Things You'll Need

Instructions

1

Enclose the 12-volt DC motor in a length of 6-inch-diameter pipe. Ensure that the motor is snug within the pipe and will not move around. The shaft of the motor needs to come through one end of the pipe. Drill a hole in the pipe barrel to run the motor wiring. Seal the opposite end of the pipe.
2

Build a base tower for the DC motor housing. TV antenna towers or rooftop aerial antenna bases work well for this, as do satellite TV mountings. Should you need to construct a tower for your windmill, 3-inch-diameter steel pipe works well. A ground-based tower pipe should be 10 to 12 feet tall and supported in a concrete base. The windmill tower must be able to support the turbine in high winds; reinforce it with additional pipes or guy wires if needed. Your tower pipe should have a smaller shaft welded at the top that will be the right fit for your swivel mounting on the base of the DC motor housing. Weld the DC motor and housing to the top of the tower pipe.
3

Secure the hub of the wind turbine blades to the DC motor. Mount the blades on the turbine hub so will collect wind energy on a vertical axis. Construct a cap over the turbine hub to keep water and debris out of the motor. Run the wiring from the motor to the ground.
4

Wire the windmill tower to the charge controller of your energy storage system.