DIY Vertical Turbine

Assess the wind patterns in your geographic location. Different systems work more efficiently with varying wind speeds. It is also important to determine how high the propeller should stand in the air to harness the most wind power. Another factor to consider is the general direction of wind movement.

Construct the wind turbine system. A propeller, much like that of an airplane, is used to harness the wind. The propeller is attached to a shaft. As the wind turns the propeller, the shaft turns as well. The shaft is then attached to an alternator, the same type used in a car engine. The alternator turns a coil which generates an electrical current as it passes through a magnetic field inside the alternator. The current is then captured by a rectifier, or inverter, which converts the power from AC currents to usable DC currents. The entire system is then mounted on a frame to stand up in the air.

Connect a battery storage system. The DC power converted by the rectifier, or inverter, is sent to batteries which will store the excess electricity. The rectifier can also be attached to home lines to directly source electrical appliances. A home-based vertical axis system can produce approximately 50 kilowatt hours of electric per month, according to Doug Cantor in his August 2007 "Popular Science" article.