How to make a Vertical Axis Wind Generator (Is it worth that???)

The goal of the project was to see whether or not a vertical axis wind generator could be made at home, and if so, to see if it would work well enough to charge a 12 volt battery.

I have been making vertical axis wind generators for years and have the following advice:

In the end, there are a lot of factors to consider when deciding whether or not to build a vertical axis wind generator. Keep these in mind, and you can't go wrong. Happy DIY-ing!

All in all, it might be worth the money to buy a wind generator. There is a lot of information to take in, but if you have this article and your time, go ahead and make one! The first time I saw them in person I thought they were amazing. They look powerful and you can feel that power when they turn. One thing I've learned is that science usually estimates costs 10x higher than they are actually worth. So don't be afraid to try things! If you think you can make one on your own, go for it!

So although this generator will cost around $1000, the amount of power you get for that money is pretty good. Depending on where you live, it may pay off after just a couple years of using it. However, if you do have the money to spend and don't have access to alternative energy, I would recommend this solution over solar panels, or even windmills, as they are generally cheaper but also generate less electricity.

Our conclusion is just to call it an 'interesting' project. If you want something that is going to provide energy in a pinch, and you don't mind spending money on it, then this may be something worth doing. It's not terribly difficult, but it's not necessarily simple either.

If you are looking for a way to cut your electric bill then making a vertical axis wind generator is a great investment. If you can build it yourself then the payback will be even quicker....although the price to build one today rather than buying one is just not worth it in my opinion.

As you can see, a Vertical Axis Wind Generator is both simple and easy to make at home. You can build a DIY generator in less than an hour and at a very low price. The generator you made can produce 12v DC (maximum of 10amp) but have in mind, the stronger the wind is, the more power it will provide to the grid. So if you live in a windy place like Hawaii or somewhere above the tropics that has plenty of windy days, then this project would be ideal for your needs; just keep in mind to use heavy duty wire when creating connections and be careful not to overload any of your devices.

If you are having limited space for wind turbines, Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWT) will be a good option for you rather than Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWT). We did wind generator before on the do-it-yourself vertical axis wind turbines, but this one is different from here.

This is a fun project and I hope to use it with my solar panel when I get that created. Please be careful when using the wind generator, I really can't emphasise this enough, if you don't pay attention to your surroundings you could find yourself with a blade flying through the air - seriously.

The point is not whether it's worth it. Nor the cost other than noise and safety. The point, in fact, is that it isnt that difficult to build, and there are benefits over shaped/textured props. Not everyone has the time, ability, or desire to make their own props, but if you have access to a machine shop this might be a viable option for you (if the materials don't break your bank). Considering what an enthusiast went through to make these I doubt they could pay for much of their time. A friend of mine once mentioned that these are a substantial achievement of personal fabrication and I think he was probably right.

Okay, if you really want to, why not? You could certainly try. Just make sure you're aware of the safety concerns. If you're still looking for inspiration for your next DIY, this is a great place to start.