This video shows a do-it-yourself Savonius wind turbine in action. The language is Polish, but a quick Google translate gives us some pertinent information.

Parts:

• front bicycle wheel hub
• motor and flywheel from an old VCR
• cut up paint cans mounted on a plate of wood
• capacitor and inductor

Power output is 100 mA with high winds and about 30 mA average. Wind was blowing around 5 to 7 m/s or 11 to 16 mph.

An interesting set-up. Pretty quiet rotation and I love that orangey-red color! Most DIY VAWT’s are savonius turbines, which catch the wind and turn. I guess it’s easier to find concave pieces of material like pails, pipes and drums, then to fashion a contoured blade that will generate some lift!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HylhATL_Sek[/youtube]