the Otherpower.com Discussion Board || Load control

Front Page - [Homebrewed Electricity-- (wind) (solar) (hydro) (steam) (controls) (storage) (mechanical)] - Classifieds - Site News
Everything - Newbies - [Remote Living-- (housing) (heat) (light) (water)] - Rants & Opinion - Diaries - Our Products

Load control
By GAC, Section Controls Posted on Thu Aug 16th, 2007 at 06:03:18 PM MST
Hi!

Hi everyone,
I'm new to this forum but owning small PV for a few years and it need some improvements. I need some kind of load control circuit that is built in some types of inverters (mine doesn't have it).
Load control circuit will switch ON inverter when I turn ON light bulb and switch OFF inverter when I disconnect bulb to conserve battery. My inverter and battery pack is on a second floor of my building and I can't go up and down all the time to switch it ON and OFF.
Does anyone know for circuit that can do this?
Thanks!

Load control | 9 comments (9 topical, 0 editorial)

Re: Load control (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by Bruce S (bruce(dot)stahl <at>gmail (dot)(com)) on Thu Aug 16th, 2007 at 03:47:40 PM MST
(User Info)

GAC;
Didn't see anyone put something here. Was out for a short time, but here goes.
The bad news is; not ever heard of or ever saw a ciruit that'll do this.
That however isn't to say you could make a pseudo one.
If you're looking for a load sensing type of system you might want to look into a UPS type circuit but in reverse.
DamonHD has a working circuit , that senses the LVD of a battery set and goes into AC mode. SO something similar to that could work.
What you could do is wire a switch into one of the inverter's DC side and leave the inverter on, then when you want to use the light or anything else on it, turn the Dc switch on , the inverter comes on and you're all set.

Hope this helps
Bruce S

Re: Load control (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by DamonHD (d@hd.org) on Thu Aug 16th, 2007 at 04:07:51 PM MST
(User Info) http://www.earth.org.uk/

There are relatively cheap inverters that automatically turn themselves almost completely off when they detect no load.

You might consider replacing your current inverter or splitting the load so that stuff too far away to switch the inverter on/off by hand is powered via the inverter that does it itself.

Rgds

Damon

Re: Load control (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by TomW on Thu Aug 16th, 2007 at 07:18:28 PM MST
(User Info)

GAC;

Dead simple [with human intervention].

Relay to suit your inverter draw.

Some cable.

A switch.

Viola! flip switch to activate relay from remote. If you need a schematic I can draw one up and take a picture.

Sometimes manual is lots easier than automagic.

Cheers.

TomW.

"Education consists mainly of what we have unlearned."--Mark Twain

Re: Load control (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by mettleramiel on Fri Aug 17th, 2007 at 01:57:22 PM MST
(User Info)

If your inverter has a female phone jack somewhere on it like mine does, then you can buy a remote for it, that you can place downstairs and then turn on the inverter whenever you want. I got mine for free, but they retail for something absurd like $50.

Re: Load control (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by scottsAI (user name at eml dot cc) on Fri Aug 17th, 2007 at 04:24:55 PM MST
(User Info)

Hello GAC,

Replace Lamp with a 12v CFL. Skip the inverter.
Remember to put a Fuse in the wire at the battery.
I like blade fuses.

Have fun,
Scott.

Re: Load control (3.00 / 0) (#6)
by dpshort218 on Fri Aug 17th, 2007 at 10:32:16 PM MST
(User Info)

Possible cheapest solution:
You said you had a small solar cell. If it's around 200 watts or less and assuming you are running a 12 volt DC battery, why not use a simple 20 amp house toggle switch to turn on the inverter instead of the light directly. Be sure to have a fuse between the battery and switch rated no more than the inverter's maximum current up to 20 amps max. Use #12 or larger wire. The most efficient way probably would be to go with the 12 VDC compact fluorescent like Scott suggested.

Goood Luck,
David S.

David

Re: Load control (3.00 / 0) (#7)
by GAC (tomislavg81@yahoo.com) on Tue Aug 28th, 2007 at 12:19:29 PM MST
(User Info)

Thanks guys for your answers. I'm a bit busy and slow in answering.
First point is that I want to keep all of my lightning on 220VAC, because I want to be compatible with mains supply.

Soon I'm going to finish my circuit for detecting load.

It is not a problem to detect when load is present, I've made a circuit with DC current source and one OP amp. But to disconnect small loads like 10W or 11W that is a problem. AC current is quite small for detecting. If anyone has some ideas I would like do hear it!

Thanks!

Re: Load control (3.00 / 0) (#8)
by Kinsman on Sun Sep 2nd, 2007 at 12:52:31 PM MST
(User Info)

A nooby here.
Could you go into the inverter and wire a remote switch in parallel with the existing switch?

Kinsman

[ Parent ]

Re: Load control (3.00 / 0) (#9)
by GAC (tomislavg81@yahoo.com) on Mon Sep 3rd, 2007 at 01:12:37 PM MST
(User Info)

I've already made switch like that. What kind of remote switch can I use through building walls.

[ Parent ]

Load control | 9 comments (9 topical, 0 editorial)

Menu

� create account
� How to use the board
� FAQs
� search the board
� Google search the board
� Old Otherpower Board

Login

Make a new account

Username:

Password:

Total Views

��173 Scoop users have viewed this posting.

Related Links

� Also by GAC

You must be a registered user to post here. It's easy and free, and the link is on the upper right side of your page.
All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective companies. Postings are owned by the poster, but may be deleted or moved at the ADMIN's sole discretion. The Rest � 2003 Forcefield.
You can Email the board ADMIN here. PLEASE include the username you signed up with!