Step-by-step instructions for a wind generator from a washing machine. Do-it-yourself wind generator from a washing machine engine: materials, assembly, installation. Making a wind generator from a washing machine engine

A branded generator costs a lot of money. A small installation alone will cost no less than 60-80 thousand rubles, and this is not counting the cost of installation. However, this is not a reason to abandon the idea of \u200b\u200bobtaining energy from alternative sources. The wind turbine can be made independently using spare parts, for example, washing machine... Such a unit will cost only a few thousand rubles.

Selection of spare parts

In our case, we are talking about creating a 2.5 kW wind turbine. The presence of scrap metal in the garage or in the country will make the task cheaper. But the main design detail is the generator. The electric motor of the washing machine can be converted into a generator. However, the engine must undergo alterations, it must be equipped with a magnetic rotor. The rotor can be purchased ready-made, or made by hand. Experts recommend not to create additional difficulties for yourself and buy a ready-made rotor. There are a number of reasons for this:

1. To make a rotor with your own hands, you need to buy special neodymium magnets. The cost of a set of magnets is approximately equal to the cost of a new rotor made in China.
2. Assembling a rotor is an extremely painstaking and laborious job. You will need to make a special shape and glue each magnet very securely.
3. If the magnets are not at the correct angle, they will stick. In this case, the generator will not work. Calculating the correct angle is quite difficult, as is securing the magnets.

Note! The main expense item is the magnetic rotor. Together with the delivery service, it will cost 2.5-3 thousand rubles.

A purchased 2.5 kW rotor without any special alterations will fit the electric motor from a modern washing machine model. Such an engine can be adapted not only to create a wind generator, but also for a grain crusher, for example.

So, in addition to the electric motor, you will need a mast, an oblong shaft, a gearbox, an impeller and gears. Depending on the set of spare parts, the technical design may differ, however, in the described case, the mast is manufactured as follows:

1. We take several sections of old steel pipes of 32 mm and connect them to each other. The result is a one-piece hollow structure 10 meters long.
2. We paint the mast in white color.
3. Once the mast is dry, it can be lifted onto the pole. We attach the protruding to the post metal mounts from a corner with a hole. The mast must be securely fixed and at the same time be able to rotate freely.

If there is no suitable post nearby, you will need to solve the issue of creating a support for the mast, since the pipe structure is not stable. Then we assemble a gearbox for a windmill with a vertical axis of rotation (figure below).

Scheme and device of the gearbox of the wind generator

Explanations for the figure:

• we take the main gear (put on the mast) from the pump drive for water;
• we weld the turned reinforcing cuttings (axes) in a circle from the gear - 4 pieces;
• on the axle we press in the bearings with gears (B);
• the above gears are in contact with a small gear (A) from the same pump;
• gears (B) are in interaction with the teeth of the gear housing.

A characteristic feature of the given gearbox design is that its body rotates around the mast without any obstacles along with the propeller. Due to this, the propeller speed is slightly reduced, which affects the efficiency of the wind generator. Despite this, the structure gains greater stability, and its service life increases. Due to the gearbox that controls the rotation of the propeller, the wind turbine is able to withstand even hurricane gusts of wind.

Assembling the component parts

The gearbox housing is made from an electric motor from an industrial pump. The impeller should not be perpendicular to the ground level (like most industrial wind turbines), but horizontally. In this case, the design is more reliable.

The impeller can be made from 5-ply plywood. However, if the blade size is more than 1.5-2 meters and wind gusts exceed 10-15 meters per second, the propeller will probably break.

A more preferred material for the blades is fiberglass. The material is distinguished by both strength and flexibility. You can also make a propeller from a duralumin corner. To make the structure rigid enough, you will need to cut six rectangular strips and glue them together. After that, the strips are connected to the impeller (the length of one wing is 1.6 meters).

You will also need a small gear and shaft. We fix the shaft on the mountings so that it is firmly held in place, but at the same time can rotate. The last piece is the flange that will connect the rotating shaft to the generator. We make the shaft from rods welded together.

Installation of a wind generator

First of all, you need to choose a place for the windmill. It is recommended to place the support in an open area, ideally on the top of a hill. Support height - the more the better. In this example, we are talking about an electric pole 10 meters high.

Sequencing:

1. We put the mast on a support, fix it in the mountings. It is recommended to use mounting claws during installation.
2. The pre-assembled gearbox with the impeller is mounted on the mast. We check the efficiency of the gearbox.
3. We connect the shaft to the main gear (number 5 in the figure). The gear is located at the base of the gearbox.
4. We fix the shaft in the fasteners.
5. We attach the rotating shaft to the generator, which has already been attached to the metal support from the corners. The support is installed vertically - directly opposite the shaft.
6. To protect the generator from precipitation, you can erect something like a canopy over it. In this case, the service life of the unit will increase significantly.

Of course, financial costs alone are not enough to create a wind turbine. It will also take certain skills and time. But the result is worth it, since the output will be a stably working, free-to-use device for the production of electrical energy.

In order to have your own energy source on your home site, it is not at all necessary to acquire it. A good solution would be a wind generator from a washing machine, which you can make yourself. To do it, you need an old appliances, a number of additional details, free time and detailed instructions.

Features of a wind generator from a washing machine

A branded wind generator, even purchased from one of the Chinese online stores, costs at least seventy thousand rubles. A homemade windmill made from a washing machine engine will cost the owner significantly less. It will take a lot of free time to make it, as well as make a number of efforts, but the result is worth all the costs.

The device must be installed in an open space, and for effective operation, a wind blowing with a force of 9-10 m / s is required. At the same time, there is no need to think that the stronger the wind, the higher the productivity of the wind generator. When gusts of wind reach 25 m / s, the wind turbine generates much less electricity due to the fact that the blades are perpendicular.

The benefits of home homemade wind turbines from a washing machine engine depends on the amount of electricity they generate. 0.2 kW of electricity received from such a device will light up a couple of rooms and enable the TV to turn on. With a wind turbine capacity of up to 5 kW, the owner will be able to use a washing machine, refrigerator, computer. Power over 20 kW will allow not only lighting, but also heating the whole house, as well as working with all available electrical appliances.

The washing machine motor allows you to assemble a device with a capacity of up to 2.5 kW.

Preparation for the manufacture of a wind turbine

The principle of operation of the wind generator is based on the rotation of the blades connected to the rotor. The latter is installed on the shaft of a generator that generates current. Electricity is supplied to batteries, where it is accumulated and used to power electrical appliances. The wind turbine also uses a controller designed to convert alternating current into direct current and control the charging of energy storage devices. After the battery, an inverter should be installed to transform the current.

To assemble a wind generator from a washing machine engine, you first need to prepare its components.

Rotor

The key part of any wind turbine is the power generator. It can be made from the motor of a Vyatka, Oka, LG washing machine or any other domestic or foreign model. The difficulty lies in the fact that it will be necessary to completely redo the rotor of the engine. This is a long, complicated and very painstaking procedure, instead of which you can purchase a new magnetic rotor.

To modify the existing motor assembly, you will need to properly cut it with a lathe, and then make grooves for installing the magnets. Next, you need to buy new neodymium magnets. Their price is equal to the cost of a new rotor. No mistakes are made when installing magnets. Any, even the smallest shift to the side will lead to sticking of magnets and a significant decrease in the performance of the future design; in the worst case, the device does not produce current at all. Therefore, they must be installed and secured as accurately and firmly as possible.

The rotor of the engine is the main and most expensive part of a wind turbine. Its cost with delivery can reach two to three thousand rubles.

If you still want to make a generator yourself, you must:

• Take the old direct drive motor, pull out the rotor.
• On lathe cut the old core by about 2 mm.
• Make grooves on the rotor for magnets 5 mm deep.
• Make a template for attaching magnets from a sheet of tin. It should fit very accurately and tightly. On it you need to make a markup for installing additional parts in two rows at an equal distance from each other.
• Purchase neodymium magnets online or in a specialty store. You need to buy an even number to alternate the poles.
• At the same angle, at the same distance to achieve maximum magnetic field density, cold-weld them to the core, or epoxy resin... You can also use superglue.
• Knead the cold weld so that it feels like plasticine to the touch and fill the space between the magnets with it.
• Fix the assembled part on the motor with glue and sand with sandpaper.
• To check the assembled generator, you need to connect the wires leading to the working winding of the engine to the rectifier, and the latter to the controller connected to the battery.
• Spin the rotor up to a thousand revolutions with an electric drill.
• If everything is done correctly, the voltmeter will show a voltage from 250 to 270 volts on the battery contacts. If the voltage is very low, it means that the magnets are installed incorrectly and the structure needs to be redone.
• You also need to make sure that the magnets do not stick during operation.

If no problems are found, the homemade generator from the washing machine engine is ready to use.

In addition to the generator, the future wind turbine consists of elements such as a mast, gearbox, impeller, shaft, flange and gears.

Mast

The mast can be made from scrap materials. A long pipe is fine, but if you don't have one, you can use different pipe lengths. They need to be welded together to get a ten meter long mast. The manufactured mast must be painted white and installed in an upright position. You can use a pillar or other object as a support. The only condition is that it should not interfere with the rotation of the windmill.

Reducer

The purpose of this part is to protect the wind generator from damage in case of strong gusts of wind. It controls and reduces the speed of the wind turbine propeller. To assemble the gearbox, you must:

• Take the gear from the drive from the old water pump and put it on the mast.
• Attach axes around the perimeter by welding - pieces of metal reinforcement.
• Fasten bearings and gears on the axles and press them in.
• Place another small gear on the mast.

All gears are in close contact and interact with each other.

The gearbox must be reliably protected from bad weather conditions, therefore it is recommended to provide a housing for it. It can be taken from a water pump or electric motor.

Impeller

Another important part of the wind turbine is the impeller. Its blades can be vane or sail, like in windmills. Better to make wing blades, because they have the best efficiency. Their length should be from one and a half to two meters, they can be made from light, but strong material. Wood, plastic, or aluminum work well.

In addition, a propeller can be made from a fiberglass sheet In this case, in order for the structure to be rigid, the blanks must consist of two layers. After that, they will be connected into a single device.

After the manufacture of parts is completed, you can start assembling the wind turbine.

How to make a wind generator

To assemble a wind generator from a washing machine engine with your own hands, you need to carefully follow the step-by-step instructions.

• First you need to put in the support and the mast. This should be done in an open area, preferably on a hill. The installation of the windmill should be carried out in calm, windless weather.
• After installing the support, the propeller and gearbox should be fixed to it.
• Sometimes a tail is mounted on windmills. It is made of lightweight material and allows the structure to rotate depending on the direction of the wind.
• A long shaft must be attached to the base of the gearbox. It must be securely fixed so as not to fall out, but at the same time rotate freely.
• Construct a support for the generator from metal corners.
• Install the generator and connect to the shaft.
• To prevent moisture from getting on the generator and rotor, it is necessary to design a protective casing for them. To prevent the equipment from being damaged by frost, it is required to cover it with silicone grease for the winter.
• Now you can connect the generator to the mains to test how it works.

At the first starts, there is no need to experiment and test the operation of the wind generator on expensive devices. It is better to use the simplest devices, such as a charger, etc. It is also recommended to connect all equipment to the generator via an inverter.

It should be understood that significant hum and vibration can come from large wind turbines.

Done correctly, the wind turbine from the washing machine motor will provide a reliable backup power source. As the main one, it can only be used in summer cottages or in small houses with a small number of devices that consume electricity.

Conclusion

From the engine and body of an old washing machine, many useful devices:, as well as a wind generator. This device can be used as an additional power source in case, for some reason, there is no electricity. The cost of a homemade windmill is much lower than that of branded devices, but it will take some time and effort, as well as a number of skills and abilities to assemble such a structure. However, the effort is well worth the result.

In addition, from a used washing machine, you can also design:

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Have you wanted to install an alternative energy source for a long time? The cost of the device becomes a significant obstacle to the implementation of the idea. But do not despair, you can make a wind generator from a washing machine engine with your own hands.

This mechanism will convert the force of the wind into electrical energy, and you will use it for everyday needs. To create a device yourself, read our article.

The advantages of a homemade wind turbine

If you buy a wind generator even from a Chinese manufacturer, together with the installation, it will result in 75,000 rubles. To create a windmill with your own hands, you will need patience and manual dexterity, as well as an old washing machine, additional parts, and time. But this work is worth the effort.

To get the most out of the device, it must be placed in an open area. The wind turbine is started at a wind speed of 2 to 3 m / s. To obtain maximum coefficient effective action (efficiency), a wind force of 9-10 m / s is sufficient.

It is interesting! If you think that the higher the wind speed, the more efficiencythen it is not. At 25 m / s, the performance of the wind turbine is significantly reduced as the blades become perpendicular.

Why a wind generator from a washing machine is useful:

1. The generated 0.15-0.2 kW of energy is enough to light two rooms and watch TV.
2. When generating 1-5 kW, you can use a refrigerator, computer, washing machine.
3. 20 kW will not only provide light to all rooms in the house, but also allow you to use heating.

Consider how to make and install a 2.5 kW wind generator.

Preparation for work

The "heart" of the whole structure is an electric generator. To make it, you will need an engine from a washing machine - you can use it from Vyatka or another Soviet brand. For this purpose, it is necessary to completely redo the motor rotor.

• To fit the native rotor of the motor, it must be cut on a lathe, and grooves for attaching the magnets must also be machined.
• You need to buy neodymium magnets that cost like a new rotor.
• The magnets must be fastened securely and accurately. The minimum shift to the side will cause them to stick and reduce performance.

The generator rotor is the main and most expensive part of the design.

What other elements does the windmill consist of?

• Mast.
• Reducer.
• Impeller.
• Gears.
• Flange.

We will use what is at hand and make a mast. To do this, you can take a long pipe, but if there is none, you can use pipe sections of 32 mm. Weld them together and you get a 10 m mast.

1. Cover the finished mast with paint.
2. Secure the mast vertically. To do this thoroughly, you can use a pole or other support. At the same time, be sure that the support does not interfere with the rotation of the windmill.

Take care of assembling the gearbox, as shown in the photo below:

The reducer is designed to control and slow down the rotation of the wind turbine propeller. Thus, it protects the device from damage during strong wind... How to proceed:

• Take the gear from the water pump drive. It is put on the mast as noted in Figure 5.
• Along the perimeter, connect scrap metal reinforcement to the gears. Secure the connection by welding. In the picture it is marked with the letter C.
• Bearings and gears are installed on these scraps (axles) and pressed in. This action is shown under the letter B.
• A small gear is put on the mast, which is marked with the letter A.
• All gears are in contact with each other and constantly interact.

After assembling the structure, you need to protect the mechanism from bad weather. The figure under the number 11 shows the case. To install it, you can take a housing from an old pump or electric motor.

Now you need to assemble the impeller. The blades are of this type: vane and sail (like a windmill). It is better to opt for a vane design, they allow you to get more efficiency.

Make blades out of light and stiff material: wood, aluminum, plastic. According to our setting, the length of the blades should be 1.5-2 meters.

The propeller can also be made of fiberglass sheet. But in order to achieve the rigidity of the structure, you will have to glue the blanks in two layers. Then they are combined into a single mechanism.

The preparation of the parts is over, proceed to the assembly of the wind generator.

Instructions on how to make a wind generator from an engine

Let us give step by step examplehow to build an alternative energy source from a direct drive motor.

You need to install the support and mast of the windmill in an open area, you can on a hill. After the support is installed, do the following:

• Attach the gearbox and propeller to the mast.

Some wind turbines use a tail as shown in the picture. It is made of lightweight and material, it allows you to turn the structure in the wind.

• Connect the long shaft to the gearbox base. Secure the shaft so that it does not fall out, but at the same time rotates freely.
• A manufactured generator is attached to a previously prepared support made of metal corners, which is connected to the shaft.
• A protective casing must be provided for the generator and rotor, which will cover them from moisture. To protect against frost in winter period Coat the structure with silicone grease.

Install the wind turbine correctly in calm weather.

It is advisable to connect all electrical appliances through an inverter.

It should be borne in mind that large installations generate strong noise and vibration. Now you can connect the generator to the network and check the operation of the wind generator.

Be careful. Do not immediately connect expensive and powerful devices. Test the operation of the wind turbine on a conventional charger and other elementary devices.

The wind generator is perfect option for backup power supply. It can serve as the main one, but only for small farms or summer cottages.

A wind generator is an excellent alternative to electric power sources. It is used for private homes, remote from power lines and as additional source nutrition. In this article we will tell you how to make a mini-windmill from available tools ( washing machine, scrap metal, broken household appliances) with their own hands.

A wind generator is a complex of mechanical devices related to an alternative source of electricity, which convert the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical energy with the help of blades, and then into electrical energy.

Wind turbine - an alternative source of energy for a private house

Modern models have three blades, this provides a higher efficiency of the installation. The minimum wind speed at which the wind turbine is started is 2-3 m / s. also in technical characteristics the nominal speed is always indicated - the wind indicator at which the installation gives the maximum efficiency, usually 9-10 m / s. When the wind speed is closer to 25 m / s, the blades become perpendicular to the wind, due to which the power generation drops significantly.

In order to provide private house with electricity, at a wind speed of 4 m / s, it is enough:

• 0.15-0.2 kW for basic needs: room lighting, TV;
• 1-5 kW to ensure the operation of main electrical appliances (refrigerator, washing machine, computer, iron, etc.) and lighting;
• 20 kW will provide energy to the whole house, including heating.

Because the wind can stop at any time, the wind turbine is not connected directly to electrical appliances, but to rechargeable batteries with a charge controller. Because rechargeable batteries produce alternating current, and for household appliances you need a direct current of 220V, an inverter is installed, to which all electrical appliances are connected. The disadvantages of wind generators can be attributed to the noise and vibration generated from them, especially for powerful installations, more than 100 kW.

Types of wind turbine blades

The main parts of the wind turbine

To make a homemade windmill, you need to know what main parts it consists of and what they can be replaced with:

• The rotor is a rotating part of the installation, powered by wind power. It can be bought at a store or removed from a non-working unit (engine or drill generator).
• Blades. They are usually made from wood, light metal (aluminum) or plastic. They can be of the sail type (like a windmill) and vane.

Advice! The vane profile blades are more efficient.

• A generator is a device that converts wind force into electrical energy. You can make it yourself from magnetic coils or remake a ready-made washing machine or car generator.
• The tail is an element that helps orient the windmill in relation to the wind. It is made of wood, light metal, plexiglass or plastic.

Scheme: wind generator device

• Horizontal yard to support generator, wind turbine and tail.
• The mast, on which the yard with the generator is movably attached. It reaches lengths from 5 m to 20 m and is made of durable wood or plastic / iron pipe with a hollow interior with a drain box electrical wire... It is secured with steel cables for added security.

Advice! The higher the wind turbine match, the more energy it will generate.

• Wire connecting generator and shield. And you switchboard comprises:

1. battery. It is best to use special devices for alternative energy systems;
2. battery charge controller;
3. inverter.

How to make a generator for a wind turbine from a washing machine

As a generator for a wind turbine, it is best to use an asynchronous motor, which is used in old-style washing machines.

Attention! the main problem homemade generators - sticking magnets. To avoid this, they are installed at a slight incline.

Making the holder, axle and blades

How to install a wind generator

• We install the generator, blades, rotor and tail on the carrier rail. Moreover, it is necessary
  close the generator and the wind turbine rotor with a special cover to protect it from weather.

Advice! For protection against cold, the unit can be coated with a silicone based grease.

• The power plant is mounted on the rail with a movable hinge mechanism.
• The mast is attached to concrete base with 4 bolts.
• A wire is drawn along the mast from the generator to the switchboard.

The wind generator is installed in calm weather

• After that, the voltage controller, battery and inverter are connected.
• The installation is connected to test devices, during normal operation it is reconnected to the network.

Attention! Before connecting complex household appliances to the network, check the operation of elementary ones, for example, a charger for a phone.

A wind generator is an environmentally friendly option for generating electricity. Small wind turbines are perfect for summer cottages or as an additional power source in private houses in the absence of light. In order to make it yourself, you need to have basic knowledge of electrical and electronics. It is advisable to read the video instruction for more information.

Wind generator from a washing machine motor: video