VCR Motors for Wind Turbines

When salvaged from a VCR player, an old VCR motor makes an ideal generator for a small wind turbine. Since it is shaft-driven, a small propeller-like unit can be attached, and it will immediately produce power when it is spinning. You can obtain a variety of motors out of VCRs and make wind generators out of them quite easily. You must understand, however, that it is a small unit, so the electrical output is equally small.
  1. Extracting the Motor

    • To create your miniature wind turbine, you will first have to extract the motor from an unused VCR. Using screwdrivers and other tools, take the VCR apart carefully. The motor usually has a belt or gear drives. Carefully extract the motor so you don't nick or damage the wires. The motor unity itself is about 3 inches in diameter and about 2 inches thick.

    Turbine and Housing

    • You will have to fabricate the turbine and housing after extracting the motor. A model airplane propeller, available at any hobby store, makes a good blade. You will have to devise a bushing to take up the slack between the blade hole and the shaft. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute recommends making a small wind turbine out of PVC plumbing pipe, which is available at any plumbing supply store.

    Electricity Output

    • You will not obtain a large amount of electricity from a VCR motor. However, it will produce enough electricity to drive small LED lights. Experimenters recommend wiring a 100 ohm resistor to the LEDs to avoid current overload. Wiring in LED lights requires a specialized knowledge of electronics. If you do not have the tools or are not sure how to safely work with electricity, it's best to get the help of a qualified electronics technician.

    Experimentation

    • Half the battle in building your VCR wind turbine is experimentation. You will have to experiment with different blade designs, methods of wiring and housing case configurations. After you develop the best methods, many small projects can be driven by the turbine. For example, you can make a garden windmill that will light up at night.

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