Alternative Power sources - Brands of Regulators help?

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Brands of Regulators help?

I can't do that Dave

2005-07-24, 9:06 pm

Hi people,

We have around 400 Watts of Solar panels and a wind turbine of 400
Watts max.

What size regulator do we need for our bank of 10 x 6Volt batteries
wired for 12Volt output. I am not sure of the amp/hr rating but these
are big deep cycle suckers meant for solar systems and I seem to think
they are 3600 A/H.

I am not at the site so cannot dash out and read the A/H rating so
forgive me if that is a stupid figure.

We currently have a 40 Amp regulator that has died and not sure if it
was a lighting strike which recently took out the phone or it just died
of overwork because our installer underrated it for the job. Our Trace
2500Watt inverter is still running fine so I doubt that it was the
lighting, but weird stuff happens here on the mountain and off the
grid.

Before we get them to install another, probably the same size, I'd like
a little help on determining exactly how big it needs to be and what
are some of the better brands.

Thanks in advance.

Dave

2005-07-24, 9:06 pm

I can't do that Dave wrote:
> Hi people,
>
> We have around 400 Watts of Solar panels and a wind turbine of 400
> Watts max.
>
> What size regulator do we need for our bank of 10 x 6Volt batteries
> wired for 12Volt output.

Theoretically, you then have almost 35 amps to control from each. I'd
definitely install something bigger than a 40 amp charge controller
(what you're calling a regulator). 60, say.

> We currently have a 40 Amp regulator that has died and not sure if it
> was a lighting strike which recently took out the phone or it just died
> of overwork because our installer underrated it for the job.

Probably the latter. How old was it?

> Before we get them to install another, probably the same size, I'd like
> a little help on determining exactly how big it needs to be and what
> are some of the better brands.

Well, depends how deep your pockets are. At the cheap end, another
Trace charge controller, say, the C-60 would do it. It could also
handle diversion from the turbine as well. That's be handy, I imagine,
so you could shove excess electricity into a water heater element or
something, rather than have it cook off the controller fins.

HOWEVER, for a few bucks more, if I were you, I'd seriously consider
something like the OutBack MX-60, which will use MPPT control to charge
your system. Theory goes that it adds up to 25% to the output of your
array with their calculated charging strategy. That's like a free 100
watt panel, which more than pays for the controller.

An idea, anyway.

DJ

George Ghio

2005-07-24, 11:21 pm

I can't do that Dave wrote:
> Hi people,
>
> We have around 400 Watts of Solar panels and a wind turbine of 400
> Watts max.
>
> What size regulator do we need for our bank of 10 x 6Volt batteries
> wired for 12Volt output. I am not sure of the amp/hr rating but these
> are big deep cycle suckers meant for solar systems and I seem to think
> they are 3600 A/H.

Your battery bank would seem to be 10 - 6 volt batteries wired in series
/parallel. Not a good choice. Don't do this next time you buy batteries.

The wind should have its own regulation. If the wind is regulated though
the same reg as the solar then you have what is referred to as "All your
eggs in one basket" I would suggest that, if this is the case, you
change it.

>
> I am not at the site so cannot dash out and read the A/H rating so
> forgive me if that is a stupid figure.
>
> We currently have a 40 Amp regulator that has died and not sure if it
> was a lighting strike which recently took out the phone or it just died
> of overwork because our installer underrated it for the job. Our Trace
> 2500Watt inverter is still running fine so I doubt that it was the
> lighting, but weird stuff happens here on the mountain and off the
> grid.

Lightning strike is probably the reason for the reg's failure.
>
> Before we get them to install another, probably the same size, I'd like
> a little help on determining exactly how big it needs to be and what
> are some of the better brands.

A 40A reg will suit your panels. I use Plasmatronics PL series regs, for
two reasons;

1) They work.

2) They are made locally and can be repaired and/or replaced in a day.

Number 2 is the deciding factor in the end. It means I don't need to
keep a spare. The down side is that I have 3 spares.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Dave
>

wmbjk

2005-07-25, 12:21 pm

On 24 Jul 2005 15:08:50 -0700, "I can't do that Dave"
<davenpete@gmail.com> wrote:

>We have around 400 Watts of Solar panels and a wind turbine of 400
>Watts max.
>
>What size regulator do we need

The original 40A regulator was the correct size *if* it only
controlled the PV, which is most likely the case.

If the turbine is a standard Air 403, that model has its own built-in
regulator, which (mostly) stops the blades from turning when the
batteries are full. In order to bypass that to bring the regulator
adjustment down to ground level, or to use the same regulator for both
the turbine and the PV, there should be a diversion load (probably a
box with some heating elements inside). If there *is* a diversion
load, then it's possible that a single regulator was controlling both
sources, and a replacement should be sized accordingly. But if the
system is set up that way, the turbine blades will be turning
unnecessarily when the batteries are full.

Wayne

2005-07-25, 3:21 pm

wmbjk wrote:
> On 24 Jul 2005 15:08:50 -0700, "I can't do that Dave"
> <davenpete@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> The original 40A regulator was the correct size *if* it only
> controlled the PV, which is most likely the case.

Agreed, but living off-grid myself, the mantra "never enough panels" is
always echoing in the background ;-). I was assuming he would possibly
someday want to add more. That 40A controller doesn't have much room
left on it with 400 watts on a 12v system. And if the mythical "edge of
cloud effect" or "snowfield reflection effect" got added in there...
pop goes the weasel ;-).

> If the turbine is a standard Air 403, that model has its own built-in
> regulator, which (mostly) stops the blades from turning when the
> batteries are full. In order to bypass that to bring the regulator
> adjustment down to ground level, or to use the same regulator for both
> the turbine and the PV, there should be a diversion load (probably a
> box with some heating elements inside). If there *is* a diversion
> load, then it's possible that a single regulator was controlling both
> sources, and a replacement should be sized accordingly. But if the
> system is set up that way, the turbine blades will be turning
> unnecessarily when the batteries are full.

Unnecessarily? Heresy Wayne ;-), unless you are talking about saving
wear on the turbine bearings, I suppose... If the batteries are full,
use it somewhere else I say ;-). And domestic hot water is a good a
place as any. Yeah, I know, a drop in the bucket, but a drop you can
benefit from is better than just dissipating it into the air and
letting it free ;-).

DJ

I can't do that Dave

2005-07-25, 9:21 pm

Thanks DJ,

The MPPT controller looks good. More bucks but as you note we may get
something for free. We are looking at the Outback and Blue Sky. We plan
to drive the 100 miles to a solar dealer who stocks both and talk to
them about it. Seems like a good thing though.

The Xantrex controller was about a year old. It may have been a
lighting zap. I just got through replacing phone lines that were burned
through in several places, so the controller may have had it's share of
the fun too.

Thanks for the information and thanks to all others who replied.

Dave

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