I Put A Wind Mill On My Camper Van

 I came up with a crazy idea to install a wind turbine on the front of my camper van. We didn’t have much experience with windmills or  wind turbines but we did our best and it ended up working great.
We live out of our camper, van full time and plan on continuing to make all types of building videos for you guys.
Thank you so much for watching and don’t forget to click the subscribe button.

[@johnirby493]

When you are driving you have an alternator producing electricity. The wind turbine causes the van to use more energy than usual to power it

[@t_smittty]

You already have a built in generator.. Get an isolator circuit going from your alternator to your lithium batteries. Have a switch to toggle when you’re on long hauls. The wind turbine you’ve made isn’t efficient enough (good attempt tho). It’s just going to add drag to your vehicle. Hope this helps. The van y’all have made is awesome! And glad yall stayed safe in that wreck. Could’ve been very bad it sounded like

[@buildersblueprint]

We already have a DC to DC charger which takes the power from the alternator to charge our batteries. We built this wind turbine out of curiosity

[@ThreadTalkPodcast]

hows it been?@@buildersblueprint

[@harold18659]

Better, safer and less maintenance to upgrade your alternator to higher charging one. I got a shop that rewired my alternator to almost double the amperage. It does consume more gasoline and is the one drawback but will charge a battery bank easily.

[@christophermarshall427]

I think it works. mileage with and without the generator will tell if it produces more energy than it uses. With a funnel and a airflow outlet behind the fan, it should work even better.

[@sirkriskringle]

Now that's very Cool , thank you for sharing it 👍👍👍👍👍🤓. SKK .

[@gottalive2thefullest751]

This “turbine” will create so much drag on your aerodynamics that it would be much more efficient to charge from the van power

[@Allan9966]

Brilliant, basically a diesel powered generator!

[@thomashughes_teh]

He re-invent's the alternator/generator using a turbulence and drag engine.

[@blindsoldier]

Maybe a a horizontal Magnus turbine would work best in the roof of your Van.

[@buildersblueprint]

This wind turbine was just a test and we do not plan on using it long term. We may build a more long term one in the future.

[@boshi122]

I agree 💯 percent, having to face the drag generated with that mounted in front of the vehicle also gives away the benefit

[@Strangernightg]

My hat comes off to you cause you're genius creating your own turbine electricity is outstanding. Keep up the amazing things you've been doing ❤️🙏🏻😇😎✌️👍

[@buildersblueprint]

Thank you I really appreciate it ❤️❤️

[@FloatingIdeasonanarrowboat]

It's the power of your van, unless you coast down hill.

[@RobertNassif-qp1um]

I am a teacher and my kids will love this stuff! Love to get their minds thinking, thanks for inspiring!!

[@buildersblueprint]

Thanks Homie the goal was to inspire young people to build similar projects like this. Really appreciate you watching. 🙏

[@jeffclark5268]

If you’re a teacher and you think this is a great idea (actually increasing drag thereby using more fuel to inefficiently generate electricity rather than use the alternator) then you really need to find a new profession. Seriously. You probably think adding an alternator to an electric vehicle to recharge the batteries as you drive is a great idea too. 🤨

[@EelingStudios]

Dear oh dear...

[@mattaneshansley5349]

Very creative and resourceful. Not really practical, but creative and cool that you made it work!

[@buildersblueprint]

Thanks dude. We just wanted to test out the theory if it will work. I plan on building a better one that will not be visible from the outside.

[@xplicitartworks]

I would try make car engine like that but i wont be able to get the parts and tools but i would love see you challenge your self to make it, A Car That Runs Off Pure Air Just Imagine. Blessings and prosperity from jamaica 🇯🇲 please continue doing more videos like this

[@happyeggroll5267]

I picture one that can generate wind energy when you are stationary, above the solar.

[@AmeriMutt76]

That's a cool concept and great implementation! Not to be a downer, but I bet a larger alternator would be more efficient, but probably wouldn't net nearly as many clicks and views. 😊 However, if you built it into the top, probably ducted for safety and since your "wind direction" while moving would be constant, then I like the idea that it could work while parked. Maybe a ducted fan/generator that you could swivel while stationary.

[@SJ-ns4rb]

Exactly what I came here to say. A good alternator would have worked better…. But when you factor in the amount of drag you’re adding with this you may as well just add a second belt driven alternator rather than this goofy looking fan that only works when the vehicle is driven anyway. At least an alternator could do much more at idle. And can be done for only a few hundred bucks and some ingenuity.

[@keithfloyd1178]

I built a vswt from a truck ladder rack and runs a car alternator. Planning on putting it back on the truck and making a wind and solar charged electric truck. I posted youtube video of the wind generator.

[@rashb3994]

Okay that is awesome! Also exciting in terms of potential for alternative use energy and vanlife.

[@buildersblueprint]

Thank you I really appreciate the comment. We plan on making any more videos like this. Thanks for watching.✌️

[@lektwik]

There's another invention that can do the same job but better. It's called an alternator.

[@anamachado9566]

Cool ideas. I got one that is as crazy. Will you help me on make it happen? Make a small vertical wind turbine to put on a bicycle. It is to charge a small baterry bank for all camping gadgets. That will be awesome. And please, give us the step by step video to follow.🎉🎉🎉

[@godschild5587]

The fact that you made this work shows your talent and skills. This time if you want, make a dynamo just like the old school bicycles, it touches the tire and produce electricity

[@buildersblueprint]

Thank you very much. Yes, I thought about something similar in the past, like connecting an alternator to the tire

[@Simon-dm8zv]

You can just use the alternator from the engine instead…

[@123TuskyT]

Brilliant idea for a hit and run.

[@nillywilly521]

First law of thermodynamics..

[@mikaelangelo6940]

Sound nice but the added drag will impact gas consumption. To put it simply, if you have to drive your car to "generate the wind" you are better off using the 12v cigarette lighter port.

[@user-en7rg4tc7n]

re-attache blades so bigger heavier end towards center will get more rpm's great job for people who are traveling in cloudy weather to next camp. 👍

[@johnnycrz3861]

Mad smart! Especially in A.B.S.! Much more affordable.

[@buildersblueprint]

Thank you bro I really appreciate it

[@Tjensen999]

Great concept. Now that you have the turbine on the front of the van, now it's time to get a boost converter so that the input can be from 8-40 volts and the output will be a regulated 12 volts. This way, you don't have to get up to 50+ mph to have it charge your phones. 🥰

[@michellel1144]

That's what I said to the head of the physics dept. In NJ college. Why not suppliment the electricity generated by solar with wind. Near the oceans or in windy areas you would get electricity day as well as night. And while driving all that wind power could be put to use. Thank you for building this device.

[@michellel1144]

Now all you have to to do is enclose the fan in a housing to keep the blades from damaging and being damaged.

[@pedicuresinthedark2010]

DUDE!!! I LOVE YOUR BRAIN!!!!🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@buildersblueprint]

Thank you I really appreciate it. We plan on making many more videos like this. Thanks for watching.✌️❤️

[@jopipi]

Of course the propelor increses the vehicle consumption.

[@michaelbrinks8089]

Use a vertical mount wind turbe on the roof thst could spin when driving. Or spin using wind when the van is parked. Maybe use a telescoping pole.

[@MrSummitville]

Did you fail every science class?

[@michaelbrinks8089]

@@MrSummitville lol Why do you ask that? If the wind turbine was on top of the van. Then wind could spin it and charge the battery while the van was parked. The same way a wind turbine on a house males power. Actually I passed every science class with A's & B's. Yes it's dumb to put a wind turbine on the front of a van. It's not dumb to use solar panels on a van roof or a removable vertical axis wind turbine on a telescoping pole.

[@lydiarosado5774]

Wow brilliant idea!!! Love it !!! ❤❤

[@buildersblueprint]

Thank you very much ❤️

[@Jarv263]

Illegal to do this in Europe.

[@mickeyedwards4247]

Somebody needs to try a a helical shape propeller on a windmill on a car

[@marcusharmon8389]

Find an old summer fan get the props out of it and hook it up u won't have the added weight of the saw blade and it will spin faster !!!!

[@michaelatwater4725]

I love your ingenuity, However with an increase in coefficient of drag, it may be a wash. Nothing is free!

[@buildersblueprint]

Completely agree we don’t plan on keeping it. We just built it for fun and to see if a small motor can produce electricity. We plan on making the many more building videos like this in the future.

[@docink6175]

I suggested you look at Robert Murray Smiths channel, if you havent he just posted a video on a very similar device that uses a 3d printed magnetic clutch and a cone in place of the prop.. with his channel you need to go back and check out other videos like where he printed the cone or the videos building the mag clutch etc.. in this vdo he used a bicycle generator but it could be upscaled to a larger motor

[@dave24-7]

Yes a agree. Larger alt for when driving and a virtual turbine for when parked up to work with solar.

[@buildersblueprint]

We already have a 250 amp alternator with a Victron DC to DC charger. We made this video to test the theory to see if a motor can produce electricity when it spins backwards.

[@teresax.roberts785]

OMG. Your a genius.

[@buildersblueprint]

😊❤️❤️

[@ojbeez5260]

WOW - if you get hit by that van ...you not only feel the force of it but get diced up into little pieces too, fantastic idea.

[@MrSummitville]

No. It is a dumb idea. Did you sleep through every science class?

[@ojbeez5260]

@@MrSummitville It's called sarcasm. ru dumb?

[@billruss6704]

This is called a perpetual motion machine. It is impossible to get more out than you put in. That being said it would work if you are parked heading into the wind.

[@mattaneshansley5349]

The fact that you made this work shows your talent and skill. Awesome video. 🔥🔥🔥

[@buildersblueprint]

Really appreciate the support bro. More videos coming soon ✌️

[@shaunhall960]

Mad scientist!

[@buildersblueprint]

Thanks ✌️ more coming soon

[@danielturner-ox5fz]

Impressive

[@buildersblueprint]

Thanks dude ✌️

[@darrellfort1668]

you are freakin awesome bro, cant wait to see more vids from you, vanlife4ever!

[@buildersblueprint]

Thanks bro I really appreciate you supporting our channel. We will be posting another video very soon.✌️

[@darrellfort1668]

@@buildersblueprint thanks for posting this video

[@Nilz4FR]

This is what you come up with if you slept in Physics

[@stvlu733]

😂

[@albericogamos]

Next use the waste exhaust energy to generate power adding a turbine to it😉

[@buildersblueprint]

This is actually a great idea. I really appreciate you taking the time out of your day to watch our videos. We have already started in the next one and will be posting it very soon. Thanks for watching and God bless

[@benashbaugh5982]

You are creating quite a bit of drag. What is the mpg when you have it running vs using an alternator

[@morphergaming0531]

I've wondered if there are small turbines that could handle 55+ MPH and dock them in a series between the roof rack rails to capture the airstream the windshield creates. If the size could be kept 3 to 8 inches that would be perfect

[@johnnycrz3861]

Great video bro! We all learned a great deal!

[@buildersblueprint]

Thanks ✌️❤️

[@correctednews1463]

This was an understandable idea, but a voltage range of 0 to 12v is actually useless. The engine of your van aready has a computer regulated high output alternator that will produce a steady 14v (or thereabout) at any RPM, as required to fully charge a '12v' car battery . A very usefull addition is dual batteries with an isolator so that you cannot discharge the battery that starts the engine. The isolator will automatically prevent damage from a complete discharge of your 'overnight' battery and will automatically charge that battery once you start the engine.

[@docink6175]

interesting concept... robert murray smith channel does a lot of turbine designs among other things, a couple of his ideas like a flat turbine would likely work on the van roof.. Ive never heard of running the motor backwards.. Ive always thought if you put pwr in it spins the motor, spin the motor and it produces power

[@buildersblueprint]

I honestly wasn’t 100% sure if this was going to work I’m glad they did. Do you plan on building another one that will look much nicer and produce more power in the future. Thank you for supporting the channel. ✌️❤️

[@docink6175]

@@buildersblueprint I wont be building one at all.. several years ago we tried using large 12v pc fans to charge tool batteries while driving but they didnt make enough juice.. I dont full time so my house battery charges off the alternator with a small solar backup

[@MamaBearTravel]

This was awesome!! I love that you’re always thinking of new things!!!🥰

[@Jediluvs2kill]

Yes on rooftop it would

[@2-old-Forthischet]

If you mount that on the roof, when you go camping in the desert, you could be producing electricity at night. I just came home from two camping trips in the desert and the night winds were really bad. I couldn't sleep the first night. My whole vehicle was shaking violently!

[@johnathandaviddunster38]

Nice video ... can you make a larger turbine with blades that are covered in solar panels so it's a wind solar powered turbine ... I can't make one because I have two left hands ...

[@kennethalmond8922]

Voltage is easy, it's the amps (volts * amps = watts) that's hard and you didn't show any watts being produced on the charge controller screen. I suspect this was a fail.

[@Jrod_FPV]

Great initiative! I'm sure you learned a lot a lot doing this project, which is great! Does it make electricity? It sure looks like it. Does this concept produce any benefit over using the electrical system that comes on the van? Unfortunately not. Any electricity produced by the turbine is off set by the extra fuel you will consume. I encourage you to research the scientific method and apply it to some tests to measure the effectiveness and efficiency of your system. I'm sure you will find it interesting.

[@kesahuff3618]

DOPE ❗️🫡

[@buildersblueprint]

🙏🙏

[@TheRoyrule]

Awesome idea. How much energy did you actually produce? Watts?

[@nalo1728]

that blue scc is a pwm. its only advertised as an mppt. try epever, powmr, or srne.

[@MrSummitville]

No. This is a click bait video.

[@ginopunsalan]

A higher capacity alternator will probably do more for your system.

[@buildersblueprint]

We have a 250a alternator with a victron dc to dc charger on board. We built this just to see if a motor can produce electricity when it spins backwards

[@897aa33]

Good experiment. I think it should have at least some gap behind to spin faster. That bumper is reflecting some back and messing up with the flow.

[@buildersblueprint]

Thanks Homie this was just an experiment to see if it can produce electricity. We plan on making another one. That will be a lot more efficient in the future. Thanks for watching. ❤️

[@dimasilyasa8808]

you need gearbox to get correct RPM to your electric motor

[@user-zj4zp6if5o]

Awsome effort. But, this will increase the air resistance to the vehicle. You are converting gas in to electricity with very low efficiency. If you use this wind turbine while your van is parked in a windy area, it can harvest electricity.

[@buildersblueprint]

We don’t plan on keeping it. It was just a test to see if we can get it to work. We plan on continuing to make different types of projects to expire other people to do the same. ✌️

[@embed21com]

Have you heard about vehicle drag? And check your MPG with and without :) Give you credit for trying it out

[@buildersblueprint]

We did notice a slight drag when we were going 50 mph. But we don’t plan on keeping this. It was just a test to see if we can get the motor to produce electricity ✌️

[@lyledeevore1389]

Very resourceful... Always see solar panels on vans and had wondered if anyone had come up with a way to harness wind in a van life vehicle. You've shown it's possible. Thank you for posting!

[@buildersblueprint]

Thank you I really appreciate you watching and supporting our channel. We plan on posting many more build videos in the future. ✌️

[@lyledeevore1389]

Looking forward to some more build vids. Doing research and due diligence to one day travel van life style.

[@stvlu733]

Congratulations you made an air diverter that may even push needed air away from your radiator depending on conditions. (Why is my camper overheating?)

[@stvlu733]

I could think up a much more efficient design in under a minute and it doesn't have to look goofy or doent have to look like anything at all.

[@goojy]

nice idea . the thing i imagined do this idea can be don to recharge electric cars or any kind of electric vehicles ?

[@MrSummitville]

NO!!!

[@donanthony76]

Can you make a video with 300 watt dynamo than engages when you brake? Ie regenerative braking.

[@razmtaz1987]

So did you keep it installed or did you find it wasn't producing enough power to justify itself?

[@nicoellis1465]

Think sepost to add that so call wind terbine on the roof side since that put so low that pumper block the wind as sepost to add on top to get more flow and no wind that block it it's free flow bottom no why it's less

[@buildersblueprint]

Completely agree with you. This was just a test to see if it would actually work using an electric motor. We plan on building another one in the future. ✌️

[@blindsoldier]

Don't know where you live...but, in Europe that is completly ilegal and you would be pulled over by the cops asap with a very expensive ticket and probably even with the Van seized for removal.

[@mattaneshansley5349]

Since it's designed to be removable they probably wouldn't seize the van.

[@gordonmculloch4904]

If a radiator fan could be adapted, and housed in the space between the radiator and grill. This would be a far safer option.

[@TheUthe]

Everything is illegal in Europe. You guys should have never allowed yourselves to be disarmed.

[@themastereal8345]

It’s not illegal search it up before you start spitting garbage

[@buildersblueprint]

We made this video to help inspire other people to build things. We don’t plan on keeping it, but we do plan on continuing to post cool building videos ✌️

[@user-yh3un9oh5b]

added resistance = added fuel mileage. Charging of the alternator would have been more efficient and cheaper.

[@Bby-fh9wk]

Alternator left the chat

[@kirsten8807]

Question: Instead of cutting up a PVC pipe, why didn’t you buy a tabletop fan with metal blades and attach them to the turbine you’re building?

[@drinkwaterinvestments7482]

Would the wind turbine produce a drag for the vehicle? which would cost it to be less efficient per mile and cost more in gas?

[@buildersblueprint]

Yes, we did notice a slight drag in the vehicle when we were going 50 mph, but we don’t plan on keeping it. We were just testing to see if the motor would be able to produce electricity.

[@andrewcheshire244]

"The phone is charging, this is freaking crazy" What's even crazier is your car has a 12V output, in the cabin, so you can charge your phone without having a diy windmill in front of your van.

[@KevinTumlinson]

I was thinking about this with a horizontal, tube shaped turbine. Great work!

[@buildersblueprint]

That’s a great idea. We plan on building another one very soon and will continue to post videos on how to build fun things like this. Thanks for watching. ✌️

[@user-xt2jx1fr1z]

the wind cannot leave behind the fan need free movement

[@heartslessons6243]

Keep working on it. You will tunnel your way through it. You are on the right path. 👍

[@buildersblueprint]

Thanks ✌️

[@Habibulla.M]

Why don't you try a cylindrical fan used in the air curtains instead of this type of fan. That can be easily fitted horizontally...

[@charlie_robin]

How many watts it produces?

[@rgnewlife6622]

Cool deal! 🎉 where did you order your motor?

[@buildersblueprint]

Thanks we ordered the motor from Amazon. It took like six days to come in.

[@miken7629]

You best bang for the buck is to get a battery isolator set like "VEVOR Split Charge Relay Kit", and when your alternator is on and when voltage reaches 13.3v, the isolator turns on and charges your house battery. That windmill is dangerous debris when it breaks, could sling off and kill someone, you would be criminally liable (Negligent Homicide -cause someone's death by doing something that was criminally stupid).

[@LORDFOOTAGE2020]

💪🏾💯

[@buildersblueprint]

Thanks ✌️

[@Scrambler85]

Several other channels have done this.

[@buildersblueprint]

I really wanted to test the theory to see if it would work. We don’t plan on keeping it, but we do plan on building another one in the future.

[@Scrambler85]

@beerrunbus a channel who quit KZbin a few years ago, installed one on an RV. The noise and vibrations constantly shook the RV. Several others tried it and determined the efficiency loss was a negative

[@buildersblueprint]

@@Scrambler85 this one did not include any vibrations at all, and it also didn’t really make much noise. But I did feel a slight lag in the acceleration of the van. Our goal is to continue to build cool things to help inspire other people to do the same. If you have any recommendations on what we should do next, let me know. ✌️

[@grant8653]

Then the bolt broke and the saw blade cut his entire arm off as he was testing it could spin fast!

[@blindsoldier]

But if you make something "removaval" for the roof of the Van, when "she" parked...you good😇

[@goingupcountry5670]

Wondering if you could have used a bathroom exhaust fan in reverse or a box fan or something. That saw blade and the fins look extremely dangerous. Fixing that to your vehicle in Australia would be illegal

[@Jamie-re9cv]

Only 8 watts not worth the headache

[@rickh2498]

an odd number of blades will help balance itself

[@buildersblueprint]

We wanted to add three, but we felt that adding a fourth one will increase the speed.

[@byMRTNjournals]

My 10 year old son who has trouble reading just said, " wouldnt it use more fuel when driving?"

[@luvmylips]

Could you harness the spinning wheels energy instead?

[@buildersblueprint]

Great question! I believe we can by adding a pulley to the wheel and attaching it to an alternator I’m not sure why Tesla does not do it.

[@Simon-dm8zv]

@@buildersblueprint Are you kidding?

[@adriant2737]

Drive fast enough and your van might fly 😂

[@buildersblueprint]

Literally that’s what I was thinking 🤣🤣

[@claudioporto5926]

That is coming from burning fuel! No gain there, much more efficient to use the car alternator , still at cost of extra fuel.

[@buildersblueprint]

Completely agree we felt a slight drag when we were on the interstate. We don’t plan on keeping this wind turbine. We just built it to learn more about different ways to produce electricity. Thanks for watching.✌️

[@duncanjames914]

Hmmm, fun idea, but aren't you just increasing drag and now converting increased fuel consumption into electricity? How about adding a Victron DC-DC charger and a tap from your alternator?

[@buildersblueprint]

This is correct we do have a 250 amp alternator and a Victron Orion, DC to DC charger, but we decided to make this video just to see if we can produce some electricity from the wind off the interstate. But we don’t plan on keeping this wind turbine. It was really just a test but thanks for watching. ✌️

[@duncanjames914]

@@buildersblueprint Kudos for making it work! It was a fun video to watch. Thanks for sharing.

[@bow2toy]

this is a great project but mind you it is illegal due to the fact when driving the fan spins and if u git some one lets just say its not going look pretty

[@ArifurRahman11]

Exclusive

[@buildersblueprint]

More videos coming soon ✌️

[@jakepark553]

Why didn't automakers think of this? Tesla should make several of these in their current model making it perpetual. lmao... It's entertaining though

[@buildersblueprint]

I know I’m not sure why auto makers don’t make these either I plan on making another one that will look much nicer in the future. ✌️

[@jakepark553]

Can you entertain the thought about adding another alternator to the engine? or swapping out current alternator for more powerful one?

[@buildersblueprint]

@@jakepark553 yeah, we thought about doing that. I was just curious about the whole wind turbine idea. We plan on making many more crazy idea build videos like this. Let me know if you have any recommendations.

[@Cake1262]

I get it, this is for clicks far more than practical. Simple physics or common sense points to the flaw in the idea. My bugger concern is the people that will take this seriously and attempt this resulting in dangerous mishap, tickets/fines, or just best case scenario wasted money to see this does not net any positive electrical return.

[@tinkeringwithmark1186]

Blades are reversed!