Ammeter Wire Size

[soyer38301]

I am going to put together a bridge rectifier to use with the 1KW generator that I have. I have received two different controllers for this unit and I think they have a "one size" fits all controller.

As the wind speed increases you can actually watch the blades slow down as the controller adds load...so I am going to not use it.

There are ammeters with these controllers that I was going to try to use, but have a concern regarding the wire size on the ammeter. They are very very small...like the size in a phone charger cord or smaller.

Does anyone have an opinion on what size wire the ammeter should have? I don't want to burn it up when the wind starts to pick up.

Thanks in advance.

Scott Oyer

[TomW]

Scott;

They are probably external shunt meters. The meter wires only carry a low signal voltage in that style.

To use them you will need a shunt. They may just use a length of cable in the power line or a true shunt. We could possibly help you sort out a home made shunt if you can find markings on the meter and cannot remove the shunt from the device.

Tom

[soyer38301]

What markings would I be looking for? The wires from these ammeters are soldered directly to the board in these controllers so the shunt is more than likely built right into the board.

Thank you for any help you can provide.

Scott

[soyer38301]

TomW -- This would work would it not??

http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2007/3/28/71210/8066

Still put it between the batteries and the inverter or on the (-) feed line to the batteries? This is a 48V system but I don't think that should matter here...correct?

Thanks.

Scott

[TomW]

Scott;

Yes, that would likely work.

The actual system voltage would not matter as long as the components can safely handle the voltage and not arc over, etc. For your needs that is not an issue.

You would need to calibrate any home made shunt to the meter. Not important for just a visual on system activity.

You can use a length of #10 copper wire, too. From memory it will drop 1 millivolt per amp per foot [from a possibly faulty memory].

I posted a Diary on that long long ago and if you can find that it might help. I went into fair detail on that posting.

Good luck with it.

Tom

[soyer38301]

Thanks. I will let you know what I come up with.

Scott