Update on Control Panel
By zenpi314, Section Diaries Posted on Fri Jul 18th, 2008 at 05:21:03 AM MST
Adding a Hurd controller to my control panel

The control panel is slowly growing. The left side is for Solar, the right side will be for the Wind Turbine The latest addition is a Bridge rectifier. With a heat sink on the front side. Meters will have to be added. Now I would like to create my own controller. G. Hurd makes a nice electronics kit for this. I ordered two of them. One that will turn the power on when the battery is sufficiently charged. And one will turn on a dump-load when the battery is completely full. With the infinite patience of Mr. Hurd, I was able to solve some self-created problems. Thank you very much. When both circuits were functioning properly, I put them in a small case and added it to the rest of the panel. Yeah, I know. It is a mess. Wires everywhere. Allright, here is a cleaned up version. I'm still waiting for a volt meter that will fit this panel. More to come. Arno van Werven

Update on Control Panel | 8 comments (8 topical, 0 editorial)

Re: Update on Control Panel (3.00 / 0) (#1) by Flux on Fri Jul 18th, 2008 at 01:54:16 AM MST (User Info)

Just one small comment. I see that you are only using half of each rectifier bridge. This is perfectly ok but it would seem logical to connect both ac connections together on each bridge to give more current carrying capacity. Flux

Re: Update on Control Panel (3.00 / 0) (#3) by zenpi314 on Fri Jul 18th, 2008 at 05:27:23 PM MST (User Info) http://www.potpower.com

I guess that would make sense. I was wondering why others had connected it that way. Thanks. [ Parent ]

Re: Update on Control Panel (3.00 / 0) (#2) by wooferhound (tim((NoSpamAt))wooferhound.com) on Fri Jul 18th, 2008 at 07:38:52 AM MST (User Info) http://wooferhound.com

It's starting to look really good. I'm looking for your Dump Resistors, are they on top of the shelf? The 4 switches outputting to Phono connectors, is that for the Fans? W o o f -={(

Re: Update on Control Panel (3.00 / 0) (#4) by zenpi314 on Fri Jul 18th, 2008 at 05:33:07 PM MST (User Info) http://www.potpower.com

At the moment, the dump is another fan. But I have some resistors from Hurd that I need to put in. Right now, the wind turbine is not part of the system yet. Just a small solar panel (I hope to update the panel soon). The turbine is ready to go, but the tower is not up to par for this one yet. It carried it once, but I won't dare leave it there with strong winds. The 4 switches control the phono connectors and I can connect several things in there. Most of the time the computer fans are there because we do our laundry in the hot shed (Florida). But the main purpose will be to charge rechargeable batteries, especially when a hurricane leaves us without electricity. [ Parent ]

Re: Update on Control Panel (3.00 / 0) (#5) by zenpi314 on Fri Jul 18th, 2008 at 05:48:01 PM MST (User Info) http://www.potpower.com

I have a question about the battery I'm using. It is a trojan CB31-AGM. What should be my high and low settings? Right now they are set at low=12.2 and high=14.3, as Hurd recommends. But the voltage does not seem to get above 13 volts. The solar panel charges very slowly, maybe that's why I never see the voltage go to 14 volt. As I understand it, the voltage should only get that high in a charging mode. a high of 14.3 when charging is equivalent to maybe 13 volt when in rest. Is that correct? (I guess I can hijack my own diary, or not?) Arno

Re: Update on Control Panel (3.00 / 0) (#6) by electronbaby (roy<at>windsine.org) on Fri Jul 18th, 2008 at 08:19:18 PM MST (User Info) http://www.windsine.org

It could possible that the PV module you are using does not have enough power to allow the charge controller to get out of the absorption stage. I googled that battery you mentioned, and it is a 110Ah battery. Not sure how much you discharge it, but that probably calls for somewhere around a 80w-100w PV module to work well. An 80 watt module would fit your charge controller well also. Whats the wattage on your PV module? What is the current you typically see when charging (in full sunlight)? Have Fun!! RoyR KB2UHF [ Parent ]

Re: Update on Control Panel (3.00 / 0) (#7) by ghurd on Fri Jul 18th, 2008 at 10:44:15 PM MST (User Info)

Everyone keeps getting fancier and fancier. That solar controller does not have an absorption stage. The jumper should be installed on the last 2 SS-6 screws for an AGM. Looks like it's on, but I can't tell for sure. "in the hot shed (Florida)" in mid July??? If the jumper is on the SS-6, there is a chance the temperature is high enough for the temperature compensation to adjust the battery voltage for SLA to about 13V. I think I'll lower my recommendations too, for this situation. Should be about 13.4V for 120F.  13.2V for 130F. If the temperature reaches 140F... Move North! G- [ Parent ]

Re: Update on Control Panel (3.00 / 0) (#8) by zenpi314 on Sat Jul 19th, 2008 at 09:05:40 PM MST (User Info) http://www.potpower.com

The SS controller and yours were never hooked up together. It is impossible to see in the picture, but the first one that does show your controller has the SS disconnected. I took it of the board soon after that image. The controller works perfectedly (as far as I can tell) but the panel might not be able to get the voltage high enough as electronbaby suggested. I currently use a 20 Watt panel which really only gives me about 1/2 amp most of the time. I'm going to buy a 80-100 Watt panel soon. Should I still lower the dump voltage? It does get really hot in there. If it reaches 140, I really should move North. I'm originally from latitude 52 (What the heck am I doing here;) [ Parent ]

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