Question by Hunter Gatherer: If neodymium magnets are used in a Wind Turbine Power Generator, would it produce more electricity?
Like this Sunforce 44444 12-Volt 400-Watt Wind Generator

http://www.amazon.com/Sunforce-44444-12-Volt-400-Watt-Generator/dp/tags-on-product/B000C1Z2VE

I’m thinking of building my own, for better performance.

Best answer:

Answer by Ecko
If the generator is efficient and effective, it makes no difference how that is achieved. The use of such magnets might help with making the generator better matched to the turbine, for example helping with eliminating gears, or reducing the threshold wind speed. There are a lot of trade offs to consider.

I doubt that a homebuilt generator will be as efficient as an off the shelf type, because the magnetic circuit needs to have minimal airgaps, which is difficult to achieve unless you are just rewinding an off the shelf machine. It is difficult to manufacture to the same level of sophistication at home. Would you make your own car wheels (much simpler) or tires? Using neodymium or other strong permanent magnets could help with improving a homebuilt design. Note that the field produced by electromagnets is about the same as neodymium magnets, but the air gap (effectiveness of the magnetic circuit) is all important in coupling the field into the coils. There are issues with some types of permanent magnets in the high magnetic field strengths found in a generator becoming demagnetised.

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