 Several years ago I bought some remote property in Arizona. I am an astronomer and wanted a place to practice my hobby far away from the sky-wrecking light pollution found near cities of any real size. I found a great piece of property. The problem is, it's so remote that there is no electric service available. That's not really a problem. No electricity equals no light pollution. However, it would be nice to have at least a little electricity, since so much of life in the 21st century is dependent on it.
One thing I noticed right away about my property is that most of the time, the wind is blowing. Almost from the moment I bought it, I had the idea of being energy independent by putting up a wind turbine and making some electricity, and later adding some solar panels and a wood gasifier. This is the story of how I did it. Not with an expensive, store-bought turbine, but with a home-built one that cost hardly anything. If you have some fabricating skills and some electronic know-how, you can build one too.
Let me state up front that I probably won't be able to help you out much if you decide to build your own wind turbine. This web site has become insanely popular, often taxing the bandwidth limits of the server. I get dozens of requests for help each day. I simply don't have time to answer the majority of them. Most of the questions and requests I get are the same ones over and over again. I have created a FAQ to handle these repetitive questions. Please read it before emailing me. Simple questions, not covered by the FAQ, which only require a quick and simple answer may get replies if time permits. However, there is no way I can help you out with complex issues, teach you electronics theory, help you locate parts, build a charge controller for you, or custom design a system for you. There just aren't enough hours in the day. Sorry.
Since no one seems to be reading the FAQ, I will answer the No. 1 question I get many, many times a day right here up front. Why didn't I just use an automotive alternator on my wind turbine? Automotive alternators need to spin at very high speed to produce useful amounts of power. Most wind turbines don't spin fast enough for them to work. Small wind turbines are wind turbines which have lower energy output than large commercial wind turbines, such as those found in wind farms. These turbines may be as small as a fifty watt generator for boat, caravan, or miniature refrigeration unit. Small units often have direct drive generators, direct current output, aeroelastic blades, lifetime bearings and use a vane to point into the wind. Larger, more costly turbines generally have geared power trains, alternating current output, flaps and are actively pointed into the wind. Direct drive generators and aeroelastic blades for large wind turbines are being researched. The Practicality of Home Wind Turbines Residential wind turbines have emerged as an admired source of energy as they facilitate an off-the-grid way of life. Hence, it is only meaningful to examine carefully this alternative source of energy. Wind is considered as one of the most unpolluted and green energy that has no damaging effect on atmosphere. It is an energy that can be renewed as its production is determined by the direction of the ever-changing air-currents. The air alters its course because some cloud blocks a certain sun causing the atmospheric temperature to fluctuate. As this happens, the hot air rises and the cold air moves to fill the blank. The wind and its characteristics are completely governed by the Sun, the Earth and its rotary motion. It’s a clear indication of favorable prospects concerning the availability of electricity produced using wind energy. Many people are seeking environment-friendly options and home wind turbines have surfaced as a most apt answer. Savings: The key parts used in making home wind generators have become economic. Thus, one can make them at home at a very small cost compared to the commercial units available in the market. Convenience: It is not very difficult these days to get directions on buying low-priced, used components for home wind turbines. Appropriate demonstrations that help to assemble a generator using the parts are available. Setting up a residential wind turbine could be inexpensive, if the house is located in a region where wind blows steadily at 10 mph as a minimum, at all times. If wind speed is lower than this, it is not possible to generate sufficient energy to make an observable decline in the energy consumption from the routine energy source, the commercial electricity provider. Hence, the wind velocity around the household has a major influence on the amount of energy a mini wind turbine will produce. Rise in Home Resale Value: Home wind turbines are designed to serve a household for more than two decades. These could do with little maintenance and serve as an uncomplicated machine. Clearly, a wind turbine could be a positive feature of any home and can improve its resale value, if the house-owner decides to move into a new home. Note the Flip Side Too… Cost for the Ready Version: The cost of home wind turbines could be a major issue for the non-do-it-yourselfer who doesn’t have time and inclination to build one. The cost could vary between ten and forty thousand dollars for even a mini wind turbine. Spending such a large sum of ready money could be a major deterrent for many; it will, though, reap the benefits in less than a decade. Nearly everyone who has a home wind turbine would still want to be connected to the power grid lest wind doesn’t flow at a desired speed and the turbine fails to produce sufficient energy for the home. The deficiency of home wind turbines can always be counterbalanced by buying some electricity. On the other extreme, if wind decides to travel at a greater speed, the surplus energy can be sold to the grid if the turbine systems are so designed. Getting to the Crux of the Viability DecisionAs a final point, anyone who is willing to build a residential wind turbine must investigate the law. It is most likely that the states with income tax, the green energy consuming households are aided with complete exemption of tax or a huge subsidy on the installation. A note of caution too; someone planning to erect a homemade wind turbine must seek permission from the people living in the same neighborhood. The wind energy, as an alternative source, is certainly drawing attention towards itself. The civilization is gradually becoming ecologically aware and is shifting towards a pollution-free planet from a contaminated one. This transition is accelerated by people opting for home wind turbines as it will eventually compel companies to provide eco-friendly energy. Learn How to Build a Wind Generator  Wind Turbines Learning how to Build a Wind Generator is not that difficult. With a little help and encouragement from our experienced staff and the right set of wind generator plans you can build a homemade wind generator that will produce free wind energy for your home for years to comeWind Turbines and Kits
Energy is becoming more expensive, and this is only going to worsen with the limited supply of fossil fuels available. Home wind turbines are just one way that people can reduce their dependence on external energy providers - saving money on utility bills, while also lowering their carbon footprint - so contributing (however minutely) to reducing global warming. Capturing Energy at HomeCurrent home wind turbine technology is not designed to supply large amounts of energy (and is somewhat reliant on the presence of wind), so can only contribute a portion of an average households power needs. However, this combined with other measures adds-up to a significant saving and reduction in the household’s impact on the environment. Such measures might include reducing waste through heat-insulation or power saving habits (switching lights, computers, and appliances off when not using them) or saving water - by reducing the flush volume of toilets, or storing rainwater for use on gardens or car-washing. | 
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