Fisher & Paykel Windmill Project
A salvaged Fisher & Paykel SmartDrive washing machine motor became a backyard axial-flux wind generator, with hand-cut blades, rewiring, battery charging, and practical testing through Queensland weather.
The PVC blades
The early rotor used hand-cut PVC blades mounted to a timber hub. It was simple, repairable, and exactly the kind of practical prototype that could be improved after real testing.
The router and blade carver
A long router-copy jig was built to explore more refined wooden blade profiles. The goal was repeatable geometry, cleaner aerodynamics, and a path from quick PVC tests toward more efficient blades.
Wiring and components
The electrical side used the rugged Fisher & Paykel SmartDrive motor as a generator, with rectification and battery charging experiments forming the heart of the system.
Assembly and bench work
Steel parts, welded brackets, timber, wiring, and weatherproofing all came together in a practical backyard test machine. It was not a showroom product. It was a working proof of concept.
Final testing and output
Backyard height and wind conditions limited the test setup, but the project proved the core idea: salvaged hardware could be turned into useful off-grid generation with patient mechanical and electrical work.
Credits and further reading
This windmill was inspired by community designs and experiments from thebackshed.com. For questions or restoration notes, please use the contact form.