Best Wind Generators for Home Use

The windmill comes with a reliable charge controller, a device designed to estimate the battery voltage automatically and change its settings according to the specifications. What's more, the controller operates an inbuilt brake magnet activated when the wind is too strong or when the battery is fully charged. Also, you can shut off the Windmill DA-600 manually.

Additionally, the controller provides you with digital readouts of the mode the system works in at the moment. As you may see, the model offers professional quality, however, it won't completely free you from the grid. This wind generator is an entry level model, a supplement to your power needs. For this very reason, we recommend combining this device with another alternative energy source like solar panels to use the turbine efficiency to the hilt.

When mounting the turbine you should conform to several important specifications. Primarily, the device should be mounted on a 1½" pole with a wall thickness of 1/10" to hold the turbine securely in place against high winds. Next, please keep in mind that the blades span is 4.3 feet, thus it is important to install the turbine in a place where the blades won't get stuck in tree branches or power cables. Finally, the turbine should be located above upwind from buildings and trees as well as above any wind barriers to ensure maximum efficiency. Generally, the optimal height required for this windmill is 20 feet and up.

To convert wind into electric energy, the turbine uses the modern Freedom PMG generator that provides easier and smoother shaft rotation compared to other alternators available on the market. It also withstands higher loads. Such characteristics are achieved thanks to the implementation of 2 sleeve-type bearings, one on each side of the generator. The polished aluminum housing encloses the stator winding ensuring proper centering of all the internal parts against each other. But the main feature that stands this generator apart from the competitors is the amount of copper! The Freedom PMG has twice as much copper as any other alternators, and the more copper, the more power; it's that simple. Just imagine, at 266 rpm the alternator produces enough power to charge a battery, and it generates up to 4 times more energy when it reaches the speed of 960 rpm. Amazing! All in all, we find this wind turbine ideal for home use.

By the way, if you've got a windmill equipped with a Delco-type alternator and you are not satisfied with its power output you can freely replace it with the Freedom PMG. This model is designed specifically for wind turbines and fits Delco bolt patterns 100%. 

The manufacturer has thought this wind turbine through to the last detail. This model is not only highly efficient and reliable but also quite durable. To specify, the housing of the windmill is completely divisible, you can replace any of the onboard details that wear off. This is really crucial since, in contrast with one-piece models, here you won't need to buy a whole new wind turbine.

You also don't need to be a tech-savvy to assemble the whole construction, it will take you 30 minutes at most to accomplish the task. It is recommended to mount the turbine on a 1½" pole with the height of 40 feet or more, so you will probably need some assistance. Finally, the hot dipped galvanized housing is weatherproof and corrosion-resistant, you won't need to renew the coating for up to 50 years, it will not rust. Hence, having installed the Missouri Raider Wind Turbine you won't need to worry about its maintenance for many years.

The solar panel by Eco Worthy is made of polycrystalline plates that offer the efficiency of over 17%. The index might not be the highest possible but it is, in fact, quite satisfactory. The panel frame is made of anodized aluminum that provides structural strength and doesn't add much to the weight. The front panel is constructed of low-iron high transparency tempered glass. Both these materials provide excellent protection from different environmental conditions. By the way, the solar panel is certified to correspond to the IP65 standard of protection against dust and water, meaning you can utilize the system in different climatic zones inside the US.

With the dimensions of 26.16" x 39.3" x 1.37", the solar panel can be easily mounted using standard clamps. As for the specifications, this module features 100 Watts output while daily yield may reach 500 Watts depending on the weather. This would be enough to charge the battery in calm weather. 

Noteworthy, the included charge controller system uses 2 different sources of energy and, therefore, generates 2 various kinds of electrical power. It seems clear that the manufacturer should have included 2 controllers for each accumulator. However, the engineers from Eco-Worth have seen about the set's peculiarity and equipped it with a hybrid controller. The controller can convert the three-phase alternating current produced by the wind generator and manage the direct current the solar panel collects. By the way, this engineering decision has also simplified the connection and operation principle of the whole system as well as reduced its overall size. 

As we've mentioned above, the Eco-Worth system is IP67 rated and is, consequently, protected against dust and water, so you can install it outside fearlessly. The hybrid controller works with both 12 Volts and 24 Volts batteries; it also features discharge and overcharge protection prolonging battery lifespan dramatically.

The manufacturer has improved the WG400X and eliminated the defects found in the legacy wind generators. The earlier versions of this model were equipped with a dump load resistor that was meant to dump excess energy generated by an alternator and, thus, protect it from breaking. That resistor was installed in a tailpiece of a turbine and was connected to the main circuit board via 2 wires outside the housing. The problem was that those wires were not hermetically sealed and water drops were running down the wires inside the housing when it was raining. As a result, the machine was easily damaged. Now, the manufacturer dropped the resistor from the scheme so the new WG400X wind turbine has fully enclosed and thus weatherproof housing. As for the excessive energy removal, this option was abandoned in favor of a brake magnet that shuts down the turbine if the battery is fully charged. 

A charge controller enclosed in housing was another significant construction deficiency of the previous wind generators. A charge controller converts energy produced by a wind turbine into the direct current the batteries are charged with. If a windmill is installed far from the batteries a considerable amount of expensive cable should be run between them. Moreover, the direct current is known to lose its energy while flowing down the wires, so the larger the distance between a charge controller and the battery the bigger the energy loss. That's why GudCraft engineers have designed the WG400X model with the external charge controller that can be mounted close to the battery ensuring minimal energy loss while the wind generator can be installed at a considerable distance. Additionally, the charge controller drives the brake magnet to shut the turbine down in the case of high wind or when the batteries are fully charged.

As you may see, the manufacturer really cares about its customers and tends to fix all the weak points to provide convenient utilization of the wind turbine.

This wind generator is pretty conventional when it comes to the assembly of components. Long blades here guarantee efficient transfer of kinetic energy to turn a low-speed shaft connected to the alternator. However, the longer the blades are the larger the swept area is. It means that the wind turbine requires a lot of space for safe operation, therefore, it's not recommended to mount it on a roof or a short pole. 

The turbine housing is made of aluminum and is coated with paint. This guarantees unrivaled weatherproof qualities and doesn't add to the overall weight of the unit in contrast with steel models. The slip rings are located inside the housing and the wires are brought out at the center of the axis bearing so you can easily run a wire through a pole the windmill will be mounted on. This way, you will protect the cable from outside impacts. And don't worry about wires getting tangled, the wind usually blows from 2 main directions only and it is virtually impossible to tangle a wire. Finally, to make the rotor turn to face the wind, there is a yaw bearing that allows a wind generator to track the wind direction while the tail fin directs the rotor into the wind.

If you are going to install the windmill alone without any professional supervision remember several important factors that will help you with the task.

1. Find the best location for the windmill installation. It should adhere to several parameters:

• Nothing should interfere with wind-stream (buildings, trees, etc.);
• Make sure that the wind engine doesn't bother your neighbors;
• Avoid installing the turbine near power cables as the blades can get stuck and/or damage the cables;
• To avoid interference, it is not recommended to mount the wind motor close to antennas.

2. Select a pole of the appropriate height. Consider the weight of the windmill and its type of installation. Generally, the turbines are installed on poles from 2" to 4" in diameter.

3. Pour a cement foundation for the wind engine to stand steady even under high loads. Minimal requirements for the foundation ask for 2 feet deep 5 x 5 feet square area. It would suffice for a pole of 25 feet in height. If you need a higher tower pour a larger foundation and reinforce the pole with tension wires. 

4. Finally, you will need a lifting equipment to install the engine on a pole.

If you have necessary skills and are confident that you can handle this task on your own you are free to install the wind generator without expert assistance. If not, it is better to engage a specialist.