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KarlJ

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Joined: 19/05/2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 1178

Posted: 11:58am 20 Oct 2009

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Has anyone actually tried one of these things?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/300W-GRID-TIE-INVERTER-12V-DC-220V-AC -INVERTER-300W_W0QQitemZ250515073836QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Bo at_Parts_Accessories?hash=item3a53dcab2c

lets just say you got it for $10+ the $79 postage.

could be a realistic option

Luck favours the well prepared

fillm

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Joined: 10/02/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 730

Posted: 09:19pm 20 Oct 2009

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Hi Karl , This question gets asked so many times , firstly if the inverter is not on the approved list for grid inverters in Aus , and meet( AS4777 ) and fails to disconnect in a power outage or when the power is isolated for line maintanence , someone could be injured , I am sure you can work out the rest .

PhillM ...Oz Wind Engineering..Wind Turbine Kits 500W - 5000W ~ F&P Dual Kits ~ GOE222Blades- Voltage Control Parts ------- Tower kits

GWatPE

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Joined: 01/09/2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 2127

Posted: 10:36pm 20 Oct 2009

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Hi Karl,

There appears to be an anomoly in the EBay listing. Item is listed as 12/220V yet in the specs, only seems to be 95-130VAC output.

The AS4777 and local compliance apply to Grid connections. These units have a std AC connection socket, so must have anti islanding. Someone needs to look at this type of appliance and initiate some testing to see if approval specs can be met.

There are many small battery systems that could benefit from this type of appliance as a dump load on a windmill, where there was a grid connection close by. The efficiency is not really high enough for direct PV connection.

Gordon.

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fillm

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Joined: 10/02/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 730

Posted: 12:38am 21 Oct 2009

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Hi Gordon ,

I have been told to get a grid inverter approved for use here in Aus is a long and expensive process , I doubt whether these overseas companys that keep trying to unload these will bother with that and just continue to try and sell them here to the unsuspecting ,I would also think they would also have some accountability in a court of law if some one was injured and it came to that ..

To use one as a dump load wouldn't it be to slow as it takes a minute or two to connect

But obviously by your investigating ,it would not even connect here so it is safe to sell them here..Edited by fillm 2009-10-22

PhillM ...Oz Wind Engineering..Wind Turbine Kits 500W - 5000W ~ F&P Dual Kits ~ GOE222Blades- Voltage Control Parts ------- Tower kits

GWatPE

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Joined: 01/09/2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 2127

Posted: 02:16am 21 Oct 2009

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Hi Phill,

The units would probably have no restrictions wrt being sold. The problems come with the intended use.

I may even place a bid! would be useful to see how the unit worked on an RE AC coupled setup. The price would need to be right of course.

There is a switch on the back plate. hard to make out, but looks similar to the one used on manual selected dual voltage computer PSU. These may have manual voltage selection as well.

Gordon.

These would be a useful solution to windmill placement problems on an OFF grid systems, associated with long wiring runs and low system voltages.

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KarlJ

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Joined: 19/05/2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 1178

Posted: 10:52am 21 Oct 2009

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would need to be modified for that though as they do have anti islanding and hence wont work without the grid.

I'm sure you guys could nut that one out in no time.

There is hope....HID headlights were once difficult to get approved "off road use only" now the norm and everyone is converting their cars to use them, headlight washers or not! (apparently to prevent snow on the lenses blinding other drivers)

there are heaps of listing for the same product all having different tech specs but the same part number so I guess its switchable.

I've bought a few things that werent intended for use here in AUS and use 240-110V converters.

But red tape is the issue here the way I read it, technically many of us probably are breaking the law on some front or other here anyway, did you know you need to be licensed now to build even off grid installations at voltages over (24V?) Not sure if it was 24V or a little higher but certainly not the voltages we're talking about in un-modified stators.

Luck favours the well prepared

GWatPE

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Joined: 01/09/2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 2127

Posted: 12:17pm 21 Oct 2009

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KarlJ said would need to be modified for that though as they do have anti islanding and hence wont work without the grid..

Hi Karl,

Any sinewave inverter charger can be substituted, as an equivalent grid.

Any OFF grid RE system that has a 240VAC inverter/charger, eg outback, sunny island, selectronic, etc etc could connect the inverter mentioned above and AC couple RE back to the battery.

As an example, a windmill or micro hydro, nom 12V with suitable overvoltage protection could be connected and the transmission of the power [possibly up to 300m or more] could be done at 240VAC levels, directly back into a GPO.

Gordon.

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