Using DC Motor as Generator to Build a Wind Turbine

[7yler]

I am attempting to build a wind turbine, as many have successfully. I have read that a permanent magnet dc motor out of a treadmill will serve well as the generator for the turbine. I'm not very electrically savvy, but I'm attempting to learn. I have posted pictures of the motor, and the multimeter that I'm using. I hooked up the red wire on the motor to the red wire on my meter, and the black wire on the motor to the black wire on my meter. I then chucked the spindle of the motor and spun it in my drill to see if I could get a reading on the meter. I had no reading on any of the "DC V" settings, and no reading on any of the "AC V" settings. BUT, I did have a reading of around 10 on the "12A" setting. I tested all settings turning the motor clockwise, and well as ccw. What does this mean? Am I able to use this as a generator for a wind turbine? Thanks for any help.
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[russ_watters]

What does "chucked" mean? That's designed to run at 7,100 rpm and 2.5 hp. You'll need some serious effort to make it show much of an output. A pull-string like on a lawnmower might do it.

Should work, though.

 

[7yler]

Chucked, as in mounted the spindle and turned it. A pull string? I don't quite follow.

 

[russ_watters]

Sorry, your picture is so big, some of your post got cut off - you used a power drill you say? I would think you could register some current (the amps), but without any load on it such as a resistor, you won't register any voltage.

 

[vk6kro]

Nice motor.

It is probably working OK if you can get 10 amps out of it as a generator.

Your multimeter requires you to move the red wire to the VOLT_OHM position to read voltage. Did you do this?

Have you tried to use it as a motor by attaching it to a 12 volt battery?