Is possible to make a wind turbine out of an car alternator ?

Question

i was just wondering.

Answer 1

sure. You may have to use pulleys to optimize the rotation rate.

Answer 2

No, the wind turbine and the alternator are two different machines.

The wind turbine will be the alternator driver.

The alternator will be the driven machine (generator).

(No battery is required unless you're going to charge it).

The two connected together by a shaft could become a Generator Set producing power from the energy of the wind.

The alternator, as in a car, will produce electricity at low and high speeds. (Pulleys will not be used, a Gearbox is generally installed between the Turbine and Generator shafts.

(A pulley works as a belt drive from the engine shaft for the charging of the car's battery when idling in neutral or when the car is travelling at speed).

To the thumbs downer. A turbine is a DRIVER not a Generator and, an Alternator is a GENERATOR not a Turbine.

In a Wind Turbine arrangement, the wind drives the turbine and the turbine drives the generator. I've worked with them long enough to know the difference in their function and operation.

Answer 3

Yes, but...

<>http://www.bwea.com/you/byo.html>

<>http://www.alton-moore.net/wind_turbines...

<>http://www.homepower.com/article/?file=H...

Your alternator will need to turn at about 1800RPM. Your driving blades generally run at low RPM. So you will need gearing. However, if wind speed rises, you will need an over speed control (preferably automatic).

The bearings in the alternator are too small to reliably support large blades.

A car alternator’s rotor needs to be powered to excite the magnetic field. At higher speed, the field will have to be reduced (that means a regulator).

Answer 4

Yes but it has to be connected to a battery otherwise it won't give power. Also many of them need the light wired as this is part of the circuit. This light is wired between the smaller terminal and the larger (+ive) one.

The car alternator is actually a good cheap generator. It contains regulating circuits etc.

I agree the bearing may be an issue although they are pretty tough. You could find an equivalent roller bearing easy and cheap enough to replace the ball type in there if you wanted.

The only other consideration is to match the speed and many alternators may not have their rated RPM on them. They don't tend to put nameplates on them.