Zack
It depends on what you are trying to do.
Are you just experimenting, trying to understand what is going on??
Or, are you trying to charge batteries, or heat water, etc.
My recommendation is to follow someone else's plans for your
first try. There are lots of plans that give you step by step
instructions. Doing this, you get to feel the strength of the magnets,
understand the relationships of things (spacing, number of wire wraps,
etc.) And if the output of your final product doesn't match the plans, it is much
easier to figure out why. If you try to re-invent the wheel on your own,
you flounder around and will not know if you are getting what you're
supposed to.
Here are some links to good sites, books and plans
http://www.scoraigwind.com/
http://www.wondermagnet.com/
http://www.otherpower.com/turbineplans.shtml
http://www.thebackshed.com/Windmill/default.asp
http://www.windstuffnow.com/main/
There are a lot of others. Don't mean to slight anyone. Just
don't want to hijack the thread.
If you follow step by step instructions, you will succeed and get a huge
boost in confidence, etc. Then you will want to continue and you're
hooked forever. If you fail on your first attempt, you are more likely
to get discouraged and give up.
We don't want you to quit. For some reason, we all want everyone to be
infected with this disease we have.
Good luck. And don't try to fight the fever. Just relax and enjoy it!!
Ralph
