Managing a micro-hydro system often involves going out to the intake or turbine house to manually adjust penstock valves, to allow for changes in the flow rate and get the most power available.
A customer of mine has developed a practical, 12v solution to this problem that doesn’t require running dangerous 240V mains cabling, or control wires, over long distances. Here is a description he sent me.
He has installed a remote valve control system that allows him to open and close his penstock valves from the comfort of his house using a smartphone. It can also be set to automatically open and close valves without his intervention.
How it works (High Level):
The system is split into two parts: a “Base Station” in the house and a “Remote Station” at the turbine (120m away in this specific setup but could be up to 1000m or more).
In the House: A low-cost, low-power micro-computer acts as the central hub. It connects to the home network, creating a simple web page that you can open with a browser locally (or in some cases remotely over the web). When the user taps “Open” or “Close” on their phone, the hub translates this into a distinct long-range wireless data signal.
At the Turbine: A separate 12V receiving unit waits for these wireless signals. Upon receiving a valid command, it directly activates the standard 12V motorized ball valves on the penstock.
Off-Grid Power: Crucially, the remote end operates entirely on a standalone 12V DC system (typically a standard leisure/car battery), topped up by a dedicated small solar panel.
The developer is considering producing these as a kit or pre-assembled units if there is sufficient interest from the off-grid community.
Parts cost is roughly £400. There are no ongoing costs such a cellular etc.
He has installed it to an additional nearby hydro system who’s owner has called it a “game-changer.
If you are interested in getting a kit or having it installed then contact me at [email protected] and I will put you in touch with the man who can. Or leave a comment here, but to be honest I do not often get notified of comments, so that may not work!
