Anybody know how I could connect an alternator to a windmill?

Question

I have a 7 foot ornamental windmill and I want to know what type of alternator or generator I could hook up to it and also how to mechanically attach it to the blade part itself. If there are any hobbyists or enthusiasts groups, that would be helpful too.

Answer 1

hello!

i hope you can use some of these ideas;

1 way to connect the rotor (that has the blades) to a cog/sprocket, and loop a chain (that fits the sprocket) around the rotor of the generator (or alternator) w/ another sprocket on the rotor. this is similar to the fan in a car's radiator system, which is connected w/ a rubber belt.

Another suggestion is to check google for such ideas.

Answer 2

Here are two links for home made windmills.  For the dragon fly I would use a GM one wire alt., with the lowest amps available.  This is the cheapest place that I've found for an alt.

Answer 3

There are a couple of issues with this idea. Anyway, you can hook up a regular car alternator fairly simply by making a bracket to mount the alternator and fixing a pulley wheel onto the rear of the wind mill blade and driving it with a belt the same as in a car. However, I think that it is very unlikey that the windmill will spin fast enough to make the alternator kick out any power. If you alter the gearing by changing the pulley sizes then I think that the windmill will not start to even turn.

    I have heard of people hooking up washing machine motors also and they can be used to make power.

    Is it not possible to use the power for other forms of energy? pumping water for example?

Answer 4

It seems like an old alternator from a car, some bolts, some kind of bracket, a regular fan belt, and some creative thinking is all you need.