3 Things To Know Before Starting Your DIY Wind Turbine

In the world of power production from a diy wind turbine, beauty shouldn't be your primary consideration.

Picking the ugliest may be the best way to go.

Slick, beautiful wind turbines from kits can be very expensive and they may do a less efficient job at harnessing your local wind that a cheaper model you can build for yourself from a set of plans, along with a little grit and determination.

Manufacturers of wind generators often overstate the capabilities of their products. If you listen to manufacturers' sales literature, you will be led to believe they all can perform miracles. In order to maximize the effectiveness of your turbine you must zero-in on how the turbine will perform on YOUR property - not in optimal conditions.

To build a really effective wind turbine, you must first consider a few factors that often get left out of the analysis. Taking care of these issues first - before looking into the specific windmill to buy - will insure you get the most electricity you can out of your diy wind turbine.

1. What are the zoning issues surrounding wind turbines in my community?

Many cities and communities tightly control the installation of structures even on private property. The reason for that is 2-fold: safety and aesthetics.

First of all, if towers are mounted too high they can present a problem for aircraft. For example, the FAA requires that no tower or other structures be installed above 200 feet high on private or public property near the approach or takeoff area of an airport.

While in all likelihood your tower will not need to be that high, it is wise to check out this issue with your local city or county zoning department. They will be able to assess if you are doing is permissible and if permitting is required prior to construction.

Also, neighborhood associations sometimes restrict towers or, even roof mounted wind turbines. Most neighborhood associations are responsible for broader property values and they feel the "look" of wind turbines on a roof will diminish the value of your house.

This way of looking at things is out of date in an era of shrinking fossil fuel supplies. It is nonetheless still "the way it is" and must be weighed.

2. Do I have enough wind to create electricity consistently?

You need to know how much wind "fuel" you have on your property before you start. While turbines are becoming very good at picking up power in very low wind conditions, there is still a need to make sure your AVERAGE wind over time is enough to produce the amount of power you need.

The best way to understand local wind is to visit with you local weather station. They will have historical data on wind patterns, but you are only interested in averages over the last 2 or 3 years.

Most wind turbines perform best if your wind is mostly between 8-25 mph, you are in good shape. If your average is much less than that, it is time to reset and lower your expectations.

3. What would I like to do with the electricity?

There are several things you can do with the electricity you create and the choice you make about where you direct your power will have a big impact on the type of diy wind turbine you pursue:

Connect to your utility's electrical grid and sell the power you make to them.

Connect your wind turbine to a battery or battery bank for backup power when you need it.

Directly feed the power to your home.

If you connect with the grid, you will need help from an electrical contractor to place your wind generator and tower close to 3-phase power lines. Otherwise, line losses will eat up too much of what you harvest from the wind.

Battery banks are a great way to take store your power for a rainy day and much cheaper to connect this way, because you don't have to involve an electrician.

If you choose to directly connect the power you make to your home, then you will likely also need expert electrical help. In this case, you will also be using an inverter to convert the power to a voltage that the appliances in your house use power.

Take these 3 factors into consideration and you will be well on your way to optimizing power production on your property. Keep in mind that the ugliest diy wind turbine may be the most effective at producing the type of power you need at a price you can afford.

Wind power production isn't really a beauty contest and the prettiest system might not match what you are after to produce the power source you really need.


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Roger G. Brown has saved countless companies money on their power bills. If you want to learn more about how to slash your utility bill Now, check out Roger's tips on how to save money AND get a Wind Tax Credit