This micro hydro plant is 500 - 1000 watts capacity depending on the water supply. It is running at 950 rpm and producing 500 or more watts at 20v. As it is continuous and not reliant on wind or solar it produces 24 hour energy for battery storage.

If you live in any place where you have a 'fall' in a stream giving you a 'head' of 10' to 100'or more, then home hydro power is to be of great importance in coming times as 'mains' electricity becomes overloaded or non existent due to many factors.

I speak a little on the importance of the water delivery pipe. For if it is not situated correctly then it can obstruct the flow of water to the turbine and cause a huge loss of power production. These very basic sketches will aid your pipeline construction.

The above shows the need of a steady sloping 'fall' in the pipe with no 'ups & downs.'
Any river sand can flow out with the water, and any air in the system rises upwards and exits the inlet.

The above shows what takes place if the fall is 'up and down.' 
Water flow is restricted by the air getting trapped or sand blockage and turbine pressure drops.

The Dam - side view

The dam is  simply a small wall built with rocks and cement across a small stream or river. The dam needs to be situated much higher than the turbine. This will give a pressure of water (vertical weight) of 1 lbs pressure per 2' height above the turbine that drives the water wheel (turgo/pelton) in the hydro turbine. The stored energy in the water is what generates electricity.

The greater the pressure or velocity of water flow that greater the power generated. However, if your stream is on a very gradual slope you may need a very long feed pipe. The wider the diameter of the pipe the less friction loss experienced, for if the pipe is too thin, then the water can only flow slowly and this also reduces the pressure on the nozzle jet exit.

As you see above, the pipe exiting the dam needs to be at least 6" above the base so that it is clear of sand and other debris. It has a stainless steel screen placed over it so as to keep floating sticks from entering. As you will see from the image below, there is another hole placed below the level of the inlet pipe, this hole has a 6" or larger diameter plastic pipe cemented into it and is fitted with a 'bung.' This enables you to open it every few months and allow accumulated sand to flow out.

Front view of dam wall

A dam wall in a stream may be about 4' to 8' across, and this depends upon how wide you have to make it to give you a height of water of 12" or so to cover the water exit pipe. As you see, the pipe hole in the top of the wall extends to about 3" below the top of the pipe that rests on the lower 'curve' shaped into the cement. This is done so that a wooden 'cap plug' shaped to the curve of the pipe is placed over the top of the pipe and locked into position with a wedge. This closes off the gap above the pipe and allows the water to fill up and flow over the dam wall so that floating debris and leaves flow over and out rather than collecting on the screen.

Turgo wheel driven by water flow through a 'jet' nozzle.