/diy/ - Do It Yourself

>>1701303
Moving Mechanism > Generator > Charge Controller > Battery Array > User Device(s)

While this will work for a few low power LEDs, it will actually be less expensive to purchase a cheap 100 watt solar panel kit. That can fit easily on the roof. The submersible length of wire from the drain to the gazebo would cost a fair amount in the first place. The upkeep for a generator outside in those conditions would also cost a fair amount. All when compared to the meager amount of power being generated by that water source of course.

>>1431162
>what to do with this trash?

Make a VAWT to charge AA batteries.

>>1397264
Or, a wind turbine.

>>1321528
Or, how about this mini-VAWT wind turbine used to charge a AA battery made exclusively out of trash and salvaged electrical parts? I kind of wish I still had this, it was pretty fun to watch.

>>1236511
Got a really tall pole with guy wires? Make a HAWT. Want to make something fairly easy, low to the ground, and easily reached for repair? Make a VAWT. Both are tools and have their place and use. Neither is incorrect. HAWTs need more wind speed. VAWTs need less wind speed. HAWTs spin faster. VAWTs have more torque and allow easy use of a pulley system if needed.

The best way to design these is to know what you want to charge/power and scale your system from there. So, how much live power do you need and/or do you need trickle charge type power? Then you know what parts to salvage or buy for construction. If you are salvaging motors/alternators for this, keep in mind that some have permanent magnets and some have a powered field coil to make the magnetic force instead of using magnets.

>>1236941
GTFO /diy/ right now.

>>1237382
HAWTs can be made to turn out of the wind when the wind is too strong. VAWTs can use a centrifugal clutching system. Both can use an electrical shunt. All this stuff is pretty simple

>>1119603
Came to post this.

>>1119606
Do this >>1119603 first since it will be a very quick install and you can play around.

If you want to make something more powerful, you will need to buy some enameled magnet wire to make your own coils and pair them with some N52 magnets. The easiest way to do this is to attach them to something that already has a spinning parts and some nice space to mount everything to. Like a junk ceiling fan motor. Those have nice flat spaces.

If you don't want to make your own generator in that manner, just use any DC permanent magnet motor and crank it with something. Those can be sourced from lots of easy places. Some AC motors will work easily if you slap a bridge rectifier on them.

How much energy are you wanting to create? That is where to start.

>>1031714
>>1031719
>>1031794
VAWT are easier to repair because they are normally not atop a massively tall tower/pole and they don't need a slipring like a HAWT needs (if the HAWT needs to turn into-away from the wind).

From a DIY perspective, you just choose the one for your needs. That isn't power needs, that is wind needs. If the tree lines are way too dense and tall for a HAWT pole to reach above, considering your level of skill and equipment to get one up that high then you need to use a VAWT instead. Of course the best wind is normally always around 100 feet or higher depending on the terrain.

You can see what the best height is for a HAWT by flying a kite in your area a couple hours a day for a few days. You'll need to find that zone where the kite is really steady in the air, really high up. That is the best zone for the HAWT, but it may not be practical to put one that high. So you make compromises, either lower the HAWT to a more doable zone, or use a VAWT low to the ground.

Where I live, the best zone is around 150-200 feet up. But, to hell with trying to get that up and down when I need to repair/clean it every 3-5 years.

As far as making one DIY, both are pretty easy, if you have the tools and are willing to learn. I highly suggest you make some small prototypes before making a big one.

>>966161
AA battery charger. Literally made of trash.

>>922051
>video not available in US ( Just why )

It was a few years ago. Unless that isn't the original uploader or something. Also, just use youtube proxy.

>>921347
You mean heliostat tracking? There are many DIY stuff on line showing how to make your own. If you plan on using a Fresnel lens on a solar panel you'll need to seriously cool the panel off, if you are using a small panel and have the focus the same size.

.>>921164
Really? That is really hard to believe. Here's a strange funky designed one that does just that,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-hFDnfgXjE

Though this is over engineered as fuck. Still cool. You can do far better with a cheap motor, proper gearing, and some PVC pipe. Also, 150watts is like nothing. Most "expensive" large VAWTs I've seen are 2KW.and 3mx4m in size. That's as low as $1400. 5 feet diameter ones are around 500watts no problem for around $250-$300..

You can get 1KW with a DIY easy enough if you have the skills. The cost would be around $200 if you had to buy most of the stuff. You'll need to make your own generator though which is electronics 101 type stuff.

I suggest slapping stuff together ASAP in any size just to learn the basics quick and dirty.

>>922107
Excellent link.

>>907473
Hydro/Microhydro
Solar
Biomass (biogas methane, diesel, wood gasification)
People (some gyms have their machines wired to make power now)
Wind

Pick one.

Hydro/Microhydro.
I've not done these yet. The river here has way too many trees that tear everything up during the floods and nearly dry at other times. I'm considering a micro hydro plant on my gutter. It gets a great amount of water through it all the time. Nothing major, but enough to top off some ultracaps and small batteries for LEDs.

Solar
This is great for passive heating for home and water. I've used it only for water heating, home heating, and battery charging for electric fence and LED lights.

Biomass (biogas methane, diesel, wood gasification)
See >>910051 for biogas methane. I've not done anything else, but I really want to make a Sterling Engine for electric generation that can run off either passive solar or my woodstove.

People (some gyms have machines wired for making power)
I repurposed an old exercise bike into a recumbent bike generator. I really need to make one similar to the one in this video, with a flywheel and everything,

At 7m 40s Free Electric stage2innovations
https://youtu.be/YY7f1t9y9a0?t=461

Mine can only do about 35 watts right now until I make some design changes and add gears that can be changed. It can essentially trickle charge a car battery, not fun, but it can also charge all my ultracaps very quickly and easily.

Wind
I love making wind turbines. So far I've only been making little ones for charging things like AA batteries and ultracaps. I prefer VAWT design instead of HAWT design. Here's one I made form trash that charges a AA battery. Start small, learn, then build big.

With all the above things I've done, the biggest solution to energy and cost has been learning to turn things off and find non-electric hobbies. Saving and conserving energy has been far easier than creating it cheaply or without lots of work. Now my electric bill is around $30-$40USD.