Wind turbine

[Tarrel]

(7 June 2013, 10:40)Scythe13 Wrote:

(6 June 2013, 23:07)Highlander Wrote: the problem here is that we are linked to the grid, so when there is a power cut we stop producing also

That's not entirely true is it? You stop getting the tariff, but the panels don't stop producing electricity.

Do you have a change over switch, that allows you to swap from national grid, over to charging batteries? If not, I'd look into getting one (just for storage, at the moment) and look at how easy it would be to connect one in your circuitry.

As for the turbine, wish I could be more use. The wife and I are looking at converting her turbo-trainer into a power system (can alternator, plus a small battery...because alternators need some electricity to get started. Could always use a gyro, but that would be extra complications!).

The devil's in the detail. Most grid-tie inverters require an input voltage of at least 48V, so grid-tie systems use either higher voltage panels, or string them together in series to give at least 48V. You could, of course, arrange your 12V batteries in series to accept charge from a 48V panel, but you'd then need a 48V / 240V inverter to use the power, and these are not easy to find (in my experience). That leaves you with the task of re-configuring the panels to output at 12V (or maybe 24V) to feed a more readily available inverter.

The plan for my DIY system has 12V panels arranged in 48V strings, feeding a grid-tie inverter. Separately we will have a bank of 12V batteries, trickle-charged from the mains, with a normal 12V/240V inverter and charge-controller on standby.

In BAU: Solar panels provide elec. that we can use. Excess goes to the grid.

In a short-term power cut, we connect the inverter to the (always charged) battery bank to run essentials such as lights and freezer.

In the event of a long-term power-outage, I'll re-wire the panels and have these charge the battery bank rather than feeding the grid-tie inverter.