to the hub and tools such as screwdrivers, sockets, a grinder, a jigsaw and sandpaper. If you dont have any hardware or tools already, allow about $10.00 for purchases at the hardware store.
Adding up all these items, you see that the cost comes out to $160 to $225 - and if you already have a few of these items, you might get this as low as $100.
About the Author:
Brian Bradley is the Associate Editor of DIY Clean Energy, where he blogs about wind turbine costs and how to build wind power, based on his own success going green and cutting his utility bill.
No comments:
Post a Comment