It is three phase ,4 diodes per phase, (2 series diodes paralelled with 2 series diodes).The ouputs of the phase connected in the middle of the series diodes ,and a 10v -1000uf cap hooked with the positive on one side of the phase connection (middle of the series diodes), and the negative of the cap hooked to the negative dc output of the diodes.Each phase is hooked this way , then the two outputs from each phase are paralelled. Leaving two lines coming down the tower, dc out.
You lost me on that one.
It does not sound good though.
Especially if it is still wired star/wye.
They are leds ,and when I hook my meter to the two leads coming from the tower ,without any thing else connected the voltage rises and falls with the speed of the blades. When I hook up the battery ,the voltage seems to get locked down to near battery voltage, then when I hook up the leds ( 11 of them) the voltage drops again. It is only a small mill and am using a 6 volt battery (from a cordless framing nailer "pasload").
The battery does make the flickering stop.
My question now is : with the battery and leds connected ,if the readings don't go above the rated battery voltage, it's not charging???..........still a ton of stuff to learn..........thanks for all the help.....artv
I will join Jonathan on his limb.
Uh... Yes?
The turbine voltage is clamped to the battery voltage.
The turbine voltage is the same as the battery voltage, plus wire loss and diode drop. Meaning they are about the same while charging. You will not see the mill at 20V and the battery at 13.0V while they are connected together (unless you have done something very very wrong).
Because the battery and turbine are at the same volts, batteries (in a decent system) do not change voltage significantly fast to noticabley 'continiously flicker the lights', the LEDs see the same voltage which is relatively constant.
If you want to know if it is charging the battery, 2 options:
1) Connect an ammeter between the battery and EVERYTHING else.
Read the manual for the meter, or a similar meter, about properly connecting it to read amps.
If amps are going into the battery it is charging.
If amps are leaving the battery it is draining.
And the amps can change as you watch during a good strong long burst of wind.
2) Connect a volt meter to the battery.
If the voltage is increasing, the battery is charging.
If the volts are decreasing, the battery is draining.
A typical cheapie meter set to 20V is enough to tell.
"am using a 6 volt battery (from a cordless framing nailer "pasload")"Is it MORE than 10 years old?
Guessing it is more than 20, and nicd.
Guessing it is shot.
Bad batteries will just confuse the whole thing. Get a new battery. Sounds like 4 AA nicd / nimh in a holder will do what you want. Can get a 4 pack of ~2500mah nimh AAs at Big Lots for $6, and a 4 AA holder at RatShak for $3?
Do NOT throw nicds in the trash. The CD in niCD is very evil stuff. Take it to Office Max / Radio Shack / Sears and throw it in the recycleable battery container.
Glad to hear you have something flying.
G-