Thread: Wind generator home made

A car alternator needs power to to start generating electricity, and the RPM required to overcome that power drain is a bit much for wind. However, some small/medium size hobby permanent magnet motors will generate 12v in a breeze. I even remember Jaycar having a kit. Another version was to use a motor from a Fisher & Paykel washing machine. Have a look at the things that sit on the end of yachts and generate power.

Thought about it too... But cheaper-easier-more reliable to reach for the wallet.

I have two dishwasher motors here from fisher & Paykel if you want them to try it...you can pay postage

Belt drive the alternator off a bicycle wheel and cover the wheel in vanes and you might get a little power...

Another suggestion is a 24V radiator fan motor, it might raise enough voltage to charge a 12v battery.

if you strip the alternator down you can make it setup to self excite by magnatising one side of the pole blocks you just have to work out which side to do and if you magnatise it north or south wise.

most alternators will eventaully get this way by themselves but you have to get a very high RPM onto them to get them to excite and they usually wont excite if you have any kind of load on them (so you have to disconnect the alternator, run it up till its outputting and then reconnect it).

Originally Posted by fatcat

Hi guys, off to Moreton for a week in a couple of months and thinking of getting a solar panel off ebay.

Has anyone used a old car alternator bunged a few blades on it, and put up in a windy place, i can get a set of blades for $80. would this work. It just seems to easy.

Thanks guys

apart from exciting it, you need too high an RMP.

see here for why car alternators are a poor choice
Alternator and Generator Comparison | Otherpower

A mate has done this using the Fisher & Paykel motor. Yes it can generate 12v and charge a battery but would be very combersome arangement to cart around.

Many many years ago, ex wifes grandfather made a setup using a car generator rigged up to a clothes line to charge a battery .....apparently. This was in the day when a 12v battery charger of any sort was a luxury item.

There's lots of info about making wind generators on the net. Most seem to conclude they are too inefficient to be practical.

Depending on what you want to power solar is likely to be your best bet, but cheap solar panels are not much chop.