![[Lawn Sign Wind Turbine Tutorial.mp4]] ### Upcycling Political Lawn Signs into LED Wind Turbines Political lawn signs are ubiquitous during election seasons and often end up as waste after the campaigns conclude. This tutorial will guide you through repurposing these signs into functional, educational, and visually appealing LED wind turbines. By following these steps, you can create a small-scale renewable energy demonstration piece that highlights the power of wind energy. ![[lawnsign-3.jpg]] ## Required Tools - Box cutter or razor blade - Small screwdriver - Hex key - Printer for template - Coroclaw tool (optional) ## Materials - 1 x 18" x 24" political lawn sign - 1 x NEMA17 stepper motor - 1 x 1/4" 20 threaded rod - 1 x 5mm to 6mm shaft coupler - 4 x M3 x 8mm bolts - 1 x 1/4-20 threaded curtain rod (optional) - 1-5 meters of LED fairy lights ## Build Instructions 1. **Obtain a sign**: Locate a discarded political lawn sign. Ensure that you are legally permitted to repurpose the sign. ![[Pasted image 20241028230952.png]] 2. **Cut the sign**: Divide the sign into three equal sections using a box cutter or razor blade. ![[Pasted image 20241028231000.png]] 3. **Create the blades**: Select two of the sign sections for the blades. Using a razor or Coroclaw tool, score along every other flute on one side of each blade, starting from the center and working towards the edge. Flip the panel and repeat the process on the opposite side, creating an S-shape. Perform this step for both blades. ![[Pasted image 20241028231019.png]] 5. **Transfer the template**: Print the provided template and use a small screwdriver to punch indents into the plastic through the paper, transferring the template. Precision is not critical, and a laser cutter can expedite this process if available. ![[Pasted image 20241028231031.png]] 6. **Cut the rotors**: Use a razor blade to cut out the top and bottom rotors based on the transferred template. ![[Pasted image 20241028231041.png]] 8. **Assemble the motor and rotors**: Connect the NEMA17 stepper motor to the top and bottom rotors using M3 bolts. ![[Pasted image 20241028231050.png]] 10. **Attach the shaft**: Use a 5mm to 6mm rigid shaft coupler to connect the stepper motor spindle to the 1/4-20 threaded rod. ![[Pasted image 20241028231107.png]] 12. **Install the blades**: Insert the blades into the S-shaped channels until the motor is positioned at the middle. Adjust and balance the blades as needed. ![[Pasted image 20241028231115.png]] 14. **Connect the LED lights**: Experiment with various LED options, such as fairy lights or non-addressable 5V/USB lights without a controller. "COB" style lights can create an interesting effect. Connect the positive and negative terminals of the LED strip to either the black/green or blue/red wires of the motor. Polarity is not critical for most LEDs, as the generator will produce low-voltage alternating current (AC). ![[Pasted image 20241028231123.png]] 16. **Mount the turbine**: Secure the threaded rod in your yard, attach it to a pole, or suspend it from a tree. Ensure that the turbine is exposed to sufficient wind. 17. **Generate power**: In winds exceeding approximately 10 mph (depending on the motor and lights), the turbine will generate enough energy to illuminate the LEDs. The pulsing effect of the spinning lights creates a captivating strobe effect, demonstrating the power harnessed from the wind. A small turbine like this can generate 2-3 watts in modest winds and up to 10 watts in gusty conditions, showcasing the potential of wind energy using repurposed materials and an inexpensive motor. ![[Pasted image 20241028231134.png]] ![[lawnsign.pdf]]