My apologies if this is a repeat - I've tried searching but got no results.
My first job out of uni (1981-90) was a chip designer and one of my colleagues worked on a power device on a technology that would have allowed you to make a 72v 20A inverter amplifier suitable for an inverter for around $5. Given this was 30 odd years ago I'd like to think it would be cheaper and better now. I have been looking around to see if I could make a collection of circuits that would allow a modular 'home' power controller allowing you to:
Drive an expandable inverter from PV,Wind,Water etc - modules of various power can be added simply by connecting to a set of power and controller bus bars(?) as new generating devices are added, rather than having to replace the whole inverter.
A controller that drives the above, generating 50/60Hz with option for grid syncing and other smart options.
If the controller is based around something like a RaspberryPi Zero then it could have the capability to OCR 'smart' meters that are available in the UK to read the price allowing the controller to heat water/space/storage heaters when the price point falls to a certain point. intelligent charging control would not be beyond this either.
If could also measure flow to/from the grid to control water/space/storage heaters to use any excess power generated locally at reduced voltage to allow some heating of (say) water when the domestic generation excess is below the 3kw needed to power the immersion heater at full AC voltage, the voltage to that device (or devices) could be reduced to ensure only excess power is used. In the UK currently new PV installations have no feed in tariff and as a result the electricity companies get free power and some people I have spoken to would actually love to use or dump excess power than give it away for free!
I'd like to build a set of interconnectable open source circuits, software PC layouts etc with the aim in the long run of possibly crowd-sourcing the production of monolithic solutions for modules where applicable.
Its time to bring domestic renewables into the late 20th century!
My first job out of uni (1981-90) was a chip designer and one of my colleagues worked on a power device on a technology that would have allowed you to make a 72v 20A inverter amplifier suitable for an inverter for around $5. Given this was 30 odd years ago I'd like to think it would be cheaper and better now. I have been looking around to see if I could make a collection of circuits that would allow a modular 'home' power controller allowing you to:
Drive an expandable inverter from PV,Wind,Water etc - modules of various power can be added simply by connecting to a set of power and controller bus bars(?) as new generating devices are added, rather than having to replace the whole inverter.
A controller that drives the above, generating 50/60Hz with option for grid syncing and other smart options.
If the controller is based around something like a RaspberryPi Zero then it could have the capability to OCR 'smart' meters that are available in the UK to read the price allowing the controller to heat water/space/storage heaters when the price point falls to a certain point. intelligent charging control would not be beyond this either.
If could also measure flow to/from the grid to control water/space/storage heaters to use any excess power generated locally at reduced voltage to allow some heating of (say) water when the domestic generation excess is below the 3kw needed to power the immersion heater at full AC voltage, the voltage to that device (or devices) could be reduced to ensure only excess power is used. In the UK currently new PV installations have no feed in tariff and as a result the electricity companies get free power and some people I have spoken to would actually love to use or dump excess power than give it away for free!
I'd like to build a set of interconnectable open source circuits, software PC layouts etc with the aim in the long run of possibly crowd-sourcing the production of monolithic solutions for modules where applicable.
Its time to bring domestic renewables into the late 20th century!