Category Archives: products/technical

Powerspout documents for download

Powerspout turbines do not come with paper manuals included, because the manuals are online in the Document Index.   You can find the index on the web site under “Advice and Resources”.  We put a lot of work into preparation … Continue reading

Posted in hydro, PowerSpout hydro turbines, products/technical, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

An up-to-date list of UK sources of materials for my wind turbine projects

My most recent wind turbine plans are dated 2014, and I don’t really make enough sales to justify updating them now but the list of UK suppliers at the back of my Recipe Book is out of date for sure. … Continue reading

Posted in construction, ferrite magnets, my own projects, products/technical | Leave a comment

Charge controllers – a brief introduction

Why do we need charge controllers? To prevent batteries from being damaged by charging too hard.  As you charge a battery, its voltage rises, which is all good up to a point.  However if the voltage gets too high the … Continue reading

Posted in Diversion load control, products/technical, wind systems tutorial | 8 Comments

How to make an AC heater act as a charge controller

I have just added a page about how to build a Tristar Follower (as I call it) that uses an AC heater connected to your inverter to dump surplus power (usually into heating water) when the battery does not need … Continue reading

Posted in construction, my own projects, products/technical | 1 Comment

Low cost MPPT heating controller for wind turbines

Schams Electronic in Germany make some neat little MPPT controllers for solar and for wind. The Windmax MPPT controllers are modular, built from 500W units, with capacity up to 2.5kW.  These controllers have built-in protection against over-voltage when the battery … Continue reading

Posted in products/technical | 3 Comments

Alex Burgos’ overvoltage clipper

Alex sent me an email: I hope you are well I am writing to show my CLIPPER I tried it with my 12 volt turbine I have the Tristar ts-60 dc and ac Clipper The CLIPPER use it to control … Continue reading

Posted in construction, People, products/technical, wind systems tutorial | Leave a comment

Enasolar grid-tied inverters for hydro turbines

Enasolar inverters are made in New Zealand. They are fully compliant with UK grid standards G83/1-1 or G59/2. These inverters are the ideal choice for connecting a PowerSpout hydro turbine to the grid in the UK and other 50Hz AC countries. Many … Continue reading

Posted in PowerSpout hydro turbines, products/technical | 2 Comments

Possible student research project

Adriaan Kragten has been kind enough to notify me of his latest design work which is documented in his free pdf reports available for download here.  Most of his wind turbines have been based on converting induction motors to pm alternators … Continue reading

Posted in Adriaan Kragten, construction, People, products/technical | 1 Comment

Adopt a turbine!

If you’d like a homebuilt wind turbine but can’t find time to build one then you might consider adopting one built in a workshop course?  V3Power are offering several wind turbines and parts on this basis here.  

Posted in construction, People, products/technical, UK small wind scene | Leave a comment

Homebrew stuff for sale

John Gambill has some useful stuff for homebrew wind for sale.  He lives at Hotwire Enterprises 102 W. Fulton St. Tarpon Springs, FL 34689, USA (727) 943-0424 He has diversion loads and blocking diodes and some low power Chinese alternators … Continue reading

Posted in construction, People, products/technical | 1 Comment