Samoa:
I have to take exception here.
A dump controller CAN and it is ABLE regulate the battery charge even with multiple charging profile.
There are at least two type so dump controllers, the most common is the BANG-BANG circuit, the simplest, where the load is full OFF-Full ON.
This type does not give a good charging battery profile and does not guaranteed good battery life.
The PROPORTIONAL DUMP CONTROLLER does guarantee a good battery charging profile and at the same time protects the wind mill and the generator.
The proportional dump controller, needs to operate at least 20 to 100 times faster than the wind mill's generator rate of power generation, to allow the proper profile charging control for good battery life.
Ghurd's simple design is geared as a bang-bang controller and it has is place in many wind mill systems.
The Proportional Dump controller does require additional circuitry to properly load the generator into limiting the power voltage level to below battery voltage levels and in addition it may need a circuit to define the battery charging profile from Float, Bulk and even equalizing voltages.
A Proportional Dump Controller needs to be close to the battery bank to minimize the errors in the charging profiles.
LASTLY, one needs to really understand the requirements of the battery charging profile, and at the same time, understand the behavior of the wind mill and its power generation and how to limit this power in an organized and efficient manner to accomplish the proper steps in the process of battery charging and to accomplish the battery charging profiles needed to extend the battery life to its maximum.
The main point here is that MOST of these BANG-BANG experimenters in this type of groups DO NOT want or desire to implement the necessary steps to accomplish a good battery charging controller if the controller COST SOME MONEY -- they want it -- free and well designed.
Nando