Diode Isolated Input Panel

[wooferhound]

 I have been improving my Solar Power System in the last month with plans to greatly expand in the near future. Before now I was combining the power of My 4 Solar Panels through a small inefficient hot diode network that was cobbled together between two terminal strips like this...

 My latest project is a Diode Isolated Input Panel for all my Renewable Energy power inputs. It provides terminal strip inputs for up to 10 Solar Panels, two phases of my Wind Generator, and an Auxiliary Input for some other experiments I want to play with, including Long Wires. This is a picture of the unit wired to my new Fused Power Distribution Panel on the left with the Ghurd Dump controller on the right.

 The brown circuit board on the left of the unit has the 10 heatsinked diodes for the 10 solar panel inputs. I got the diodes from Ghurd, they are Schottky Rectifiers rated at 45v 10a with a low voltage drop of .4 volt. The way it's wired, I can put ten 60watt panels on it for a max total of 600 watts Solar.

 On the lower right of the brown circuit card is a Diode Bridge made from four 1000volt 6amp diodes. I used High voltage diodes because i don't know what I will connect to this experimental Auxiliary Power Input, could be used for my Stepper Motor Farm or the Long Wire experiment mentioned above.

 Two Bridge rectifiers for my 2 phase Wind Generator are on the lower rightside of the unit. They will be handling about 125watts each and are rated at 80v 12amps. The rectifiers are mounted to decent sized heatsinks which in turn are bolted flat to the chassis for additional cooling. The Outputs will be wired "Jerry Rigged" and the terminal strip output can be wired in either Series or Parallel depending on what RPM I want cut-in to be.

This has been installed for over a week now with only my 4 Solar panels operating through it. The low loss diodes in the combiner give me several more watts on the input and it seems to bring my battery up to Dump Voltage earlier in the day than before. Now I have a Huge Problem ,  Look at all those unused inputs on the terminal strip. I need to hook something up to all of those, and get more batteries too.

Does it ever end ?

Will it ever be finished ?

[SparWeb]

Neat and tidy.  I like it.

Does it ever end ?   Will it ever be finished ?

Robert Heinlein once said that he never finished a story, he just abandoned work on it.  Sounds like the fate of these kinds of projects, too.  You never finish, you are just forced to stop working on it at times.  

[Bruce S]

Will it ever be finished ? hope not :=)

I am interested in your stepper motor wind farm, can you explain in greater detail?

Or is it a patent pending deal :-))?

I like the labeling , makes life easier and safer.

Cheers!!

Bruce S

[richhagen]

A few years ago I put in something similar, but on top of my roof so that I could use a single large cable to bring the power down, a few years back for my solar panels.  

http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2004/12/12/232315/76

I moved it from the 12V to the 48V system when I migrated most of my panels to that a couple of years back, but it has been functioning with no problems over that time.  Rich

[wooferhound]

The Stepper motor farm is a dream of mine.

Ghurd was experimenting with small stepper motors for power and inspired me. So I ended up taking a bunch of printers apart among other things, and ended up with a box of stepper motors. I know that a small stepper motor is only Flea power, but if you get enough Fleas then you will have the Whole Dog.

[spinningmagnets]

Thank you, Wooferhound, for the great pics. Your system started out small and is expanding. Your diary (as a result) is very valuable to me, and probably many others.

With recent world events, I believe otherpower will encounter a deluge of newbies (like me)

[wooferhound]

Too Cool

and looks good too, it closely resembles the Fused Battery distribution Panel I made.

[DamonHD]

According to TomW, the deluge is already happening, and you and I are part of it!  B^>

Rgds

Damon

[TomW]

Haha, guys.

We equipped the staff with Zodiacs and rebreathers so the tsunami won't be too bad.

Nobody is born knowing this stuff, thats for sure.

For a good example go check the early archives of the old board. I have a couple good ones showing my lack of understanding.

Tom

[Nothing40]

As for the small stepper-farm,I say go for it!

Some small steppers can make some decent power. My friend and I once used one for a generator on his bicycle,we could get an easy 25W out of it,to power lights for him at night.

A handful of them could make some good power for ya!

[elvin1949]

  Tom W

 I remember most of those.My problem is i can't catch up.You are still light years ahead of me.

 I keep trying though,and having fun [the most important part ain't it]

later

Elvin

[elvin1949]

  Woof

 Design a small vawt that will match the stepper's.

If i remember right you can't put up a tower where you are.SO put a stepper wind gennie on top of every post in yard fence.By the way i know of no law that say's how far apart fence post have to be.

 More i think about it sounds like the cure for a lot of peoples problems.Practical yard art.

 Keep having fun.

later

Elvin

[elvin1949]

 I may try this myself.Something to do when i can't get outside.

 later

Elvin