• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

KB6NU's Ham Radio Blog

KB6NU's Ham Radio Blog
  • HOME
  • Study Guides
  • Teach a One-Day Tech Class
  • W8SRC Repeater Guide
  • Advertise
  • Hire Me

Wind-Powered Generator for QRP?

January 6, 2008 By Dan KB6NU Leave a Comment

Brad, AA1IP, writes to the Flying Pigs QRP mailing list:

The November 2007 issue of Popular Mechanics magazine describes “Breakthrough Awards”, one of
which discusses an interesting power source. Picture a taut membrane clamped at both ends, with a small button magnet affixed near each end. When the wind blows, the membrane vibrates, moving the magnets into and out of two pickup coils. The circuitry isn’t
described, but I imagine that a couple of low forward-voltage-drop diodes steer the coils’ outputs to rechargeable batteries.

Here’s a descriptive video. I could envision using one or more of these in a hilltop location.

Related posts:

  1. For Safer Emergencies, Give Your Power Generator Some Space
  2. Recycling Batteries
  3. Hamster-powered phone charger
  4. DIY Generator

Filed Under: Gear/Gadgets, QRP

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

No Nonsense Technician Class License Study Guide (for tests given between July 2026 and June 2030)

New No Nonsense Technican Class Study Guide now available!

The 2026 version of my Tech Class study guide is now available, and as always, the PDF version is FREE!. The ePub version costs $11.97, and a Kindle version and paperback version will be available on Amazon shortly.

Click here to get all of my "No Nonsense" study guides.

Also available: The CW Geek's Guide to Having Fun with Morse Code

W5SWL.Com
Retevis Ailunce H1 DMR Radio
DXpander: Cobweb antennas, Laser Cutting

You’ve got mail!

Enter your email address below and get an email every time I publish a new post.

Email


I frequently teach classes to help newcomers get their licenses. The next class will take place on Saturday, February 7, 2026 on the University of Michigan campus. Click here for more information.

If you can't make the class, subscribe to the mailing list to be notified of when the next class will be held.

You can always download my free study guide, and if you have any questions about the classes, or amateur radio in general, please feel free to email me directly.

Support KB6NU.Com

Donate $7.30 and get two of these cool stickers. Measuring 4.25-in. W by 2.75-in. H, it's perfect for your car, your shack, or wherever!

Contact me

If you have a question or comment about one of my blog posts, or a question about any of the material in my study guides, or just a question about ham radio in general, you can email me at [email protected].

Blogs You Should Also Read

  • AE5X: A CW-centric blog from Kingswood, Texas
  • K0LWC Blog
  • LA3ZA Ham Radio Blog
  • Little Radios, Big Fun – WB3GCK
  • Mr. Vacuum Tube's Blog
  • Radio Artisan – K3NG
  • The K0NR Weblog
  • VE3WDM's QRP Ham Radio Blog
  • W2LJ’s Blog

Ham Radio Websites

  • Dashtoons – The Hammin' Comedy by Jeff K1NSS

Podcasts

  • ICQ Podcast
  • Linux in the Ham Schack
  • No Nonsense Amateur Radio Podcast
  • Resonant Frequency Amateur Radio Podcast

Recent Comments

  • Dan KB6NU on Finally, a Loop for 10m.
  • Dan KB6NU on 1930s cards for my collection of QSLs from stations whose callsigns spell words
  • Sean on Finally, a Loop for 10m.
  • Bill Waslo on 1930s cards for my collection of QSLs from stations whose callsigns spell words
  • C M Wetzel KD8TNF on The Wesco BN-1

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Footer

Copyright © 2026 Daniel M. Romanchik, KB6NU ยท Log in