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Forum Index : Windmills : Mill to inverter cabling
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| Greg Hudson Newbie  Joined: 28/04/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 22 |
What are people doing re cabling from the turbine to their inverter ? I'm yet to do this myself. Is it acceptable/normal to run standard 3 cable housing (240v) wire ? If so, does it need any protection from the elements ? i.e.running it through some PVC conduit for example? Would this type of cable be OK as far as line losses go ? My turbine will be roof mounted (corrugated iron roof). I'm working on designing a stainless steel roof mount at the moment. Yet to see what it will cost to get made. Greg. |
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| windlight Guru  Joined: 03/03/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 331 |
Greg, roof mounted turbines have their own problems. As to the cable comes back to distance amount of current etc, but one thing does come to mind, cat on a hot tin roof, sorry could not help it. Oh and it should be turbine to batteries not inverter, most probably unless you are into the top of the range gear, and I suspect not. allan "I like this place and willingly could waste my time in it" - (Act II, Scene IV). |
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Greenthumbs Regular Member  Joined: 05/12/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 40 |
Hi Greg, I am in the process of constructing a mill. I am going to use house power cable but not the average 2.5mm stuff. You can get heavy duty stuff 6mm, this would have a lot less loss over long distance. (I got mine from bunnings) Yes it does need protection from the elements. PVC pipe would be best. For more info on wire size see: www.thebackshed.com/Windmill/Docs/WireSizes.asp Regards Greenthumbs |
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sPuDd Senior Member  Joined: 10/07/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 251 |
Greg, Roof mounted turbines generate heaps of noise as the structure becomes a massive speaker box. Also, the turbine is connected to the system batteries, otherwise high voltages from the turbine at speed will fry the inverter. The battery sort of regulates the system voltage. In order for anyone to help you with your wire size, we need to know: Type of turbine Blade size of turbine Power rating of turbine Distance AC or DC If AC, then single or 3phase Voltage Current Acceptable losses, to name but a few. sPuDd.. It should work ...in theory |
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| Greg Hudson Newbie Joined: 28/04/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 22 |
G'Day Allan. I'm aware of some of at least one problem (vibration) but plan on isolating the structure with rubber grommets (of sorts). I'll experiment to see what works best. If batteries aren't 100% necessary to get this working (end result is to grid feed) then I don't want to spend the money on them if I don't have to. |
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| sPuDd Senior Member Joined: 10/07/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 251 |
Greg, you will need a special GTI to handle a wind generator directly without batts. I think there is a few on the market now though, so you may have to search around a bit. sPuDd.. It should work ...in theory |
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GWatPE Senior Member Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127 |
There are some GridConnectInverters that can work with a windmill. WindyBoy by SMA, and Latronics are some, that come to mind. The main problem is the matching. I know of WindytBoy systems that have broken, and Latronics as well. You need a very robust voltage limiting system to protect the inverter. Most systems will require a voltage boost preliminary stage, to really be useful. My own system has a boost arrangement, as well as the voltage limiter, and current limiting as well, as well as a battery in the mix. It is certainly easy to let the smoke out of those expensive components when things get pushed a bit. The std windmill arangement underutilizes the inverter most of the time, unless the windmill is mechanically, or electrically derated in periods of extreme winds. Good windmill furling seems to be the key, and matching for the average power, and limiting during the peaks. Match for winds that occur 80% of the time is another way, or match for optimum wind energy distribution if you have the data. It is difficult to justify an inverter rated for the maximum windmill rating, unless the windmill operates at the maximum rating most of the time. Good luck with your system. Gordon. become more energy aware |
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| Greg Hudson Newbie Joined: 28/04/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 22 |
G'Day Spudd. I plan on using a Latronics PV Edge 1200 (GTI) - if it ever arrives that is - already waiting for a month. Supposedly the factory is in meltdown due to the $8000 rebate finishing soon. I'll get it eventually I guess. |
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| Greg Hudson Newbie Joined: 28/04/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 22 |
G'Day again Gordon, and thanks for your reply. From what I have read about the Latronics GTI it will supposedly handle input voltage up to 90v DC. This 'should' far exceed the maximum voltage produced by my turbine (I bit the bullet & purchased a 300w 24v chinese model for $575). I will need to construct one of your voltage doublers to get it to pump enough juice into the PVEdge - which leads me to ask... Do you have any circuit boards available, or could you make one for me please? I can pay you via PayPal for it if that's OK. The same would apply for the voltage LIMITER I guess. I'm reasonably handy with a soldering iron, and have some experience, having built my first computer (a Dream 6800 back in 1979/80 ish). [Quote] It is certainly easy to let the smoke out of those expensive components when things get pushed a bit. The std windmill arangement underutilizes the inverter most of the time, unless the windmill is mechanically, or electrically derated in periods of extreme winds. Good windmill furling seems to be the key, and matching for the average power, and limiting during the peaks. [/quote] My Mill doesn't have mechanical furling - electronic only, so fingers crossed it will work correctly. [quote] Match for winds that occur 80% of the time is another way, or match for optimum wind energy distribution if you have the data. [/quote] I'm collecting data now, having recently installed a weather station on the roof. See here: Upwey Weather [quote] It is difficult to justify an inverter rated for the maximum windmill rating, unless the windmill operates at the maximum rating most of the time. Good luck with your system. Gordon. I 'wish' I could get maximum rating all the time, but this is a pipe dream. There's been virtually no wind here in Melbourne for nearly 2 weeks now !!! Again - any help on the circuit boards would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Greg. |
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| Greg Hudson Newbie Joined: 28/04/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 22 |
Thanks for tip re Bunnings. I'll have a look next time I'm there. I'll need about 20 meters. How much did the thicker cable cost ? |
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| Greg Hudson Newbie Joined: 28/04/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 22 |
G'Day again Spudd. You've given me lots to ponder, however I was just curious as to what cable other people are using. I was thinking of normal house 240v cable, however this may be overkill. My turbine (Chinese 24v 300w) has the controller built in, so I assume the output will be in DC, but I plan on gutting the electronics out of it, and running the controller (at least for a while) at house level. Given that, the juice coming down the line will probably be AC (I think). Voltage is anyone's guess, but the turbine is rated at 300w with a 500w 'peak' (whatever that means). ebay Item # 250428206979 Regards, Greg. |
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