bucket hydro

[MVIDSMITH]

I was wondering if anyone has made a generator like the one sam redfield built

http://www.homepower.com/article/?file=HP127_pg22_Mailbox_2

and how well it works and what kind of head it needs.  on the same line but slightly different topic, how far can you push wild ac from a wind or hydro pma

Mark  

[ghurd]

I like that.  Simple.

Wild AC is often not so wild.

The PMA will operate at the battery + wire losses + diode drop.

If the wire losses are figured in (3 conductors for 3-Ph vs 2 for DC), the wild AC is about the same as DC.

Same for single phase AC.

G-

[scoraigwind]

Yes one way to look at the current in the 3 wires is to say that you share the DC current (flow and return) between 3 wires instead of 2. Sounds like a good plan until you realise that mostof the time one wire is not in use.  So you have to buy 3 wires to do the job of 2 wires.  Often this is worth it so you can place the rectifier in a suitable location, but strictly speaking the DC solution is the best use of copper.

[bob golding]

re: 2 or 3 wires? the best option if you have to buy  the wire new is to have the rectifier at the bottom of the tower in a suitable weatherproof box. then you can run 2 wires to your batteries. i have thought about  having the batteries at the bottom of the tower as well,and then you can run normal mains wire to your house. the only trouble with that idea is you might forget to check your batteries,and if the inverter trips it will do it when it is wet and windy or snowing and of course dark.

cheers

bob golding