Having an autonomous power supply at home is very beneficial: such a device will help out if the power supply is turned off. Its power, although small, but sufficient to serve as a backup source of energy.
Buying a new generator is expensive, but making it with your own hands is possible. In the article you will learn how to make a generator from the engine of a washing machine.
How to choose and remake the washing machine engine into a generator
How to make a generator out of an electric motor with your own hands? Not easy. It will take patience, as well as the ability to manufacture some parts on a lathe.
It is possible to create a generator with a power of 1.5 kW from a conventional asynchronous motor of a washing machine-automatic machine with a power of 170-180 W. It is better to use the engine from the Vyatka washing machine and other Soviet-made models, since they are more powerful.
Tools & Parts
Also for work you will need:
- neodymium magnets of 20, 10 and 5 mm in size - only 32 pieces;
- rectifier;
- glue;
- lathe;
- sandpaper;
- cold welding;
- scissors;
- pliers, screwdrivers.
Work order
Magnets can be bought either in specialized stores or on the Internet. If you do not have a lathe at home, you can order the manufacture of parts from a friend's master.
- It is necessary to redo the rotor of the induction motor so that magnets can be installed. To do this, the cores are removed, part of them is cut on a lathe to a depth of 2 mm.
- To install the magnets, you need to make grooves in the core to a depth of 5 mm.
Core preparation completed. Now you need to put the magnets in place. To do this, make a coating for the core from a piece of tin. This template should exactly match the holes that are located. Therefore, cut a piece exactly in diameter of the core, with holes in the right places.
Note! Magnets should be installed at an equal distance from each other. Otherwise, during operation, they will begin to stick together, because of which the electric generator will lose power.
Magnet installation and step-by-step generator assembly
Consider how to remake the engine into a makeshift generator.
- Place the magnets on a strip of glued sheet - at an equal distance. Magnets are also attached to superglue. It is important that they are all aligned evenly without tilt. Since the magnets are strong enough and can come off during operation, wear safety glasses.
- After the template with magnets is located on the rotor, fill in all the spaces between them by cold welding. To do this, knead the composition well and cover the entire space. You can also fill the distance between the magnets with epoxy.
- Using sandpaper, smooth the surface of the rotor until it is completely smooth. For convenience, you can clamp it in a vice.
- Check the housing bolts and bearing; they may need to be replaced with new ones.
Alteration work is completed. You have made a generator from a direct drive engine. You can begin to test a homemade device.
How to check the generator
What you need to check:
- controller;
- tester;
- rectifier;
- battery.
Using a multimeter, find the two wires leading to the working winding, they should show the same resistance. The remaining wires are cut as unnecessary.
Now connect the wires of the working winding to the rectifier. The latter is connected to the controller, which in turn is connected to the battery. To check what power the generator gives out, connect the probes of the multimeter (configured in voltmeter mode) to the battery.
Using a drill or screwdriver, spin the generator at a speed of 800-1000 rpm. If the multimeter showed from 200 to 300 Volts - this is an excellent result. If the voltage is small, most likely the magnets are not installed uniformly.
Use cases
Now you have a generator, what's next?
- By installing a generator to a chainsaw, you can get a small power station. Its energy is enough to cover 2 small rooms, the work of a computer and TV.
- Connect to a water turbine that can be installed in a home waterfall or a fast stream.
And you can install a wind generator to produce mechanical energy that can be converted into electrical energy. You can use a generator from an asynchronous or commutator motor. This is a safe alternative power source that starts when the wind is 2-3 m / s. Maximum efficiency can be obtained at 9-10 m / s.
However, for home consumption, a wind force of 4 m / s will be enough, then you will receive:
- At 0.15-0.20 kW, you can light up the rooms and watch TV.
- At 1-5 kW, connect a computer, washing machine, refrigerator.
- At 20 kW, even start heating.
It is recommended to install a windmill on three blades, it is considered the most effective. For installation, you need a strong iron rod - it will serve as a support. A generator, rotor and blades are mounted on it. It is also necessary to provide a protective cover for the generator from the weather.
The movable part of the windmill is hinged. Then the mast is attached - so that the entire structure is stable. A wire is laid along the mast to the generator, the other end is attached to the shield. Then the controller, battery and inverter are connected.
Read more about how to make a wind generator from a washing machine in the next article.