How to Build a Water Wheel : Detailing the Basic Steps
If your property is one of those blessed with a water resource, say a river then you’ll be glad to note that you can have your own ‘energy production plant’.
Though the kind of power that can be generated cannot rival those produced by commercial plants, but still the kind of power generated is something worth treasuring and given the right amount then this can even light up a few homes. This is actually made possible by the installation of water wheels.
You can consider the water wheel and water wheel construction as your initial steps in trying to live off the grid and provide your own power.
All you have to do is the right step-by-step guide, the enthusiasm and the materials, and you are all set to have your own power producer right in your own backyard.
So how to build a water wheel that can be used to sustain the electrical needs of the household or the needs of a small community? The good news is that there is a commercially-available water wheel generator kit that can assist the DIY-type of person and the adventurous type in setting up the wheel and the generator. The kit comes with free water wheel plans, and at the same time the major components and materials are often included in the kit.
If you want to make a water wheel, then here are some basic steps on how to go about it.
1. One important step is to construct a dam. This is necessary in order to funnel or move the moving water into the wheel.
2. The second important step is the actual construction of the waterwheel. For starters, you can start up with the 12mm marine plywood, and from this the possible diameter of the wheel could be 4 feet. The paddles in the other hand will have width of 2 feet. The water wheel construction for this project should be made up of two discs and 12 paddles. When attaching the paddles to the wheel, screws can be used. Or you can also use nuts and bolts which is much better for the structure of the wheel. For added strength, 8mm metal rods can be installed underneath the 12 paddles. The wooden material that can be used in the wheel should be waterproofed in order to ensure the longer lifespan of the wheel. There are commercially-available water seals out there that can be used to seal the wood.
3. Once the wheel is ready, then the framework should come in next. The framework is where the wheel will rotate.
4. If the framework has been selected and installed, then an alternator should be selected to work with the wheel. Check out online resources on how to build a water wheel in order to get the best fit between the water wheel and the alternator.
Consider the steps above as your basic approach to making the water wheel. If you are looking for further information, then there are online resources that can help you in your needs.