We construct a generator from a washing machine engine

We construct a generator from a washing machine engine

A generator is an electrical device that converts thermal or mechanical energy into electric current, that is, it performs the normal operation of an electric motor in reverse order. The purpose of creating a generator from an asynchronous motor of a washing machine (any other motor from a household appliance of suitable power) can be to create:

• inverter type welding machine;
• uninterruptible power supply for a private home (apartment);
• charger and so on.

How to make a generator?

But in order to better understand how to make a generator from a washing machine engine, let’s figure out what an asynchronous motor from an unnecessary washing machine is.

Video - working under load

I will take the liberty of declaring that even this particular engine can be used as a wind generator capable of generating sufficient electric current to charge one AAA battery with a voltage of 1.2 V and a capacity of up to 1000 mA inclusive. Please pay attention to the photo that shows the installation of gears on the base. The right side of the large gear is just begging to be installed with another motor. The kinematic diagram will be as follows: one drive wheel rotates two driven ones. The possibilities are doubled, it becomes possible to assemble a boost converter and even charge mobile phone batteries. Babay dealt with electricity production issues .

Discuss the article GENERATOR FROM AN ENGINE WITH YOUR OWN HANDS

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Electricity is an expensive resource, and its environmental safety is questionable, because... Hydrocarbons are used to generate electricity. This depletes the mineral resources and poisons the environment. It turns out that you can power your home with wind energy. Agree, it would be nice to have a backup source of electricity, especially in areas where there are frequent power outages.

Conversion units are too expensive, but with some effort they can be assembled yourself. Let's try to figure out how to assemble a wind generator with your own hands from a washing machine.

Next, we will tell you what materials and tools you will need for the job. In the article you will find diagrams of a wind generator from a washing machine, expert advice on assembly and operation, as well as videos that clearly demonstrate the assembly of the device.

How to choose and convert a washing machine engine into a generator

How to make a generator from an electric motor with your own hands? Not easy. You will need patience, as well as the ability to make some parts on a lathe.

From a conventional asynchronous motor of an automatic washing machine with a power of 170-180 W, it is possible to create a generator with a power of 1.5 kW. It is better to use the engine from the Vyatka washing machine and other Soviet-made models, since they are more powerful.

Tools and Parts

Also for work you will need:

• neodymium magnets of 20, 10 and 5 mm sizes – 32 pieces in total;
• rectifier;
• glue;
• lathe;
• sandpaper;
• cold welding;
• scissors;
• pliers, screwdrivers.

Work order

Magnets can be purchased either in specialized stores or on the Internet. If you don’t have a lathe at home, you can order the production of parts from a familiar craftsman.

1. It is necessary to remake the rotor of an asynchronous 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.
2. To install magnets, you need to make grooves in the core to a depth of 5 mm.

Core preparation is complete. Now you need to put the magnets in place. To do this, make a covering for the core from a piece of tin. This template must exactly match the located holes. Therefore, cut a piece exactly according to the diameter of the core, with holes in the right places.

Note! The magnets must be installed at equal distances from each other. Otherwise, during operation they will begin to stick together, causing the electric generator to lose power.

Installation of magnets and step-by-step assembly of the generator

Let's look at how to convert an engine into a homemade generator.

1. Place the magnets on a strip of glued tin - at an equal distance. The magnets are also attached with superglue. It is important that they are all located level, without tilting. Since the magnets are strong and may come off during operation, wear safety glasses.
2. Once the magnet template is positioned on the rotor, fill any gaps between them with cold welding. To do this, knead the mixture well and cover the entire space. You can also fill the space between the magnets with epoxy resin.
3. Using sandpaper, sand the rotor surface until completely smooth. For convenience, you can clamp it in a vice.
4. Check the housing bolts and bearing, they may need to be replaced with new ones.

The remodeling work is completed. You have made a generator from a direct drive motor. You can start checking your homemade device.

Method 2

You can make a homemade generator in another way. The stator has a clever design (it has a special design solution), and it is possible to adjust the output voltage. I made this type of generator with my own hands at a construction site. The engine produced 7 kW at 900 rpm. I connected the excitation winding according to a 220 V delta circuit. I started it at 1600 rpm, the capacitors were 3 to 120 uF. They were switched on by a contactor with three poles. The generator acted as a three-phase rectifier. This rectifier fed an electric drill with a 1000-watt collector, and a 2200-watt circular saw, 220 V, and a 2000-watt grinder.

I had to make a soft start system, another resistor with a shorted phase after 3 seconds.

This is not correct for motors with commutators. If you double the rotating frequency, the capacitance will also decrease.

The frequency will also increase. The tank circuit was switched off automatically so as not to use the reactivity torus and not waste fuel.

During operation, you must press the contactor stator. Three phases dismantled them as unnecessary. The reason lies in the high gap and increased field dissipation of the poles.

Special mechanisms with a double cage for the squirrel and slanted eyes for the squirrel. Still, I got 100 volts and a frequency of 30 hertz from the washing machine motor, the 15 watt lamp does not want to light up. Very weak power. It is necessary to take a stronger motor, or install more capacitors.

A generator with a squirrel-cage rotor is used under the cars. Its mechanism comes from a gearbox and a belt drive. Rotation speed 300 rpm. It is located as an additional load generator.

Advantages of a homemade wind generator

The main advantage that determines the choice of most users is the difference in cost between a factory kit and a homemade windmill. For sets of equal power and performance, it can be 10- and even 20-fold. If a relatively inexpensive Chinese wind generator costs 75,000 rubles , then a homemade wind turbine will require about 3,500, or a little more. The difference is so significant that you don’t have to think long about the choice.

In addition, homemade devices have a number of significant advantages that are not noticeable at first glance, but greatly facilitate operation and increase the service life of the installation:

• high maintainability. For a person who has made a complex device with his own hands, there can be no problems with repairs, adjustments or any design changes
• possibility of changing operating parameters. Does the created device not meet the needs of users? The reasons for this are quite clear to the manufacturer, who can always change the characteristics of the installation by adding the necessary elements or parts
• The service life of homemade installations is almost unlimited. Any node that has exhausted its resource is replaced with a more recent or powerful one as needed. An installation that undergoes constant modernization and updating will, in any case, last as long as its owner needs.

Arguments are often heard about the large investment of time and unpredictable results of making a windmill with your own hands. Time is running out, that's for sure. It is also impossible to completely predict the result, since completely unknown quantities must be taken into account, and no one is yet able to predict the behavior of air flows. But most of these questions are open for a purchased wind generator, and if its power is selected with errors, then the money will be wasted, which does not happen with homemade kits.

The basis of a home wind generator

The topic of manufacturing and installing homemade wind generators is very widely represented on the Internet. However, most of the material is a banal description of the principles of obtaining electrical energy from natural sources.

The theoretical methodology for constructing (installing) wind generators has long been known and quite understandable. But how things stand practically in the household sector is a question that is far from fully disclosed.

Most often, it is recommended to choose car generators or asynchronous AC motors supplemented with neodymium magnets as a current source for homemade home wind generators.

The procedure for converting an asynchronous AC electric motor into a generator for a windmill. It involves making a rotor “coat” from neodymium magnets. An extremely complex and long-term process

However, both options require significant modifications, often complex, expensive, and time-consuming.

It is much simpler and easier in all respects to install electric motors, similar to those that were produced before and are now produced by Ametek (example) and others.

DC motors with a voltage of 30 - 100 volts are suitable for a home wind generator. In generator mode, you can get approximately 50% of the declared operating voltage from them.

It should be noted: when operating in generation mode, DC electric motors must be spun up to a speed higher than the rated speed.

Moreover, each individual motor from a dozen identical copies can show completely different characteristics.

Therefore, the optimal selection of an electric motor for a home wind generator is logical with the following indicators:

1. High operating voltage parameter.
2. Low RPM (angular rotation speed).
3. High operating current.

Thus, a motor manufactured by Ametek with an operating voltage of 36 volts and an angular rotation speed of 325 rpm looks suitable for installation.

It is this kind of electric motor that is used in the design of a wind generator - an installation that is described below as an example of a home windmill.

DC motor for home wind generator. The best option among products manufactured by Ametek. Similar electric motors produced by other companies are also suitable

It is not difficult to check the efficiency of any similar motor. It is enough to connect a regular 12-volt car incandescent lamp to the electrical terminals and turn the motor shaft by hand. If the technical performance of the electric motor is good, the lamp will definitely light up.

Testing a homemade device

The process of making a generator from a washing machine engine is completed, all that remains is to test it in action. To perform the check you will need:

• rectifier;
• multimeter;
• charging controller;
• motorcycle battery;
• homemade electric generator.

Think about how the rotation will take place. You won’t be able to do this with your fingers, as you won’t be able to create the required number of revolutions. We recommend using an electric drill or screwdriver.

We identify a couple of working wires on the prepared device, and cut off the rest. We connect the wires through a rectifier to the charging controller, and then to the battery. We fix the multimeter mounts to the battery terminals - the generator is ready for testing.

We charge the generator pulley into the chuck of the power tool, with the help of which the spin will be performed, and give the speed within 800 - 1000 rotations. As a result, with moderate sticking of the magnets, you should get 270 Volts, which will be a completely acceptable indicator.

How to check the generator

What you will 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. We cut off the remaining wires 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 how much power the generator produces, connect the leads of a multimeter (set in voltmeter mode) to the battery.

Using a drill or screwdriver, spin the electric generator at a speed of 800-1000 rpm. If the multimeter shows from 200 to 300 Volts, this is an excellent result. If the voltage is low, the magnets are most likely not installed evenly.

Connecting the washing machine motor

To connect the motor to alternating current, perform the following steps:
1
.
First you need to prepare a tester - this is a special device used to determine the winding wires. 2
.
To determine a pair of wires, connect the tester probe to any wire and check all the others one by one. If during connection the tester indicated a connection, then this will be a pair of wires. Accordingly, the other two wires will also form a pair. 3
.
We measure the resistance level of two windings. The winding with a higher value is the starting winding. 4
.
Wires from different windings are connected in pairs, then connected to a 220 V network 5
. It is recommended to install the switch on the starting winding wire.

In some cases, the direction in which the motor rotates must be changed. Here we swap the leads of the starting winding.

Motor from an old washing machine for a lathe

Assembling a lathe yourself is not a difficult task. All you need to do is fix the adapter on the base of the motor shaft from an old washing machine. The adapter should not be permanently secured. It is better if it is removable, since this way the lathe will become multifunctional, with the ability to turn parts, sharpen knives with a sharpening wheel, cut metal and plastic pipes with a cutting wheel, and use other attachments. The photo shows possible attachments.

You should not fix this homemade product on a solid base. To make work more convenient, it is recommended to make it portable. The basis will be a thick, durable board. To secure the resulting lathe, it is recommended to use brackets that are screwed onto the base using bolts from the washing machine. A regular switch can be used, or from a washing machine.

Grain crusher from a washing machine

With this useful homemade product, you can significantly save on the preparation of feed for domestic animals. If you choose an engine of sufficient power, it is quite possible to assemble a feed cutter, grain crusher and grass cutter, which will not be inferior in performance to factory models. In this case, it is recommended to use an engine from an automatic washing machine - they are distinguished by higher power.

It doesn't take a lot of work to turn an old washing machine into a feed cutter. You need to take an engine from an automatic machine and a body from another old washing machine - with a top load. It’s quite easy to find such a case; it costs pennies at a scrap metal collection point.

Step-by-step description of creating a feed cutter with your own hands:
1
.
The blades with knives should have a diameter such that they do not reach quite a bit to the edges of the body. 2
.
We make a hole in the bottom to remove the finished food. 3
.
We install one blade with knives in the lower part of the body, the other - 40–50 cm from the upper edge; To ensure better grinding quality, you need to use 2 different shafts for the knives, they should rotate in different directions. 4
.
We screw the motor onto the lid of the washing machine and attach it to the shafts. 5
.
We cut a hole in the lid to fill in the raw materials. 6
. We install the cover in place and test the homemade product in action.

Types of wind generators and their operating principles

Both industrial and homemade wind generators are different.

They are classified according to several criteria:

• Features of rotation of the rotor with blades attached to it - vertical or horizontal. The former react less to negative environmental factors, while the latter are characterized by higher efficiency.
• Number of blades. Three-blade installations are considered the most practical, but there may be more or fewer blades.
• Material . For the manufacture of blades, various materials are used - hard or sailing. The former are usually more durable, while the latter are cheaper.
• Blade pitch . It can be fixed or changeable.

When making a wind generator with your own hands, you have to decide on the design yourself. In this case, it is necessary to calculate the required power and take into account the operating conditions of the installation. We discussed the detailed calculation of a wind generator using formulas in this article.

Horizontal windmills are convenient because their creation does not require high-precision calculations; the design itself is easier to manufacture and starts at the slightest wind. Cons: loud noise during operation and bulkiness.

A vertical wind generator is suitable for people who are willing to spend time and effort on assembling and maintaining a complex but compact design. We recommend watching the step-by-step instructions for making a vertical wind generator with your own hands.

A wind generator operates by rotating blades attached to a rotor. The rotor itself is fixed on the generator shaft, which generates electric current. The energy is transferred to batteries. Here it accumulates and powers household electrical appliances.

The wind turbine is equipped with a controller that converts three-phase alternating current into direct current and controls battery charging. The installation diagram must take into account that an inverter must be connected after the battery.

Emery from a washing machine motor

An emery machine is useful for almost any household.

It can be made in a simple way - for this it is enough to prepare the engine from an automatic washing machine in working condition. When you attach the sharpening stone to the motor, some difficulties may arise - the hole of the stone may not coincide with the diameter of the electric motor shaft.

In this case, you need to take an additional part that will need to be specially machined. This adapter can be easily made by any turner; you just need to tell him the diameter of the shaft.

In addition to the adapter, you need to have a special bolt, nut, and washer.

The thread on the nut should be cut depending on which direction the motor will rotate.

In order for the motor to rotate clockwise, the thread must be left-handed; for counterclockwise rotation, the thread must be right-handed.

If you do the opposite, the stone will constantly unwind and fly off during work.

It may be that you have a nut, but the thread direction is not correct. Then we change the direction of rotation. In this case, we swap the winding wires.

We connect the working winding to a 200 V network, connect the starting pair to the working coil.

We apply the second end to the winding terminal for a short time. The commutator electric motor will begin to move in one direction.

When the locations of the starting winding terminals change, the direction of movement of the motor will change to the opposite.

The direction of rotation of the motor can be changed without using a capacitor. Here, after connecting the working winding to 220 V, we sharply turn the stone in the right direction.

After this, the motor starts and the machine starts working.

Lawn mower made from a washing machine motor

A lawn mower is another example of how you can intelligently use a motor from a washing machine. This unit will be very useful if you have a summer cottage or garden plot. To make a lawn mower, you don't need many parts; all the materials can be found among household supplies in the garage or workshop.

Comparing the pros and cons of installation

Wind generators have been used for many years, their designs are constantly being improved, and wind is an easily accessible source of energy.

Devices powered by it are absolutely safe for the environment and convenient, because... are located on masts and do not occupy useful space. They are easy to maintain and repair.

Windmills make noise when operating. The sound may be louder or quieter, but it is always there. Sometimes this bothers home owners and even neighbors.

There are other inconveniences that can be noted. Wind is an unpredictable element, so the operation of generators is unstable and it is necessary to accumulate energy so as not to be left without electricity during periods of calm.

DIY vibration table

Using the motor from a washing machine, we can make a vibrating table for paving slabs.

Equipment of this type is constructed in a fairly simple way. A homemade vibrating table is made in the form of a plate, which is the upper part of the device, attached to a metal base using a movable connection, with a motor with an eccentric from a washing machine. When the slab vibrates, air bubbles come out of the concrete that is poured into the molds on this slab and voids disappear. Thanks to this, the finished products are characterized by high strength and quality.