Wind Turbine Design Plans

Wind turbine design plans 101

People who want to build their own wind power system often resort to buying their own wind turbine design plans. There are a few reasons for this.

When we talk about "wind turbine design plans" we're actually speaking about how-to packages showing how to build what are technically known as VAWT or "Vertical Axis Wind Turbine's". This is the category most freestanding wind turbine systems fall into.

They're built commercially and for home use in order to save money on electricity costs.

We've all seen them and they're becoming more and more common. They stand in an upright position, mounted on a tower of some sort with their propeller blades spinning in the wind.

Why do people buy wind turbine design plans? A good set of design plans can allow you to build some of the best, most efficient -and cheapest - wind power installations. Wind power is free power, that is of course once you have your wind turbine power system up and running. It can certainly save lot of money on your power bills.

Doing it yourself can also save thousands of dollars in costs compared to paying someone to do it for you. That's primarily why they are so popular. Be aware though that during your research for suitable wind turbine design plans you'll see a lot of variation in what's on offer too.

Some sets of plans are aimed at technically minded folk who may have their own machine shop in order to fabricate some of the parts. Others are geared towards those who have money to burn to have their parts custom made. Some wind turbine design plans might also call for specialist materials including expensive, high strength aviation aluminum. And then there are those that are basically machinist's "blueprints". These may be hard to follow for the amateur.

The more common and popular wind turbine design plans come as part of a kit. They're generally far more economical and easier to follow. They require only simple tools and only a very basic workshop for construction. They also need a rudimentary knowledge of those tools. They usually comprise a full supporting information package consisting of video guides, lists of parts, materials and other resources.

With these things in mind there is a lot of scope when looking at wind turbine design plans to build any kind of wind power project. As a basic rule of thumb when reviewing your plans try to consider some basic guidelines.

Look at what others are buying. If a set of wind power design plans is popular then you can probably safely assume that it's a good product - just like thing most other things in life.

Ask yourself if you need simple or complicated plans? Your ideal set of wind power design plans should be easy to follow. It's a big negative to have to deal with a complex design both in terms of building and maintenance.

Consider if the plans allow flexibility with both design, size and materials.

Think about whether you need a machinist or specialist fabricator for certain components or whether you can you easily knock-up all (or at least some) of the parts yourself at home?

Do the wind turbine design plans allow for your completed job to be "enclosed" ie by encasing the generator to prevent it from damage by the elements, particularly from rain and ice?

What is the overall cost of the project? What will it set you back IN FULL?

How serviceable is the design you're considering? It's preferable to choose plans where the end result will need minimal maintenance. An inspection and perhaps a quick lube every six months or so would be an ideal scenario.

When you buy your wind power design plans do you get any ongoing support ie the opportunity to ask questions if you get stuck or seek advice as you need it?

Do the plans give you advice on tweaking your system to get the best possible performance under a variety of weather conditions?

The most basic thing to remember is that your ideal set of plans should be easy to follow yet still be comprehensive. Any good set of wind turbine design plans should be able to provide you with all - or indeed most - of the above.