Wind/solar 250 watt grid tie inverter

[(unknown)]

I was thinking of getting this unit for my small windmill and I just wanted to share this with the group and see if there was any negitive or positive comments.It is listed on E-bay as well.

 Here is the web site..

http://mysite.verizon.net/res83zys/250wgridtieinverter/index.html

I know it is small but it might work out for some projects people might be experimenting with.The data sheet seems like it will work in the U.S and abroad.

[Volvo farmer]

That site says, "Just hang it on the wall and plug it into a receptical [sic]."

This guy might not appreciate that

[Mary B]

looks like it drops out if line voltage is dropped. The manual isn't very good though.

[ghurd]

I have a feeling it might be the latest incarnation of the old Trace microsine, later known as the OK4U.

Beefed up, but waiting for UL, etc, approval.

G-

[richhagen]

I was thinking it was just a beefed up version of the same.  I have one of those OK4U/Microsine inverters, of the original Trace branding, but have never used it.  The hurdles of getting approval for such a small inverter are just too great for me to justify.  I have not even bothered to grid tie my larger Trace.  At the time I looked into it the engineering certification of the installation and inspection process seem to me to be designed to prevent any installations other than by one utility approved company here.  Given the likely return on investment for such a small unit, just doesn't seem worth all of the hurdles and hassles.  Rich

[ghurd]

Even if it was `gorilla style', and electricity priced double, I don't see how the inverter could pay for itself.

[Paul h]

I know the pay back would be years on something like this but it would be fun to try out if you have some extra power gneration. This would be a start for some people in the R.E. hobby.

[crashk6]

The company that makes these is based in the Netherlands.

http://www.swea.nl/

If your on dial-up be warned the whole site is done in flash.

These are not the same design as the microsine.

They are "expandable" via slaving together multiple units.

I can say this equipment has some good engineering behind it, but I don't know any of the operating quirks of this design having not played with one.

Good luck and have fun!

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crashK6

[vawtsup]

It's out put is 50Hz not 60Hz, made for European use.

[crashk6]

If you read the manual (PDF format) from the manufacturers website you will find that the unit auto-selects both voltage and frequency, and in point of fact may operate in a 120V 60hz region.

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crashK6