Home Brew Hydro Saga

MK I: Early turbine and generator

MK II & III: New alternator and couplers

MK IV: shaft bearing and real world use

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The Source

The Destination

For several years I've been thinking about building a micro-hydro electric generator for supplementing my energy needs here in the boonies of Oregon. Solar panels are well and good for the summer months, but for much of the year the sky is dark and well, its Oregon, so it rains. It rains a LOT.

I looked into making a wind turbine but there aren't any good spots to make a tower where I live, and I was concerned about building a structure that could withstand the high winds we get each year. Its one thing to make a turbine that works in 30 MPH winds, but its another all together to build one that can last through 130 MPH winds.

Looking at the various out of the box turbines like the Hydroelectric Systems and Stream Engine I couldn't justify plopping down two grand on something that looked like I could build myself.

The result! 150 watts at 36PSI from a 1-1/2 inch pipe with roughly 100 feet of head. Not too bad!!

Here is an account of the various stages the beast went through starting with

MK I: Early turbine and generator

MK II & III: New alternator and couplers

MK IV: shaft bearing and real world use