Help with little windmill!

[nahua]

Hello, this is is my first post. I have been thinking on becoming greener a lot these past years, and little by little im trying to get into it. Im thinking in installing more solar panelss in my house, as I already have some and work perfectly, also making my own electric vehicle.

But the reason why Im asking your help for is because Ive done a little windmill in my house, just to try on how they work. I just attached a micro DC motor on some fast homade windmill. Of course, this is just a little prototype, and is just making about 0,4 Volts! when turning with just a bit of wind. My question is, is there any way I can use this to charge a 1,5V battery? I have heard about capacitors, wont they store this voltage until I get 1,5V and when I get that, pass it to the battery? if not, can somebody tell me if this is possible and how?

thanks a alot!

[Prismseed]

I am far from an expert, but from what I've seen on tv (GreenTV channel 194 on dishnetwork, show 'off the grid') alternative power sources can be setup to charge car batteries. A system is required however to monitor the charge level as to prevent over charging. Looked high end and expensive to me (eh I'm cheap)

Pure speculation, but there is probably a way to run your electric current through a charging system like the battery chargers you get in stores. Then from there channel excess electricity into your home's power grid. Now this would require a good bit of electrical know how and probably a fancy part or two to prevent the battery charge from drawing from the house's power supply rather than your homemade power. Also be sure to have a skilled electrician check your work, improperly handled wires can be a major fire/safety hazard.

No guarantee, but your local library may have books on this subject, or you could just camp in one of those giant book stores and 'graze read'.

[rockets blare]

T. boone Pickens would be happy to help. Just make sure the government is subsidizing him.

[steve8miller]

On my website I have links up to great green generators as well as green wind power. My uncle uses wind power My family has been using a green generator for a while now check out my site for pics and more details just go to if you want to check it out that is to www.eraofgreen.com it is up to us to lead the way to the new era of green. I truly believe this and know that big business will not lead the way unless we do first.

[gemiller]

In theory, yes, the way you described the application of the capacitor would work just fine. I think the problem you may run into is that most chargers charge at a higher voltage then the end goal. Like a 12V battery charger may output 14V.

Although, by the time you get all that worked out it might be more effective to buy something like an AirX Fan.

May I ask what your end goal is to power and if you have a picture of your current design?

[thegreenlivingplace]

I am not an expert in wind power by any means. I am working on a small wind generator for my houseboat. 3' blades.

I am going to assume for this discussion that you are not doing net metering with this small turbine. Because the costs of setting up the disconnect and other requirements needed for net metering would put this way out of range.

Yes, you will need a charge controller (a charge controller is needed on ANY power system that recharges batteries, of any size) so that your batteries are not overcharged and burned out prematurley.

Here's where the major difference between solar generation and wind generation comes in. Most charge controllers simply shut off the power going to the batteries. Which is fine in a solar system. Any excess energy can be disapated as heat from the solar panel. No harm no foul.

In a wind generated system when the batteries are full and your charge controller turns the current off to the batteries, that power has to go somewhere.

If you do not have a directional diode in your line (I hope you have included a directional blocking diode, so that when the wind is not blowing it will not suck your batteries dry to turn your turbine). These diodes need to be in any type self generation system.

If you do not have a diode the energy will feed back to the turbine and turn it faster and faster until it burns the generator out. If you do have a diode it will generate as heat in your charge controller, until it burns it out.

Sorry, back on target. You will need to put a relay in at the charge controller and a dump load. This dump load (depending on the output of the turbine) can be anything from a light bulb to high energy heat sinks.

For my project I am putting a heat sink in the belly of my boat, I intend to use the extra heat to cut down on my energy consumption through the winter months. I'll figure something different out by summer for the dump load.

I am documenting the project as we work on it. Once completed I will post the documentation on my website.