Grid Connecting a Homebrew Turbine

[cec]

Hello,

We are building a 500W Hugh Piggot design turbine. I'd like to use it without a battery bank, and was hoping that a product like SMA's Windy Boy might do the trick.  Has anyone had any luck doing this?

Thanks,

Christian

[QUAZ HOLT]

Cec, Buy the inverter and sent it to me. I will check it out for you. MR W.

[amiklic1]

Just downlod the WindyBoy manual and other documents from their site (SMA America) and you'll find all the info you need. It's very good explained about the working voltges, when it connects....

Just read it "from cover to cover"

[Phil Timmons]

QUAZ, I am thinking ordering a Russian Mail Order bride.  Can I send her to your place, so you can check her out before I get her?  Thanks, buddy, we are all in this together, you know.

Serious note to cec -- we use the Sunny Boys (solar), and they are pretty much plug and play.  The Windy Boys are supposed to just be wind friendly versions of the Sunny Boys, but I have not used one, yet.  But the Windy Boys come with a WHOLE lot of notes and cavaets in the connection cautions part of the manual -- that sort of assume you are using a commercial windmill with protective hardware and devices.  You probably need to read and understand those details quite well.

[cec]

Are you serious?  If so, who are you and how will you check it out?  What sort of things might need to be modified (i.e. what would be the difference between my machine and Proven or Bergey) ,and would it be possible that I could make the modification myself?  Do you know of other options for wind grid tie inverters?

Thanks, CEC

[RP]

QUAZ was joking of course

[paradigmdesign]

I belive that in the States, your turbine along with the inverter must be UL certified, allong with an inspection by the electric company.  They will also probiblly need to install a meter that reads both directions, at a cost to you.