How to Build Windmill

Do you want to build a windmill?

Windmills have been around for centuries. The concept of a windmill is to capture the winds energy to rotate the blades, converting wind energy into mechanical force. This mechanical force can be used to turn a generator and produce electricity. Originally they were used to pump water or grain. Today modern versions typically use high tech, lightweight components such as carbon fiber in their construction. You do not have to use these expensive materials. Windmill building can be accomplished by a skilled, do it yourself type of person, for a very reasonable cost. With simple hand tools, hardware store access, and basic construction skills you can build your own windmill.

The goal of any windmill is to maximize the conversion of wind energy into mechanical energy. It needs to be tall enough to get above trees and other buildings. You should first check out your local building codes before beginning a windmill building project. They may limit the height or location of the windmill. The blades need to be shaped so that they catch the wind. They should be lightweight wood or plastic and turn with ease. Think of an airplane propeller.

The two types of windmill design are horizontal axis and vertical axis. Horizontal axis ones are the most common. Their vertically spinning blades face the wind. The downfall to this design is that when the wind changes direction the horizontal axis type will not be very efficient. A vertical axis type can produce wind energy from any direction. It has a vertical main shaft and its generator can be located on the ground unlike the horizontal axis. Another important windmill building step is to know the general direction and speed of the wind in your area to help decide which type to build. You can use an anemometer to measure wind speeds.

If you are looking into windmill building you need to know the basic parts. The base, which needs to be strong, and heavy. This will help keep the machine from falling over in high winds. The tower that can be constructed from wood, or plastic tubing. The blades that capture the wind energy. The size of the blades are determined by the size of your base. If you had a five foot machine your blades would need to be one to three feet long. The nacelle that normally houses the gearbox. A basic wind turbine can use a simple shaft to connect the blades to the tower. And lastly, the generator that will be turned by the windmill to produce electricity.

Here are a couple other windmill building tips. You will need wind speeds of at least 7 miles per hour to start producing power. Twelve to twenty is recommended for best results. An eight to eleven foot tall machine can produce 700-1000 watts of power and can be built easily. Remember, it is important to know your areas laws, wind speeds and directions, and power needs before embarking on your windmill building adventure.

A windmill is a surprisingly cost effective way to start generating your own green power. The wind is a renewable energy source that is not going away. There are tons of windmill building plans to be found on the internet. For a review of the best plans available today check out my site here.