Hi all,

I have 4 wind turbines, max 1000 watts each on 48 volts. (=20 amps)

And 800ah 48 volt battery array.

I have 18 X 335 watt solar panels, and on a sunny day they do produce close to 6000 watts. (Peek power production)

Clouds... :-( I am lucky to get 1500 watts.

Lucky when there are clouds,there is often wind

I bought charge controllers, and they work "OK".
Problem is the stop Voltage.
When the solar power gets the charging power up to 58 volts, the wind turbine controller brakes the turbines.

At the 58 volts the batteries are not full, about half full.

Result is during daylight the turbines don't work...

I live in Thailand, Isaan, Udon Thani province.
We have relatively low wind speeds.
Normally I would not even think about wind turbines, we live off grid.

That changes the situation for economic reasons.

In theory I could just use a simple rectifier and let the turbine do it's work.
No way it will overcharge the 800ah array.
Even with 4 turbines...

So stopping for this reason is not an issue for us.

But.
I do need it to automatically stop at high wind speeds!

They are at this moment 10 meters above the ground, I do need to do some maintenance and will bring them to ground level.

I can make some tests, to find out what RPM will make how much voltage.

Not sure if that matters.

I think just letting it stop at 65 volts or possibly at 1000 watts will do just fine.

Can this be done?
Set a "Switch" at 1000 watts?
(= Or switch at 15 amps, @ 60 or 65 volts)

My commercial controllers have an on/off switch, making the turbine to stop.
And it stops at 58 volts.

I like to be more in control.
I like to be able to set charging load.
Currently the controller need quite some wind speed to make the turbine start.
If I disconnect, the turbine spins just fine.

I guess it needs a more intelligent controller system, or more stupid

90% of the time there is low wind speed.
Low charging load with a spinning turbine is a lot better than a standing still turbine.

Naturally, it is 3 phase AC generator, 48 volts, max 1000 watts, / = 20 amperage.

Please advise!

 

To add:

I am aware I can use Scottky diode to stop the solar chargers to "block" the wind turbine, I can use the 45 or 60 volts 20A .

Not sure what to choose.
Advise is appreciated

That will help with the blocking problems.
But the charge controller at this time likes to get too much power from the turbine.
With low wind there is just not enough to generate it's threshold.

Thanks!

 

I guess it needs a more intelligent controller system, or more stupid

That made me laugh so hard

 

I think you would do well to just get another solar panel.
Without schematics of your controller, it will be pretty hard to change anything.
According to the info I have found, 58V would be the max voltage allowable. Going to 65V will damage the battery.

 

Thank you for the replies!

Buying more solar panels is not a solution during darkness.....

Building or modifying my controller can be a solution.

I could replace my controllers using this simple charge controller.: http://www.mdpub.com/555Controller/

I am planning to use the MBR4060WTPBF TO-247AC 60 V , it's a 20 amp Skottky diode.
This will tacle problem 1, that when the panels provide "too much" power, my controller does not think the batteries are full.

There are (for me) no available schematics of the current used controller.
However, serveral parts are recognisable, like the trim-pots.
I do know the function of the 2 trim-pots, setting the "kick in" and "kick out" voltage of the relay.
A relay is also quite recognisable part

Folow the lines of the PCB should bring me to the part that makes the wind turbine brake.
(or folow the lines of the on/off switch)

Most realistic, it is nothing fancy, just a direct short by the relay of the 3 AC wires.
Best would be to have a little delay between 2 and 3 wires.
I could use a https://aliexpress.com/item/32881401830.html, a simple Trigger Delay Timer Relay.
Price about 1 us$ per timer.

but all of this stull would keep the torque problem, the turbine does not spin with controler and low speed. Without controller it does spin.

The best solution would be a bit more expensive,
https://create.arduino.cc/projecthu...ine-mppt-regulator-with-an-arduino-uno-783462
This is a really good MPPT wind turbine controller.
I could go for a dump load, but they are quite expensive, and in Thailand we have enough heat.

Instead I keep the simple brake solution, with simple Trigger Delay Timer Relay.

I have 4 generators,
The total solution will cost me us$ 35,- per controller and some time