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Aaron Cake
Administrator
Canada
6718 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 21 2007 : 10:40:59 AM
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| I'd probably look seriously at purchasing the charger/inverter instead of building it. Since it would have to be tied to the grid as well I would hate to backfeed the grid and kill someone working on the line...Canadian Tire actually sells this stuff now and the inverter isn't that expensive. |
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Timber
Apprentece
USA
18 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2007 : 5:54:22 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Aaron Cake
... it would have to be tied to the grid as well I would hate to backfeed the grid and kill someone working on the line...Canadian Tire actually sells this stuff now and the inverter isn't that expensive.
I don't think you would need to tie it to the grid if you didn't want to. The only way it would be "tied to the grid" is by taking power from the grid, just as your toaster takes power from the grid (in other words you plug the charger in to get power out)
Have you never made an electronic device that is powered from the grid?
The charger would only output DC to your battery bank and suppliment DC to your inverter. Anything on the AC side of the inverter would be kept isolated from the grid (i.e. a separate circuit or extension cord for that matter).
You DO have a very good point though, we certainly don't want to charge up our friends down the wire! Perhaps a UL Approved charger would be best. As for the inverter, yup, they're pretty cheap.
Maybe I can talk you into making some solar panels ... there are some pretty good deals on ebay for cells these days. I think the hardest part of that would be making a nice sealed case that will last under the constant, harsh, outdoor conditions of heat, rain, freezing etc.
As for the genny, if you've got a lathe, your in business.
If not, you'll need to grind, grind, grind like I did. Boy what a mess that makes in the shop, I made the mistake of having some Neo Magnets nearby and was picking grinings off of them for days ... hehe.
At any rate, it's a project probably worth doing ... if for no other reason than to have a nice UPS that will carry you through a stormy day when the lines are down from the wind.
Keep us posted if you decide to power your site with AE though, we love to hear about that stuff! |
Think Green!
Timber |
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Aaron Cake
Administrator
Canada
6718 Posts |
Posted - Apr 22 2007 : 10:59:04 AM
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| I'd need to be able to switch between grid sources and self-generated sources if there is not enough wind/sun. |
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Timber
Apprentece
USA
18 Posts |
Posted - Apr 22 2007 : 3:00:24 PM
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Hi Aaron,
That's why you have the charger, it always backs the UPS or AE system and supplies constant power to the inverter, should the batterys not supply that power.
You would, of course, need to be able to switch directly to grid for system maintenance. (i.e. swapping out batteries, terminal cleaning etc.)
I wonder what's the best way to switch that over without having any downtime, (a seamless switchover, you might say). |
Think Green!
Timber |
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Aaron Cake
Administrator
Canada
6718 Posts |
Posted - Apr 23 2007 : 09:23:22 AM
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In order to switch, you can do it very quickly (a few milliseconds). Most devices will hand a very fast switchover, which is the basis of how offline UPSs work.
The simplest mechanism would be a DPDT relay with it's coil connected to mains. One set of contacts to mains, the other to the wind/solar inverter. Anytime mains is available the solar/wind inverter is mechanically switched out of the circuit. Doesn't solve the problem if the grid is down, though. |
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jord4231
Member
Australia
45 Posts |
Posted - Apr 25 2007 : 08:00:39 AM
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Hey Dave,
Thanks mate,
Yerp it was a Fisher and Paykel motor I used from a washing machiene I cut the coils and modified it to put out lower voltage.
I have a diagram of how I modified the orignal motor if your interested.
Jord
quote:
Originally posted by Timber
quote:
Originally posted by jord4231
I made wind generator a few years ago out of a rewired 3phaze motor and huge pcv storm water pipe cut up for the blades,
It worked quite well but problem was I never had enough batterys to store power I just had a single car battery I used it to run lights and a old car radio for my work area one day we had a really strong wind and the nut on the blades came loose guess I should have used a lock nut  never got around to puting it back togeather. I'll dig out the photos if any ones interested
Hi Jord,
That looks like a nice motor to use for a generator.
Is that one of those Fisher and Paykel motors, by chance.
Maybe a washing machine motor?
I really like the Radial Flux design of these.
These are one of the truely best motors to convert easily.
I bet that would REALLY work well with some Neo Magnets replacing the original ones!
Good Job, especially for only being 17 at the time.
I was 50 when I made my first working generator ... hehe
Dave (aka Timber)
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rtpj
New Member
Philippines
4 Posts |
Posted - Oct 03 2007 : 03:55:56 AM
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we have similar installation here in philippines, province of ilocos norte. tech spex are as follows:
2 MW capacity for each unit
output voltage of 3phase, 600 VAC stepped up to 13800 V to 69 KV transmission line.
tip blade speed is 120 kph
with tilting blade to control wind speed and following YO? principle to oscillate and face the direction of wind current.
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CurrentOverflow
Mad Scientist
Canada
311 Posts |
Posted - Oct 03 2007 : 07:25:29 AM
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| 69kv????? i hope you don't have squirrels down there :P |
~Mike~
Theres 10 kinds of people, those who understand binary and those who don't |
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Wind Turbines
