simple question

[bob golding]

hi all,

 i have at the moment a 24 volt 1600 amp hour system consisting of 8 rolls 400 amp hour 6 volt cells. it is coupled to a 10 foot turbine and is working fine. doing around 300 400 watts. i have been asked if i can supply power to a neighbour who needs 600 watts for a couple of minutes to power a heater. after it warms up it drops to 22 watts. i have an old 36 volt ups that would do the job very well plus it has a remote so she could switch on the inverter before the heater. is there an easy way to incorparate this into my system. i was thinking i could make another  stator,which i was planning to do anyway, and wind it for 48 volts. can i connect the cells or series for 48 volts and tap off at 36 volts and 24 volts? this would save having to buy another 600 watt inverter just to run the heater.?

bob golding

[SteveCH]

How are you gonna get the electricity to the neighbor's? How far is it? [Distance]

[bob golding]

hi steve,

around 100 metres. i intend to have all the inverter stuff at the battery end and send 240 volt ac to the neighbours.

cheers

bob

[bob g]

did the math and it looks like you have 800 amp/hrs at 24 volts

probably no way i would tap off the batteries at 24 and/or 36volts of a 48volt

battery set, too easy to get out of balance and too difficult to put back right again. it might be one thing to tap off for my own use where i could closely monitor

for emergency use, and infrequently, but probably not a neighbors house.

far less expensive in the long run to just replace the 600watt inverter. i think

in the end your batteries would be better off for it.

if you lived closer i would donate an inverter to you rather than see you tap off mid string of the bank.

bob g

[bob golding]

thank bob,

i have spoken to her and she has decided to buy a 1kw 24 volt inverter which we can share. seems the simplest way of doing it. i only need 150/200 watts anyway. she just has a couple of lights and a laptop apart from the heater so 1kw should be plenty,even if both laptops and the heater all demand power at the same time. that way i can keep an eye on the charge status and monitor it. was trying to use up some of the junk i have lying around but as you say not at the expense of my battery bank.

bob

[dnix71]

Direct solar air or water heating is simpler and easier on your batteries in the long run.

Probably cheaper, too. What does she use the heater for?

[bob golding]

she is using it to heat a small caravan in the winter. 1970,s not a lot of insulation, difficult to insulate without ripping it apart and starting again. the 600 watts is only to warm it up for around 2 minutes after that is draws about 20 watts to keep the timer and injector running. its one of these.

http://www.dry-it-out.com/inverter-5006-3kw-liquid-fuel-heater-free-fuel

they look good. might get one for the coach. around 11 pence an hour to run on 800 watt setting. or roughly 60 hours running one one gallon of paraffin.

cheers

bob