Don't go away, Hugh. I for one appreciate your sound advice based on real experience.
I will second Hugh's suggestion of big wire and a 48VDC run to the battery. #2 copper wire will not be outrageously expensive and it is the most simple and safe solution. A C-40 diversion controller w/ dump load at the battery will handle the battery charge and turbine load regulation with simplicity and durability. It may not be the absolute cheapest way to go, but it is a proven design using off-the-shelf components and straightforward wiring. Remember that this is a weekend cabin. Daniel won't be needing to run his system full bore all the time to keep up with his energy needs. 100 to 200W during the week will keep the battery very content and also keep an insulated water tank dump load warm. When he arrives for the weekend he could open up more nozzles and enjoy the bounty of energy available. Sure, at full output on the turbine he would be losing 15% or more to voltage drop in the wire, but at that point it is really surplus anyway. If he was going to live there full time and also run a machine shop or something, then it might be worth the time and money to build a system that could capture more of the available energy in the creek. Hugh - I have always found your postings on this list to be among the most helpful and insightful comments that we see. I hope you'll continue to share your experience with the group. - Eric ----- Original Message ----- From: "Hugh" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, February 13, 2005 10:28 AM Subject: Re: [microhydro] AC vs. DC microhydro > > > At 3:32 PM -0600 12/2/05, Nando wrote: > >>Just because you have tried 3 times with induction motors and failed to >>get >>the proper results you are FOUL MOUTHING the Hundreds or even several >>thousands small hydro systems using induction motors as generators. Low >>cost, Long Lasting, Easy to implement, Easy to control and maintain. > > I am sorry, I had no intention of being foul in any way. I intended > to be helpful. If you know of a successful example using an > induction generator and a transformer/rectifier, please could you > tell me the efficiency? and suggest where I may have gone wrong? My > turbines were not stalling, and I experimented plenty with the > excitation but could never get any of them producing more than half > what they should. This is also typical of other systems of this sort > that I have heard of. > > I have had great success using induction motors (with controlled AC > output) feeding synchronising sine wave inverters, but then I have > the extra cost of the controller. I have had great success with high > voltage permanent magnet machines and transformers. Hydro power is > very easy compared to windpower. But induction motors and > transformer/rectifier battery chargers are not so easy at all. > > A heavy cable is often cheaper and more efficient than a transformer, > so I thought I ought to mention that fact. I also mentioned that he > could use either a stream engine or a multi-jet pelton on that site > and either would work well. Everything I said seems to have got > right up your nose. > > I seem to have upset you, Nando and for that I am most sorry. If I > have upset anyone else then I am sorry for that too. I only tried to > be helpful by relating my own experiences, but in future I will > probably not risk it. > > best wishes, and bye bye. > -- > Hugh > > > > > > > Does your company feature in the microhydro business directory at > http://microhydropower.net/directory ? If not, please register free of > charge and be exposed to the microhydro community world wide! > > NOTE: The advertisements in this email are added by Yahoogroups who > provides us with free email group services. The microhydro-group does not > endorse products or support the advertisements in any way. > > More information on micro hydropower at http://microhydropower.net > > To unsubscribe: send empty message to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> What would our lives be like without music, dance, and theater? Donate or volunteer in the arts today at Network for Good! http://us.click.yahoo.com/TzSHvD/SOnJAA/79vVAA/FGYolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Does your company feature in the microhydro business directory at http://microhydropower.net/directory ? If not, please register free of charge and be exposed to the microhydro community world wide! NOTE: The advertisements in this email are added by Yahoogroups who provides us with free email group services. The microhydro-group does not endorse products or support the advertisements in any way. 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