A Vertical Wind Generator From Washing Machine Motor

Intro: A Vertical Wind Generator From Washing Machine Motor

Have an old front-load clothes washer and some PVC pipe lying around?  Make a vertical wind generator and go GREEN the DIY way.

STEP 1: Remove Motor From Washing Machine

This step was the most destructive using various implements to separate the motor assembly from the washing machine.  I'll leave it to your imagination and whatever tools you have on hand.  The output of this step should be the coil assembly and the magnet assembly.  Keep the shaft and bearings if you can also.  Mine were pressed into the washing drum and were difficult to remove without destroying them.  Keep the bolts from the coil and magnet assembly also.  You may want to use them for your new hub.

STEP 2: Clean the Parts

Clean the magnets and coils, and remove any rust that may have built up on the ends of the coils.  Then put a light coat of oil on the metal parts or a light layer of clear coat to keep them from rusting again.

STEP 3: Design a New Hub

This may be the most difficult part.  You need to design a hub that will space the coils in line with the magnets, and also have some sturdy bearings at each end.  I started out with a block of plastic used for an automotive brake rotor holding fixture.  You could make the same on a lathe, or build one up from layers of wood or other plastic, etc.

STEP 4: Shaft Fit

I saved part of the original washing machine drum shaft where the two bearings were located and cut off the rest.  Then I added some threaded rod in the end where the original bolt was located.  The threaded rod will attach to my blade assembly.

STEP 5: Hub and Coils

Here is the hub bolted to the coils with a cutout for some wiring.  At this point, I haven't rewired any of the coils.  There are many DIY generator projects on the web using these same washing machine motors and some describe various ways to rewire them for different voltages and currents.  Your application will define your wiring.

STEP 6: Finished Generator Assembly

Here's a photo of the magnets and coils mounted on the new hub and shaft assembly.  At this point, you can spin the assembly and measure the voltage output, current output, vs. RPM.  These measurement steps, and a way to determine the required torque to spin the generator I will save for my next Instructable.

STEP 7: Blade Design and Construction

My blade design is based on some vertical blades I've seen, and in particular, a spinning porch ornament I purchased a few years back.  The Idea is to have a cup-like section of the blade always in the direct flow of the wind.

STEP 8: The Blade Design

First mark the cutting lines on the PVC pipe.  You can sand off the marks after cutting and/or paint the blades if needed.

STEP 9: Cut Blades

I used a jig saw to cut the long flat cuts.

STEP 10: Cut Blades

I used a hack saw to cut the rounded sections.

STEP 11: Drill Center Hole for Post

I used a hole saw to drill the center holes for the PVC post.  The center post has caps on the ends to secure to the threaded rod.

STEP 12: Completed Generator

Here's a photo of the completed generator ready for mounting on a porch, or in a tree, or wherever.  This motor was rated at about 400 Watts, so I'm hoping for 50-100 watts in a good wind.

I hope you've enjoyed this Instructable, See you all next time......

STEP 13: Measurements

No load and full load torque was measured using a strain gage load cell mounted on a rod located one foot from the center of the hub.  Data was captured using a national instruments DAQ card and DasyLab daq software. No load was all wires open, full load was all wires shorted.  I tried to move the rod 90 degrees in 5 seconds at a steady rate manually.

No load torque averaged 0.39 ft-lbs, ful load torque was approx. 1.25 ft-lbs

STEP 14: Measurements

Full load Plot.

STEP 15: Part Numbers

LG Washer model WM0532HW
6501KW2002B

Sears Part Numbers
Stator assembly
PART NUMBER: 4417FA1994G
$97.60

Rotor
PART NUMBER: 4413EA1002B
$63.65

Sensor assy
PART NUMBER: 6501KW2002
Call for availability
[phone]

Bearing
PART NUMBER: 4280FR4048E
Kenmore 41473 
$25.04

Comments

[wmontigny64]

What is the cut and solder back together

[mudita.reddy]

OK. I just made this wind turbine using washing machine stator and rotor. When I turn the wind turbine with my electric blower(for testing purposes) I can not even light a small (10 w) bulb. I tried it in 3 phase and 1 phase conection. What am I doing wrong? I hope some one can help with this project I have.

[testacorsa]

Did you rewire? Check this link:

http://www.thebackshed.com/Windmill/Contents.asp#3

[BobDakotanBRJ]

Thanks for the link!

[Donald steele]

Electric blower wont have the torque to test it try using an electric drill with out the blades on it to test make sure in clock wise direction.fast setting i made a youtube video using a 3 phase pma a rectifier and small battery and 12v bulb for load test and voltage meter
.

[3253568]

با سلام به همه
من میخواهم توربین عمودی با لولا درست کنم که وقتیکه پره ها در جهت مخالف باد هستند بسته شوند و در طرف دیگر که باید از باد نیرو بگیرند باز شوند البته لولا باید در انتهای هر تیغه باشد البته یک نمونه ساخته شده در ایران را دیده ام اگر بتوانم ویدئو خواهم گذاشت . لطفا همفکری کنیم

[3253568]

اینجا کسی نیست ؟

[3253568]

Hello everyone
I want to make a vertical turbine with a hinge that closes when the blades are in the opposite direction of the wind and opens on the other side, which must be powered by the wind. I can post a video. Please agree

[gordonfarey3]

Which wires to cut and join

[gordonfarey3]

I need close up of wiring

[apormosa]

please let me know what type of magnet is used in LG BLDC washing machine?

[staytexas]

I have gotten 2 F&P motors donated which we are using to build wind generators. Both the stators and rotors are dirty. What is the best way to clean them?

[staytexas]

does it matter which washing machine motor is used? I am working with an orphanage in Honduras that has a lot of wind and very poor power with a desire to teach teens how to make a generator that would provide the power they need for the dorms. Ebay has a motor for $10, Whirlpool Washer Drive Motor WPW10677715.

[judgeyoung]

Very nice yard ornament. Why not build it into a HAWT and put a single PVC blade on it and see if you can actually make some measurable power with it? There is a reason the vertical axis turbines are so inefficient, and a reason that HAWT's have proven themselves better for hundreds of years. Probably not as artistic as your pretty unit, but much more powerful! Let us know if you produce any power.

[Donald steele]

Use a large blue plastic or metal drum 30 or 55 gal and cut in half down center middle from top to bottom .

[gmcin5]

How did you attend the wings to the centre pipe to stop the spinning, Just bolt them through?

[PauG6]

HI\Can you help me

were to buy this shaft the ine you use it

[PauG6]

I need to buy a hub and a shaft , were can i buy from , please

[ajayt7]

Regarding matching wind power and torque, would it be helpful to use gears along with a Fly wheel? How can one go about from designing point of view? Any website / apps that can help?

[ajayt7]

Simpler design, easy to follow, thanks for posting