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  • getting frustrated...

    Guys. I am new to your forum but I feel you can help me understand some fundamentals of power generation. I will try to keep this brief and to the point. I have been watching the guys on youtube with their ceiling fan conversions to make power. I made 2 so far. Difference with me is, I am attempting to use one on my water wheel system. Here is the problem. When I do bench testing of the unit I am getting 75 volts DC. Today I installed the unit on the belt drive system of my water wheel. Same results, about 78+ volts DC. When I hook up leads to a battery to see how it charges, water wheel slows way down and only makes 12.4 or so volts. Granted, its more than static voltage of the battery, but nowhere close to 78 volts.
    SO.. I thought I would take my solar controller I just purchased and try installing it in the system to see If anti reversing diodes or something is what was loading up the water wheel generator. SAME results. Is there a fundamental law of electron theory that I am missing? I am very new to all this so its very possible. I eventually want to incorporate a combination off grid system of solar and hydro thru a hybrid controller. I will really be counting on you guys when that time comes BTW.
    For my current issue, am I doing something wrong? I understand that using the solar controller for hydro wont work long term due to no dump load circuit, I just tried it for a minute to see if it helped with the wheel slowing way down. Is there some other piece of electronics that I should be using in the generator circuitry? IE, capacitor, transistor, etc? All I currently have in the circuit is 2 sets of winding in the ceiling fan (4) wires total. Split into 2 pairs for each set of windings. I run each set thru a bridge rectifier and then connected together after rectification right to the battery. The moment I hook up the wires to the battery, the wheel nearly stops, and voltage drops from 78+ to 11-13 volts.

    Sorry I was so wordy guys, but I wanted to give you all the specs that I know. There is just gotta be a way to get energy from this creek. I am anxious to hear back from you on what (if anything) I am doing wrong. TKS

    Buck..

  • #2
    You need a "gentle" MPPT controller that won't "crash" the turbine. Only one I know of is the Midnight Classic. Or maybe go with a tiny Morningstar Sunsaver MPPT that is too small to load the turbine too much.

    Maybe trying a fixed restive load and see what the motor/generator likes ?
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

    Comment


    • #3
      Thanks Mike for your feedback. Please elaborate on the resistive load. What would you install? I get frustrated because I have the ability to make things and install, but lack knowledge. The controller I used is model LTD1220N. I am sure it is very entry level. I initially hoped that installing it would somehow "ease" the demand from the battery but it didnt. Did the same thing as without it. I see folks on internet that have wind turbines making power that are turning less than half the RPMs I can make on the creek. I just dont understand how they are charging batteries and not choking down the wind turbines? I have tons of torque 24/7 and when I saw the wheel almost stop once I hooked up the battery, I dont understand what is happening. Please forward any Info you can regarding how to mitigate. I am very anxious to buy my first deep cycles and start having cook outs at night under the glow of LEDs by the creek. BTW, you guys got suggestions on what kind of battery to buy for off grid application? Please be specific. I have limited choices, IE, parts stores, hardware, etc. to buy batteries from.

      Comment


      • #4
        part of the problem is your budget. A motor, while it can ACT like a generator, is NOT a generator. Side loading & weather will eventually (quickly) kill the bearings.

        A generator should not be as load sensitive as your motor is.

        Look up how a generator works, and as you understand the physics of matching the load and RPM to the engineered properties of the windings, you will learn what the best loading is.
        Look up Axial Flux generators, fairly simple to DIY.
        http://www.utterpower.com/the-most-i...he-axial-flux/

        Batteries - cheapest learning set is 6V, 200ah Golf Cart batteries. 4 in series and you have 24V.

        Also look at

        http://www.scoraigwind.com/homebrew.html
        http://www.scoraigwind.com/axialplans/update.htm
        http://www.cgc.uaf.edu/download/Kell...Book_Final.pdf
        http://www.magnet4sale.com/wind-gene...w-diy-package/
        Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
        || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
        || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

        solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
        gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

        Comment


        • #5
          Thanks for the links. Is there some reason for using 6v? I was thinking of getting Rv deep cycle 12v from parts store. How would you reduce 24v down to 12v before usage? Or would you simply buy a 24v inverter?

          Comment


          • #6
            except for the very smallest systems (garden shed light) or RV's, 12V systems don't efficiently store enough power compared to 24V systems. When you start adding up loads, you will likely find a 12v system won't be able to handle it (except for the smallest hermit cabin).

            Wiring batteries in series is more reliable than wiring batteries in parallel. 24v systems use smaller (less expensive) wire, but yes, you do need to buy a 24V inverter.
            Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
            || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
            || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

            solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
            gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

            Comment

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