How I built an electricity producing wind turbine

Step 13 How much did it cost?

So how much did all this cost to build? Well, I saved all the receipts for everything I bought related to this project.

Part                         Origin 	                  Cost

Motor/Generator 	     Ebay 	                  $26.00
Misc. pipe fittings 	     Homecenter Store 	          $41.49
Pipe for blades 	     Homecenter Store 	          $12.84
Misc hardware 	             Homecenter Store 	          $8.00
Conduit 	             Homecenter Store 	          $19.95
Wood & Aluminum 	     Scrap Pile 	          $0.00
Power Cable 	             Old extension cord 	  $0.00
Rope & Turnbuckles 	     Homecenter Store 	          $18.47
Electronic Parts             Already on hand 	          $0.00
Relay 	                     Auto Parts Store 	          $13.87
Battery 	             Borrowed from my UPS   	  $0.00
Inverter 	             Already on hand 	          $0.00
Paint 	                     Already on hand 	          $0.00

Total 	                                                  $140.62

Not too bad. I doubt I could buy a commercially made turbine with a comparable power output, plus a commercially made charge controller, plus a commercially made tower for less than $750-$1000.

More details on this project and my other alternative energy projects including my home-built solar panels, and my home-built biomass gasifier can be found on my web site.

Comments

[jharuni]

Very nicely written article. Thank you.

Are there stops preventing the head from turning too far out of the prevailing wind direction? Or is it free to turn infinitely in either direction? If so, how did you run the wires from the head to the tower so that they won't twist up?

[grabbit]

nice project and excellent explanation complimented with both photos and video. thanks!

[propertydoctor]

Very nice 'able! One question comes to mind though. Have you had any problem with the wire in the tower chafing on the metal of the tower or twisting up?

[KBSimNL]

 I was wondering about that as well.