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Author Topic: 10,000 amp-hrs and counting  (Read 2602 times)

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frackers

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10,000 amp-hrs and counting
« on: November 18, 2009, 05:10:55 PM »
As can be seen here, my 3m Hugh Piggott wind turbine has pumped 10,000 amp-hrs into the battery bank since that start of March this year. Unfortunately, I've only managed to get 8770 amp-hrs back out again but I very pleased that over a quarter of a megawatt has passed down the tower.


A couple of weeks ago I did a service, re-grease, checkover and balanced the blades better and it still works OK! It does seem to be a bit too efficient now in that the furling point has changed (unless its just the gyro effect in gusty conditions). I noticed that last weekend I could actually hear it at 100m where it used to be very near silent until almost under it. Perhaps all that extra smooth glossy paint on the blades has increased the TSR enough to make the tips flutter a bit at full wack. I might drop it again and round the tips a bit to cut turbulence (they are square cut at present).


More high winds forecast for this weekend so I'll see how it goes before I get carried away with the sandpaper.

« Last Edit: November 18, 2009, 05:10:55 PM by (unknown) »
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dnix71

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Re: 10,000 amp-hrs and counting
« Reply #1 on: November 18, 2009, 07:00:07 PM »
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« Last Edit: November 18, 2009, 07:00:07 PM by dnix71 »
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SparWeb

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Re: 10,000 amp-hrs and counting
« Reply #2 on: November 23, 2009, 10:20:35 PM »
I get the same kind of satisfaction when coming home and seeing the laptop reporting another couple of kilowatt-hours input during the day.


I find it hard to believe that you actually get as much out as you do.  Not criticizing!  You must be doing something right!  An application like mine is where the batteries get up to float charge and the rest of the power gets dumped away, meanwhile I use a piddling amount with lights on in the barn for an hour or so per day.  In your case, consuming 87% of the energy input basically means that you use everything available.  Battery charging has a limited efficiency and you always have to put an extra 20% in, I thought.


Congratulations!

« Last Edit: November 23, 2009, 10:20:35 PM by SparWeb »
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System spec: 135w BP multicrystalline panels, Xantrex C40, DIY 10ft (3m) diameter wind turbine, Tri-Star TS60, 800AH x 24V AGM Battery, Xantrex SW4024
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frackers

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Re: 10,000 amp-hrs and counting
« Reply #3 on: November 24, 2009, 02:02:14 AM »
I think the biggest difference to the way I use my system, to the way that other use theirs, is that I have no dump load - in fact the main load (the filter pump on the swimming pool) IS the dump load!!


I charge the bank until the charge counter says its full or I hit my maximum voltage (max safe value for the inverter) and then run the load to use 10% of the accumulated charge (or 1% if I'm just trying to pull the volts down a bit!).


I'm only using 10% of charge as I'm planning on my batteries lasting at least 10 years :-) The other 90% is then always there for emergencies as well!


The final graph on the display shows the total values for amp-hrs in and out. I guess the average charging voltage is about 26v and the discharge value about 24 so although the current loss is only 13%, the power loss is probably much nearer the 20% you expect.


Cheers

« Last Edit: November 24, 2009, 02:02:14 AM by frackers »
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morglum

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Re: 10,000 amp-hrs and counting
« Reply #4 on: November 30, 2009, 12:14:19 PM »
Contrats!


I'd like to know what devices/ software you use for logging.

Thanks!

S.

« Last Edit: November 30, 2009, 12:14:19 PM by morglum »
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frackers

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Re: 10,000 amp-hrs and counting
« Reply #5 on: November 30, 2009, 03:23:23 PM »
You'll find details in my diaries and also here of the Linksys router and one wire chips I'm using for monitoring and for charge/load control.
« Last Edit: November 30, 2009, 03:23:23 PM by frackers »
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morglum

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Re: 10,000 amp-hrs and counting
« Reply #6 on: November 30, 2009, 03:46:47 PM »
Are you kidding me?

Yet another use for my hacked WRT54GL or my NSLU2?


These things just keep amazing me :)


reading on :)

« Last Edit: November 30, 2009, 03:46:47 PM by morglum »
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frackers

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Re: 10,000 amp-hrs and counting
« Reply #7 on: November 30, 2009, 04:24:36 PM »
In that case I won't tell you about the other WRT54GL I'm using as a 16 channel irrigation controller then...
« Last Edit: November 30, 2009, 04:24:36 PM by frackers »
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morglum

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Re: 10,000 amp-hrs and counting
« Reply #8 on: November 30, 2009, 07:23:38 PM »
lol!

please do!

:)

« Last Edit: November 30, 2009, 07:23:38 PM by morglum »
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morglum

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Re: 10,000 amp-hrs and counting
« Reply #9 on: November 30, 2009, 07:33:35 PM »
actually.. don't.


 I really dont have time for this :)

« Last Edit: November 30, 2009, 07:33:35 PM by morglum »
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