Inverting en transporting power

[Michel]

I have some problems transporting the hydro power into my batteries

Down the stream I have a water generator powered by a ford alternator. It is giving about 5 amps max. when connected to a 50 Watt car light bulb.

The alternator is connected to a 12 battery. To the battery is also connected a cheap 12->220 Volt inverter. (auto shut off when V<12 or V>16 volt).

The 220V form the inverter is going to my house, about 300m or 1000 feet up stream using a normal household cable (3 times 2,5mm²)

Near the solar system I convert the 220 Volt to a constant current of 1 amp, witch charge the 48 volt battery bank. (Current source with a 7805).

It's not much but its ok for about 1KW/day.

It's a very sensitive system and it has used more lives than a dead cat!!

It has used another live yesterday. The inverter isn't working anymore.

Does any wan have a nicer solution for the 12 to 48 Volt conversion with a long cable?

Of course it has to be cheap, or at least not very expensive or complicated.

Michel

[WXYZCIENCE]

Michel, You could use 2 runs of 1/2" copper pipe and get water to the site at the same time. Just an idea.
Joseph

[Opera House]

"cheap 12->220 Volt inverter"   I would suggest adding a small 12V fan out of an old computer power supply.  These are only about 0.1A at 12V.  These inverters skimp on getting rid of the heat even if they have an internal fan, they are designed for short term use(in more ways than one).  Even a really stressed design has good odds of getting out of the warrantee period.  Open one end for a better exit of hot air and use a plenum with fan to force air in.

[Titantornado]

> Does any wan have a nicer solution for the 12

> to 48 Volt conversion with a long cable?

> Of course it has to be cheap, or at least not

> very expensive or complicated.

Yea, ditch the auto alternator and inverter, build a high voltage axial flux genny for the hydro source.  At the other end, rectify and run it into an MPPT charger.

Maybe not the cheapest, but pretty simple and a "nicer" solution.  It'll save you plenty over the efficiency losses you got now.

[scottsAI]

Hello Michel,

Every power transform will cost power.

Loose the automotive alternator, at best they are 60% efficient at full load.

POS at lower values. The inverter again has losses.

50w at the alternator over 24 hr implies 1kwHr/day. No way your getting it.

If you truly are then you have more potential at the hydro gen.

2.5mm^2 is 10AWG wire. Sending 100w at 240v less than 1% power loss. Great.

If you can find a 100w or larger brush less motor, use it as a generator. 3 phase. (may require mod)

Or, make your own generator as suggested.

Send the power as a high voltage and transform it at the battery.

If the motor is single phase then you can use a small Variac to step down the voltage and adjust the load to balance the generator for max power. Skip MPPT, costly.

Smaller Variac are cheap considering other solutions cost.

Only need rectifiers going into the battery.

I'm assuming your using more power than the Hydro gen outputs, this way you don't need a controller.

Have fun,

Scott.

[Nando]

Michel:

Please give more information :

Turbine type and water volume and head, pipe length and diameter, I need to know the power available at the turbine

RPM of the turbine; RPM of the Generator is different.

Type of controller that the generator has

Knowing What You have, then I can give a logical suggestion and not a wild response

Nando

[Michel]

Thanks for the sugestions so far.

I know I need to change my system to get much more power, but the first half year I realy dont have time for this.

The only thing I want to do right now is to charge my 48 volt battery system with my 12 car alternator.

On the site http://www.solarconverters.com/product_frame.html I fount a DC Autotransformer model EQ 12/48-10.

This standard unit regulates the output voltage proportional to 1/4 the input when connected 48 V input and regulates the output to 4 X input when connected 12 V input.

With this unit I think I have the 48 volt to charge the battery and not a great power loss with the power transport.

power cable loss about (5x5x1.6) 40 watt at 12 volt

power cable loss about (1.25x1.25x1.6) 2.5 watt. at 48 volt

Will this device will resolve my problem?