Home made wind turbine

This guy made his own wind turbine for recharging a camping battery:
http://www.mdpub.com/Wind_Turbine/index.html

He also has a homemade 60 watt solar panel (there's a link to how he did it in the text).

 

That guy used an electric motor for the generator, and he had good results. Motors are not the best to use as generators though.

A popular way to make one is with an old GM alternator available at most junkyards for $30 or so. It will make around 1000 watts in a strong wind plus it is regulated for charging a car battery and is easily serviced. They already have pulleys attached if you want to belt drive it.

The rain might ruin that guy's motor, he should put it in a pvc drain pipe housing.