Comments for Hugh Piggott's blog

Comment on How to use a charge controller by admin

admin — Thu, 23 May 2013 04:30:08 +0000

hi Mike,

I am puzzled by this question. I don’t know what a tonger is. Seems like you plan to charge your battery off the grid and use it during outages? That means you can also use a wind turbine or a solar panel to charge it for sure and that is good.

But first you need to think if a small wind turbine is suitable for you. If you do not have a lot of space around your house then probably not. I would never suggest you put it on the roof. If you have a wide open windy environment with plenty of space then small wind may be a good option for you.

If you are simply asking me to tell you in this short reply how to build a wind turbine then you need to adjust your expectations. Check my web sites for loads of free info about the subject and if you want a concise summary then get my book or books and have a look at them. Then ask me all the questions you like.

I hope this helps.

Hugh

Comment on How to use a charge controller by Mike

Mike — Thu, 23 May 2013 02:08:10 +0000

Please simply I have a inverter 1000w,12/220 and battery 12V/60A
I need to use it for now and missing the methods of charge battery, I can get tonger as one using to charge car battery case I have a power 1 hour on, 1 hour off.

I don’t get this tonger for now but I need to use charge control to charge battery from wind turbine.
So please let me know how to build turbine + charge battery from it. Also if I able to charge from one hour after hour power it will plus.

Comment on Charge controllers using relays or PWM type? by admin

admin — Fri, 17 May 2013 06:29:22 +0000

hi Fergal,

The most likely reason the controller and inverter would be damaged is that the battery was not connected securely. If there is a momentary loss of connection then the voltage will shoot up and destroy the electronics. The wind turbine can produce several times higher than the battery voltage when disconnected.

Since you already have the batteries it’s a good idea to keep them and get another inverter and controller to convert and manage the power. You can use the dumped power for some useful heating maybe. For the power that you do not use directly by inverter.

Here are up to date prices for Morningstar stuff including VAT:

Morningstar Tristar 3 function 12/24/48V, 45A charge or load € 176.54
Morningstar Tristar 3 function 12/24/48V, 60A charge or load € 234.29
Battery temp sensor & 10m cable € 29.69
Relay Driver € 151.79
shipping € 35.00

In addition you would maybe need resistors.

cheers

Hugh

Comment on Charge controllers using relays or PWM type? by fergal

fergal — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:07:44 +0000

hi hugh, i did the course in ireland run by eddie at imecofarm and will soon be making one of your turbines, got the magnets and wire so nearly ready to go.
i also recently bought a liten 1kw turbine aswell, 48v system and 4 12v batteries at the moment. its been running great for a month but i think the controller has blown a resistor and is not switching to its built in dump load in the last day or 2 and i think it went over voltage and damaged the 2500w inverter i had connected. haven’t got it connected in to house permanently yet, have just been testing it out. was not that happy with the controller anyway so am thinking to get one of the controllers you sell, the morningstar or tristar.
maybe you could recommend whats the best way to use the power. prefer the idea of batteries with inverter rather than just heating water.
and give me prices of the controllers
thanks in advance
fergal

Comment on Pedro’s microwave ferrite magnet turbine by admin

admin — Thu, 16 May 2013 05:42:03 +0000

I am sorry Peter but you do have to tell me what design you are referring to. Please when you ask questions give as much information as possible so I can understand what you want.

You can see the spacing of pedro’s magnets in the photos above.

If you want to use a 400 mm disk then you need to tell me what size magnets you have available. I’d crowd them in if possible but they have to come in pairs. I don’t mind if the magnets touch each other.

Comment on Pedro’s microwave ferrite magnet turbine by Peter Anongo

Peter Anongo — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:50:51 +0000

Am talking about spacing between the ferrite magnets (in mm).

Comment on Using a high power resistor as a dump load by Solar Homsteader

Solar Homsteader — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:44:48 +0000

Hugh. Love your work. Thanks for all the info you provide for free. Dump loads are always difficult for my customers. I used to work for Energy Systems and Design in Canada making small water turbines. Diversion loads were always a source of confusion. Thanks for clearing things up. Take care…
Jody Graham

Comment on About by admin

admin — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:25:48 +0000

This workshop is being organised by Eirbyte and you can contact them through their website at http://buildyourownwindturbine.com/index.php/contact-us

I hope you can make it, it should be fun!

Hugh

Comment on About by Brian O Callaghan

Brian O Callaghan — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:45:32 +0000

Hi there Hugh,
Could you please let me know how I can get in touch with you in relation to your wind turbine course in Ireland this year (June I believe). I couldn’t find an address for you.
Thanks a million,
Brian

Comment on Recipe Book pdf available now by francisco Padilha

francisco Padilha — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:24:37 +0000

Thaks for the fast answer and usefol info
regards
Francisco