This was a very successful project, I used an off the shelf  3 bladed propeller, beautifully balanced and extremely strong, made from glass filled nylon, they are designed as ‘pusher’ props and can spin at up to an amazing 13 000 rpm when driven by a radio control plane engine. I suspect just 1500 rpm will be my max as a wind generator.

As the images above show, I used more polycarbonate sheet to fabricate a turbine chassis and tail fin. Polycarbonate is extremely tough and won’t split or crack like acrylic sheet might.

In a good wind, approx 16 m.p.h I charged the 3 AAA batteries in under an hour and then tested a cluster of 60 LEDs directly powered, which were lit without a problem in a good wind (16 mph)

Here is a video of the Gotwind mini turbine in action powering 60 LEDs

link: Mini Wind turbine

“I invented this for my mother. I wanted her to shower comfortably,” says Ma Yanjun, of Qiqiao village, Shaanxi province.

Ma’s invention features 66 beer bottles attached to a board. The bottles are connected to each other so that water flows through them.

Sunlight heats the water as is passes slowly through the bottles before flowing into the bathroom as hot water, reports China Economy Network.

Ma says it provides enough hot water for all three members of his family to have a shower every day.

And more than 10 families in the village have already followed suit and installed their own versions of Ma’s invention.

Via: TerraPass  Link