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The diagram below shows the components for a basic wind system using a 3 phase alternator. The AC from the alternator is brought into the power room then converted to DC through a rectifier. The shunt regulator maintains the batteries. The DC is then converted to AC through an inverter.
My control box ( shown below ) is a very inexpensive "homebrew" controller. It houses everything for an "all in one" type controller. I suppose you could say its a "Frankenstein" controller.... The box was made from an old Compaq Computer Power supply, the rectifier from a 60 amp GM alternator, regulator circuit from www.homepower.com , and the heaters are made from aircraft safety wire ( measured to 1 ohm each). You can note the circuits are put together on experiment boards because my soldering skills are much lacking when it comes to IC's. If it could be done with a Lincoln 220 or a Mig welder I'd have no problem....
The face of the unit shows the fan, volt meter and amp meter. The fan is set to come on whenever the shunt units are operating and blows the air out the bottom of the unit to heat the room. Below shows the face of the control box. Very low tech.... Total cost = $24.00
You can see the 3 AC lugs on the top of the unit and the DC lugs on the side. It has an on-off switch on the left with a green LED to tell you its on and 2 red LED's tells which shunt is operating. There are 2 shunts regulators in the unit to dissipate a total of 500 watts if needed. Below shows my power room set up. I have 8 T-105 Trojans batteries, a Trace DR2412 to power my entire office and Day house. On line with the Trace is a complete computer system, Frig, TV, 2- 8foot fluorescence, 1- 4ft fluorescent, 1 CF for the bathroom, 1 40 watt shower light, 600 watt microwave, coffee maker and misc phone plugs. The power room used to be a Milking parlor and the main office was the processing and storage of milk. ( Old dairy farm).
I found an old amp meter from a phone company power box so I added that into the line. The meter under the inverter is a 0 to 600 amp induction type meter that's clamped onto the Pos line to the inverter. The battery box is basic 3/4" plywood with a top that seals quite well. The tube to the right of the inverter is the vent going out through the ceiling ( safety gassing ). Under the Inverter is a 300 amp fuse and disconnect. The entire wind system cost just over $500.00 including batteries, wire, pole to mount the turbine on, the wind turbine and all other misc connections. The inverter on the other hand cost me $950.00 which left me with just under $1500.00 in the whole system. I plan to add another wind turbine to the system as a redundant precaution... they both couldn't possibly go down at the same time..... could they? |
