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Darren

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Joined: 13/07/2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 20

Posted: 10:39am 21 Jul 2008

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Hi Everyone the problem I have is I have purshased a 48 volt windmill and runing a 12 volt system. I would change over to 48 volt Inverter but due to cost don't realy want to go that way.
Any suggestions on the best way to go with this.
I do have enough battries to make a 48 volt bank and a 12 volt bank.
Darren

philb

Regular Member

Joined: 05/07/2008
Location: United States
Posts: 96

Posted: 03:29pm 21 Jul 2008

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Hi Darren, check out the Outback Power at
http://www.outbackpower.com/products/charge_controllers/

Once you get your new 48 volt statem in place, these units can be reconfigured to it.

philb

oztules

Guru

Joined: 26/07/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 1686

Posted: 10:55pm 21 Jul 2008

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Darren,
How big is your system? It's size may determine which way is the best to go.
How big is the mill? (diam and watts).
How many poles is the alternator (maybe lends itself to transformers etc.
And what is it running now. (1200w, 2000w converter etc.)
Any other things already running at 12v to consider?

It's size will probably determine which way is the most economic way to deal with the mismatch.

.........oztulesEdited by oztules 2008-07-23

Village idiot...or... just another hack out of his depth

wind-pirate

Senior Member

Joined: 01/02/2007
Location: Canada
Posts: 101

Posted: 11:21pm 21 Jul 2008

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another option is charge at 48 volts and use/draw the power at 12 volts

Ron

THE Pirate.
stealing wind & solar energy is fun

Darren

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Joined: 13/07/2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 20

Posted: 12:35am 22 Jul 2008

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Thanks Philb I will check that out.

Thanks Oztules for the reply here are some details,
System at the moment is 12Volt 500 amp/h charged with 200w windgenerator, with a 2000w inverter.
New windgenerator is 2000w 3.2 meter diameter 3 phase 48volt.
I realy don't run anything off the 12 volt other than inverter.
Iam not sure how many poles is the alternator.

Thanks Ron, The trouble I got is that I would need 170 amps 12 volt to run the inverter.

oztules

Guru

Joined: 26/07/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 1686

Posted: 01:34am 22 Jul 2008

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For that kind of power, I can see a new inverter on the horizon.

However, the choices I see are
1. new 48v inverter

2. rewire the alternator

3. Transformers to match if your pole count is reasonable. (higher pole count higher hz at rpm the AWP I referred to recently uses transformers but 30 magnets for high hz.)

4. An armload of psu's. but messy and not for the feint hearted.

5. off the shelf big dc:dc converter (probably as dear as the new inverter.

1. seems appropriate as your current requirements are less for the increased wattage you seem to be aiming for.

The rewire will be fine if thats your cup of tea, but does not address the future 12v load problems at high wattage. (otherwise it's the one I would do).

..........oztules

Village idiot...or... just another hack out of his depth

Darren

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Joined: 13/07/2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 20

Posted: 02:41am 22 Jul 2008

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Thanks Oztules
From all this It look like a Inverter is the best option, I could not think of any easy way to do it.

I don't want to change the the generator or the charge controller its all a package and don't want to change it too much untill I see how well it works.
Its a Chineese windgenerator and anything is possiable it could work or it could be terrable.

Find out soon.
Darren

oztules

Guru

Joined: 26/07/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 1686

Posted: 02:53am 22 Jul 2008

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Perhaps wire the batteries up as 48v and just dump the power until you are confident that it performs ok

If it does perform as advertised (as you hope) then spend the money on the inverter..... or rewire it so it is ok.

The chinese stuff seems to be getting better quickly, hopefully all will be well with their windmills too.

.........oztules

Village idiot...or... just another hack out of his depth

Darren

Newbie

Joined: 13/07/2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 20

Posted: 03:15am 22 Jul 2008

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I think I will do that run at 48volt and just dump load for a while to see how it performs.
I have been runing a 200 watt chinese mill for 4 years now with no trouble with the mill, But I had to make a new controler for it after a week. lol

Darren

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