i built a wind generator for my fish house last year and i didnt get much time to test it at all. I guess i am just looking for suggestions and other things to watch for from anyone that runs on e on their fish house. Also if anyone would like pics or has any questions about mine feel free to ask. I used it about an hour and the voltage at the batteies was 13.86v with the radio on. not too shabby and you can barely hear it with a 20 mph wind. What do you use for volatge regulators? i boutht one for a solar panel but it soesnt seem to work to well to the extreme power of the windmill??

I'd be interested in seeing some pics, and finding out more about a home made wind generator. I fish mostly prairie lakes where the wind is seemingly always blowing. Those wind generators would be great, but they ain't cheap. How much did you have to put into yours?

Email info at: vikings_numberone_fan at yahue daht kahm (you can deciphre the real address)

Thanks.

i have about 100 into mine...i made the blades out of 4" aluminum pipe cut into pieces. the body is pvc elbows and the motor is a 40v dc permanent magnet motor off ebay. i figured in a 25 mph wind it should put out between 4-8 amps

i will get pics asap. the reason i didnt test it much is because i ended up inadvertently crash testing it when my top mount let loose. all that broke when it fell over was one of the blades bent about half an inch. i bent it back by hand

A lot of us would appreciate pictures and a little know how to rig our own generator from either a car generator/alternator, or electric motor turned generator...thank you any one...

i would definatly reccomend a tutorial on this. you could even set up a website and sell the plans for a few bucks, but free to fm memebers of course

I agree with Moby, I would love to see pics and know how you made it.

Why not just use a one wire GM alternator and run it with a your fanblade setup? It has a built in regulator, small and lightweight. You would be able to adjust the the speed with a pully setup and it's made to charge 12V batteries.

the one wire alternator creates too many amps of power requiring a rather large fan blades and fast wind speed. the more amps created, the more resistance to turning created.i had a small chain saw motor turning a one wire alternator.the motor did not have enought power to run it effetivly to charge a 12 volt battery. imagine the wind power needed to turn it.even with reducers to increase torque, would the alternator turn fast enought to work? could a person limit the amp output at the regulator and still have 13 to 14 volts for charging?

This is a great form. Cant wait to see the best idea. I fish on Lake of The Woods alot and its WINDY most of the time. This would save alot of gas$$ in the generator.

A wind gen set is a great idea for large shacks. I wonder if smaller gens like for boats or bikes would push enough amps to maintain a deepcycle, should be less drag ya think?

How about this one...start your own "On the ice jim" and run a GM gen set on a exercise bike. Burn off that beer belly and fish too.

Ah...maybe the Miss's may wish to shed a pound, or two....."Gee Honey...you want to go ice fisn'n with me tonight?"

The amp output of the alternator is only what is needed to charge the batteries. Keeping your batteries topped off it wouldn't be working that hard. I have never used one but always thought that if I had the place to build one I would. I don't know what size fan a guy would need to turn one over but have always thought it could be done. It might just be easier to buy one??