Proposed Wiring Setup

[valterra]

This is my plan for a wiring diagram.  

Yes, I want to have a separate ammeter for each generator, so I can monitor all three at once.  Besides, they're on sale at Harbor Freight.  Everything should be self-explanatory.  Please let me know if there is something fatally flawed here.

These are all "off the shelf" parts.  Nothing hardcore, and pretty inexpensive.

The Positive and Negative buses are wide copper banding usually used to ground Amateur Radio stations.  If it can take Lightning, it can handle my puny system.

Wind Generators are Ameteks.  Solar panels are Harbor Freight 45W system.

[wpowokal]

Your diagram indicates digital panel metres in series with your imputs, do they have inernal shunts?

Most digital panel metres are designed to be connected across a shunt, through which the heavy current flows. The shunt has a voltage drop across it and it is this voltage that the digital metre reads, and it is usually placed in the negative lead. Many can not be power from the same supply as they are measuring.

Please tell us what you are using. Then maybe I have misread your diagram.

allan down under

[valterra]

These are the Cen-Tech DMMs available at Harbor Freight.  They hook up in Series with the load, and the handle up to 10A.

On super-windy days, my Ametek mill will peak just over 3A.  So this system allows for improvements (read: more power generated) in the wind gennies and solar cells at some future date.

The terminal strip is rated 30A and the diode is rated 6A.

[wpowokal]

If this is what you are talking about...http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90899

DMM have a very short time rating on curent measurement, as such are not made to be left in the circuit.

allan down under

[valterra]

That's the one.  By short life, you mean how much time it'll take for the wiring inside to eventually melt from staying too hot for too long?  Would 3A be too much if it's rated for 10?

[wpowokal]

I can't realy say, instructions generally suggest a limit of 15 seconds, but I supose that is to cover extreem situations.

Personally I sugest you buy shunts, those metres can be used to measure across the shunt on mA mode, but most DMM's have an auto power down function. Discrete digital metres can be purchased to mate with shunts.

For 10 amps I would suggest analoge metres, they are more impressive for wind and have their own internal shunt. They will cost a bit more than those DMM's but they are easier to use/set up, you would just include them as you diagram indicates.

allan down under

[AbyssUnderground]

I have a 10A DMM in series on my setup, and although it doesn't see more than 2A though it normally, its been running for over a year like this now and its still working fine.

[Bruce S]

AbyssUnderground;

I have to agree, with you.

I have a small one similar to that one HF on sale.

The only problem I've had is the leads. After a few uses, the wire seems to pull out of the inside of the probe.

Valterra:

Only thing you may have to look into on those is if they auto-power off too.

Otherwise the unit may drain the small internal battery quickly.

Cheers

Bruce S

[valterra]

re: the auto power off.  I was just figuring on turning them off when I'm not watching them.  Pretty sure (will verify) that the little on/off switch doesn't actually open the entire circuit inside the unit.  Probably just shuts off the LCD screen.