Can I use any electric motor for a wind turbine?
Wind turbines work like fans, except the other way around. When building your own wind turbine, however, you’ll need something other than the standard generators used in the (much larger) turbines constructed for the energy grid. What you’ll need is a permanent magnet DC motor.
What motor is used for wind turbines?
You should be looking for a motor with a minimum amperage rating of at least 5 Amps. Anything above 5 Amps and you are good to go. Remember, the more amps and volts the wind generator creates the more power it is producing!
How much does a wind turbine motor cost?
$1,300,000 USD per megawatt. The typical wind turbine is 2-3 MW in power, so most turbines cost in the $2-4 million dollar range. Operation and maintenance runs an additional $42,000-$48,000 per year according to research on wind turbine operational cost.
Can a car alternator be used for a wind turbine?
Turn a car alternator into alternative energy by building this cheap and easy homemade wind generator. You can use any vehicle alternator with a built-in voltage regulator.
Can a car alternator power a house?
You can use car alternators to power a home. One method of doing this is to use the alternators to recharge storage batteries. These batteries could then be used to power an inverter, which would produce the AC voltage needed to run the house. Connect the alternator and gas engine together using a V-belt.
How long can an electric motor run continuously?
If you are looking for a motor with a long life expectancy, consider a brushless motor. Brushed motor life is limited by the brush type and can attain 1,000 to 3,000 hours on average, while brushless motors can attain tens of thousands of hours on average, as there are no brushes to wear.
What direction do wind turbines face?
The top part of each turbine (called the nacelle) rotates on the tower beneath so the spinning blades are always facing directly into the wind.
