Hi
Interesting idea. However, these 12V brushless fans seem to be very finicky about power. Also, I only really want it to run when the turbine is producing a fair bit of power, say above 5A (which is why I was looking at temperature control). I don't want to waste what little charge I am getting in light winds.
The maximum I've seen out of the turbine is 34.95A according to my Doc Watson meter. On the same day, the bicycle computer registered a max RPM of 1170.
A more typical output is around 3-5A in the winds we've been having lately. The box has good heat sinks (it used to be a 40A 12V battery charger), so I'm really only looking to cool it when the turbine is really cranking. At anything below 5A output, I would probably just be wasting power by running the fan. I'm also using twice the rectifier capacity of what the alternator was originally supplied with. It originally had two single phase bridges using both inputs from one and a single input from the other. I have installed three of the same bridges and am using all inputs.
There is no regulator connected to the turbine. Output is wired direct to the batteries. I'm in the process of installing a Tristar 60 with a 600W 12V heating element in my hot water tank, but with the light winds we've been having lately (and the fridge running 24/7), It's been a long time since I've seen peak voltages over 14V. However, I also do have a second wind turbine ready to fly (with it's own rectifier box), so that should help a bit.
Owen
If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space.
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