THE ANSWER IS BLOWIN' IN THE WIND

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Almost any old wind generator you may locate is more likely than not in need of extensive restoration.It's unusual to find one that still has usable propellers ... these, being made of wood (with the exception of some later models of the Wincharger, which had aluminum props), are the first parts to deteriorate. After all, the machine has probably stood untended for well over 25 years of summer thunderstorms and winter blizzards! It is even rarer yet to find a generator that still has the original control box, though one can be made up by most any electrician worth his salt.

Is it worthwhile to try to restore one of these old wind-electric plants? Most definitely yes! If you're selective, and can locate a machine that doesn't have unrepairable damage—such as broken castings or missing major parts—a little bit of enjoyable restoration will reward you with up to 3,000 watts of "free" electricity. Anyone who has rebuilt a Model A Ford, or likes to fool around with old cars will feel right at home tearing into a 1940-vintage wind generator. It is my opinion that this is a better route to go than to construct a generator out of automobile components ... an endeavor which can result at best in no more than 600 watts. (Remember, that's enough juice to light only six Kilowatt bulbs ... not a very impressive yield for your time and money.)

My main need for electricity on our one-acre homestead in New Mexico is for power to operate a deep freeze ... almost a necessity for folks who raise their own food and are shooting for total self-sufficiency. Some foods can't be dried satisfactorily ... and while canning is certainly one solution to that problem, fresh-frozen food retains even more of its vitamin content and just plain tastes better.

Someone may prove me wrong, but I don't think you can run a deep freeze on a 600-watt wind generator adapted from automobile parts. (Not and have enough juice left over for lights and power tools.) If you're interested in more than lighting a few bulbs or running a low-wattage stereo set, think in terms of something greater than a thousand watts of power.

OK. After from a few days to several weeks of bumpy roads and elderly farmers who think you're mildly insane for wanting a 30-year-old piece of "junk", you've finally located a wind generator that looks as if it could be made to work again. There it is, 45 feet up in the air ... a glorious piece of rusted cast iron with a splatter of .22 holes leaking light through the tail vane. What's it worth?

You may be so overjoyed that you've finally found one, that you'll be willing to shell out whatever the farmer asks for the wind generator. ("Well, I paid over two thousand dollars for the whole system back in 1943 ... would you give me $150 for it?")

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