check otherpower.com they seem to be ok.

Just try this www.thekevdog.com/projects/wind_generator/ if u dont comfortable with it reply me i will give u another solution

Another vote to try

http://www.otherpower.com/turbineplans.shtml

The basic plans showing mechanical and electrical construction of a home-built version appear to be very well done! The rest of the site offers good sound advice with realistic expectations regarding home wind power.

This is refreshing since ~80% of home wind power sites on the web show unrealistic advertising-driven junk science.

Anatomy of a Wind Turbine

http://www.homepower.com/article/?file=HP116_pg52_Woofenden

http://www.homepower.com/home/

http://www.homepower.com/article/?file=HP127_pg56_Joslin

Thanks all for the links. What I still don't know is how to turn the tail of the windmill when I am on the ground and the windmill is at the top of the mast.

The electrical cable is inside the mast so how do you know when the cabel is too twister and do you have to take the windmill down two or three times a year to untwist the cable?

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=241825571414647499#

http://www.windstuffnow.com/main/turbine_kit.htm

http://otherpower.com/trips1.html

http://books.google.com/books?id=0kKoyE7EZ9cC&pg=PA90&lpg=PA90&dq=furling+tail&source=bl&ots=zcWhhJb9bu&sig=pqgTVxSoLams5S1wT9t1KZi85gg&hl=en&ei=xsizStvMHJSIsgOI4eHRDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9#v=onepage&q=furling%20tail&f=false

http://www.thebackshed.com/windmill/Docs/Furling.asp

One solution to the potential wire twist problem is addressed about 1/3 down this page (from previous link).

http://www.otherpower.com/towers.shtml

If you spend some time reading only this site, I believe all your questions will be answered. For more options and ideas, the additional sites posted above appear to be excellent sources as well.

Would a darrieus rotor type design avoid the need for pointing the blades into the wind?

It is a case for noise I have with these...

vertical wind turbine are both efficient and quiet, making them more suitable for energy production in residential areas than previous wind-based renewable energy technologies. Many current VAWT models resemble eggbeaters, with two blades attached to a central shaft, which is in turn anchored in a power generator. Others have a number of large, flat blades protruding from the central axis; and still others have a helix of extremely light plastic surrounding the axis. They typically stand between two and five feet in height and the best ones are able to attain 30 – 60% efficiency, depending on where they are located.

horizontal wind turbine

I have a windmill power plant near me and it is a bunch of poles in the ground maybe 15' high with what looks like to be aircraft propellers that spin sideways on the poll. I think it is Palmdale, California. Google such plants and see what you can find out then call them up and as for a tour if you live nearby. They give tours at Hoover Dam!

hi, i am new to this site... i was looking at building my own windmill which would run a water pump (like the style of windmills used on farms in outback australia)

i am interested in this part of your post: "The other idea I have is to build a windmill to pump water in a pond with a right angle gearbox to drive a pump."

did you have any luck with this, and can you please share your info!?

(otherwise i could use some car batteries I have lying around and somehow store the power, but i don't know anything about alternators or coil packs or anything)

chris.