Adding wind generator to solar array

Joesouth75
Joesouth75 Registered Users Posts: 33 ✭✭
Hello all. Here's what I have. 6 panels 320w each 24v. I have a Midnite classic 200 with 2 banks of four t105 batteries 24v each leading into a 3000w inverter. 
I'd like to add a wind generator to continue the charging during night time hours. I don't need anything massive just enough to keep the batteries charged. Does anyone have experience with this? How is it tied into battery bank? Recommend a wind generator? Schematics?
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Comments

  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    My suggestions
    1) if you don't have to tie your hat onto your head, you don't have enough wind to bother with
    2) you have maintenance chores at the top of the tower, 2x a year.
    3) you will need a new controller, and likely a Dump Load rated 2x the wind turbine output
    4) get a smaller inverter, unless you have some load that comes on middle of night that needs 3Kw.  The idle losses can be killer
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

  • Joesouth75
    Joesouth75 Registered Users Posts: 33 ✭✭
    I have a composting toilet that runs a fan 24/7 and a well pump that could come on at anytime. It seems the toilet fan draws batteries down overnight. I'm just looking to maintain them in the dark hours and on cloudy days.
    If a wind generator would work, the 2x maintenance would be worth it. Anther controller was expected. Any other thoughts? Anyone?
  • littleharbor2
    littleharbor2 Solar Expert Posts: 2,036 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Wind generators only make power when the wind blows. No wind, no power. We're talking, constant significant wind, anything less and you'll be disappointed.

    Your money might be better spent on a few more panels. Are you getting back to full charge everyday?

    Maybe your batteries are getting tired. How old are they? Have they been maintained/equalized regularly?

    Do you need the well pump to run overnight? If not you could shut down the pump and big inverter and run a smaller inverter. This might allow you to not need to add any wind or panels to your system.


    2.1 Kw Suntech 175 mono, Classic 200, Trace SW 4024 ( 15 years old  but brand new out of sealed factory box Jan. 2015), Bogart Tri-metric,  460 Ah. 24 volt LiFePo4 battery bank. Plenty of Baja Sea of Cortez sunshine.

  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I think some composting toilets not only run a fan constantly, they also run a heater. Just running a fan to move enough air to prevent it going anaerobic shouldn't be much of a load - a 3000w could use more just staying lit than such fan alone. Add a heater though, and the load could be much more of an issue.

    If it's just a fan, I'd consider a separate small inverter or possibly a DC fan (maybe even a dedicated battery/pv). If there's a heater, I'd consider alternatives, such as alternate supply of heat or even alternative toilets before wind.

    FWIW, I looked into wind a few years ago. I get by fine with pv in spring & summer, but in fall and winter the sun is too low, too weak, and too short. It tends to be more windy though, hence the interest in wind supplement to solar. Long story short, estimated cost got to well over $10,000 and realistic power production was pretty marginal. I suspect if I had pursued it with testing of actual wind in situ, installation costs would have risen further to get to needed siting and/or realistic production even more marginal. It would take multiple lifetimes of avoiding generator runtime to break even, and wind is still intermittent enough to not eliminate it entirely.

    Even if your site has much better wind potential than mine, I'd suggest looking more carefully at the load first.
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
  • Joesouth75
    Joesouth75 Registered Users Posts: 33 ✭✭
    Batteries are new last Aug. I believe they are being fully charged each day. And EQ runs once a month. Is that enough? The well only runs when the pressure tank drops in pressure so no not usually overnite. It's the toilet fan that draws the batteries down.
    Does the inverter really draw that much? Maybe that is my problem? Is there a ratio between panel watts to inverter watts? Or can I have 2kw of panels and 1000 watt inverter?
  • 706jim
    706jim Solar Expert Posts: 514 ✭✭✭✭
    Curious as to what sort of toilet fan you are using. I have a Sun Mar Centrex system and used a 24 volt computer fan on a 12 volt supply. Current draw was in the milliamps and fan ran 24/7. Eventually I found that chimney effect was adequate for venting and scrapped the fan altogether. If you run a heater that is a whole other story.
    Island cottage solar system with 2500 watts of panels, 1kw facing southeast 1.3kw facing southwest 170watt ancient Arco's facing south. All panels in parallel for a 24 volt system. Trace DR1524 MSW inverter, Outback Flexmax 80 MPPT charge controller 8 Trojan L16's. Insignia 11.5 cubic foot electric fridge. My 30th year.
  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The ratio is:
    Loads force the size of inverter & the battery size to support the loads & inverter overhead
    PV is sized by your winter sun hours (2nd worst month)  to maintain your battery bank  (400ah bank needs 40A of charge)

    It's hard to believe a 10W fan is causing the battery problem  10W x 12hours = 120 watt hours, solved by 200w  of  PV

    Does your charge controller have any indicators on it, that signal what stage of charge it's performing ?  Bulk, float, Absorb?  Batteries generally need 2 hours of Absorb - and even then, they are only about 90% full. You may have to increase your Bulk voltage to cram enough power into the batteries.

    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    My guess is a 3000w inverter will run ~30-50w just being lit. 50w x 24hrs = 1200wh, in the ballpark of what a fairly efficient fridge might use in a day.

    450ah@24v is ~10,000wh, keeping DOD to 50% is ~5,000wh usable, so could be on the order of a quarter of usable bank capacity to keep the inverter lit.
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
  • littleharbor2
    littleharbor2 Solar Expert Posts: 2,036 ✭✭✭✭✭
    If as Estragon says, there's a heater involved then there's part of your problem. Creating heat, or cold, for that matter is taxing on battery systems.

    Some better inverters have lower tare losses than others. Look up your inverter and see if you can find the idle power consumption., multiply that by 24 hours, you may be surprised at the results. some inverters burn more power doing nothing than an energy efficient fridge.

     You can have as small an inverter as you need for low power consumption times. The Morningstar 300 watt PSW inverter can legitimately surge to 600 watts and, I believe, is a sensible addition to many off grid set ups.   There are problems when your inverter and/or load is too big for your battery bank. In your case it sounds like either a heating element or inverter losses, or both. 

    2.1 Kw Suntech 175 mono, Classic 200, Trace SW 4024 ( 15 years old  but brand new out of sealed factory box Jan. 2015), Bogart Tri-metric,  460 Ah. 24 volt LiFePo4 battery bank. Plenty of Baja Sea of Cortez sunshine.

  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Panel watts and inverter watts aren't directly related, although battery capacity can be a factor in both.

    I run a 300w inverter on a 700ah@12v bank with 1000w of pv, which works fine in my application. I also run stacked 3.5kw inverters for 7kw total on a 350ah@48v bank with 4.5kw pv, which runs pumps, etc. The big inverters are usually off or sleeping at night.
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
  • Joesouth75
    Joesouth75 Registered Users Posts: 33 ✭✭
    The only reason I have such a large inverter was due to my pump start up peaks at 1600w and the 3000w inverter was on sale so... Now that I've read all these replies I believe it maybe the inverter sucking the batteries.
    No heater on the toilet. Just a fan.
    So a smaller inverter for night time use. Very good idea.
    I have a 24v system, are there any advantages to a 48v system? Other than wire size.
    Anybody live near Pembine, Wi you are more than welcome to stop over and check this system out.
  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    If all you need the inverter for (at night) is the fan--Get a DC computer fan... They are available from 12-48 VDC pretty easily. A 48 VDC van on 24 volts will spin much slower and be very quiet.

    https://www.jameco.com/shop/keyword=Fan-Dc-48-Volt

    Regarding the AC inverter... Nominally, a T105 battery bank with ~215 AH @ 6 volt batteries (flooded cell?) with 4sx2p strings... That is a ~430 AH @ 24 VDC bank. And would suggest an AC inverter in the range of ~~1,050 Watts to ~2,115 Watts (typical max AC inverter for flooded cell 24 volt battery bank would be ~500 Watts per 100 AH of 24 volt battery bank). Also, typically ~2,115 Watt solar array would be a suggested maximum cost effective.

    There is no reason to go with a 48 volt battery bank unless you are looking for a larger battery bank/AC inverter/Loads. The higher voltage the battery bank, the more difficult it is to find smaller AC inverters.

    Here are some smaller 24 VDC input AC inverters that may be of interest from our host (NAWS):

    https://www.solar-electric.com/residential/inverters/off-grid-inverters.html?nav_inv_input_voltage=24+Volts&sine_wave_type=Pure+Sine+Wave

    You can get down to ~6-10 Watts Tare Load for 600 Watt or less 24 VDC Sine Wave inverters.

    If you can wire your well pump/large inverter system to only run when the pump is running--That will probably save you a bunch of stored energy.

    Another thing, get a relatively inexpensive DC Current Clamp Meter and measure your inverter's current (if you do not already have a shunt based battery monitor). DC Current Clamp meters are great for answering these sorts of questions, and for debugging electrical systems (AC and DC) in general.

    http://www.sears.com/craftsman-digital-clamp-on-ammeter/p-03482369000P (oh darn, this $60 "good enough" meter is no longer available?)
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019CY4FB4 ($130)

    There are cheaper meters available--Don't know anything about this one:

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O1Q2HOQ ($41)

    DC current clamp meters are a great invention for working on DC power systems. You can simply clip on one wire and measure the current flow without having to cut the wire and put the meter in series.

    Make sure you get a DC current clamp meter (really an AC/DC Current Clamp DMM). There are also tons of AC ONLY current clamp meters--They are fine instruments, but they cannot measure DC current flow.

    -Bill

    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    By the way, one thing to watch out for... If you run the cabin in the winter, it is not uncommon that your battery bank will charge/equalize at >~30 VDC in subfreezing weather... And many inverters will shutdown at ~30 VDC. A common complaint for our friends in the great white north.

    If you use your cabin in the winter, finding inverters that have ~32-33+ VDC minimum shutdown will save you some frustration.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    If the big inverter is only for the pump, maybe dedicate the big inverter to that load only? It may have a low power "sleep" mode, much reducing the load keeping it lit 24x7. If not, a relay activated by the pump pressure switch could be used. I use the big inverters for multiple pumps, power tools, etc during the day (often on available pv power while batteries are in absorb/float) , so the day/night thing works out for me.

    Aside from wire size, 48v is 1/2 the current for a given wattage. This means more pv for given controller capacity, less voltage sag in batteries with large loads, less need for parallel banks, etc. One downside is it's hard to find good, small inverters for 48v. My little 300w Morningstar PSW inverter works really well, but unfortunately only comes as 12v.
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
  • Joesouth75
    Joesouth75 Registered Users Posts: 33 ✭✭
    Thank you all. I will look into separating the pump and see what I come up with. Thanks again.
  • littleharbor2
    littleharbor2 Solar Expert Posts: 2,036 ✭✭✭✭✭
    BB. said:

    There are cheaper meters available--Don't know anything about this one:

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O1Q2HOQ ($41)

    DC current clamp meters are a great invention for working on DC power systems. You can simply clip on one wire and measure the current flow without having to cut the wire and put the meter in series.

    Make sure you get a DC current clamp meter (really an AC/DC Current Clamp DMM). There are also tons of AC ONLY current clamp meters--They are fine instruments, but they cannot measure DC current flow.

    -Bill

    This one, found on eBay and Amazon is a really nice small one and really inexpensive.


    2.1 Kw Suntech 175 mono, Classic 200, Trace SW 4024 ( 15 years old  but brand new out of sealed factory box Jan. 2015), Bogart Tri-metric,  460 Ah. 24 volt LiFePo4 battery bank. Plenty of Baja Sea of Cortez sunshine.

  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    Be careful, I am not sure, but I think that is an AC only current clamp meter with AC+DC voltage capability.

    AC 600Amp AC/DC Voltage Resistance Meters

    You have to read the descriptions very closely... AC 600Amp....

    Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • littleharbor2
    littleharbor2 Solar Expert Posts: 2,036 ✭✭✭✭✭
    BB. said:
    Be careful, I am not sure, but I think that is an AC only current clamp meter with AC+DC voltage capability.

    AC 600Amp AC/DC Voltage Resistance Meters

    You have to read the descriptions very closely... AC 600Amp....

    Bill

    Yes, I own one. It does dc current.
    Here's the info on it. Delete if not allowed.
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/UNI-T-UT203-Digital-Handheld-Clamp-Multimeter-Tester-Meter-DMM-CE-AC-DC-Volt-Amp/252445352747?hash=item3ac6ea632b:g:fCQAAOSwHjNV99RG

    2.1 Kw Suntech 175 mono, Classic 200, Trace SW 4024 ( 15 years old  but brand new out of sealed factory box Jan. 2015), Bogart Tri-metric,  460 Ah. 24 volt LiFePo4 battery bank. Plenty of Baja Sea of Cortez sunshine.

  • ScoobyMike
    ScoobyMike Registered Users Posts: 37 ✭✭
    Thank you all. I will look into separating the pump and see what I come up with. Thanks again.
    Also, look into the sleep mode Estragon mentioned as this could be implemented immediately. Some inverters call it standby mode. Basically the inverter goes into standby when the load drops below a user programmed level and then powers back up when the demand for power returns.  Perfect for your pump...

    1.2KW off grid system; 2 strings of 2ea 305W 60 cell panels on a redneck ground mount;  MNPV3 combiner feeds a MN Classic 150 located 100' away;  12V 460AH FLA battery bank powers a cabin-wide 12V DC system as well as a Cotek 700W PSW inverter; Honda EU2000i  and IOTA 55A charger bridge cloudy days and a Champion 3800W generator for short duration, power hungry appliances.

  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    The 203 is a different model (200 shown).

    Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • littleharbor2
    littleharbor2 Solar Expert Posts: 2,036 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 2018 #22
    BB. said:
    The 203 is a different model (200 shown).

    Bill

    Yes I caught that That's the photo with the UT-203 listing I found on Amazon, Sorry. Advertising error, I guess. 
    https://www.amazon.com/UNI-T-UT203-Digital-Handheld-Multimeter/dp/B07546L9RT/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1525050578&sr=8-16&keywords=uni-t++dc+clamp+meter

     The  UT-203 model is the AC/DC clamp meter. I will add, It reads the same as my Klein DC clamp meter in side by side tests and does have a good solid "feel"  For the price it's a bargain.

    2.1 Kw Suntech 175 mono, Classic 200, Trace SW 4024 ( 15 years old  but brand new out of sealed factory box Jan. 2015), Bogart Tri-metric,  460 Ah. 24 volt LiFePo4 battery bank. Plenty of Baja Sea of Cortez sunshine.

  • DanS26
    DanS26 Solar Expert Posts: 264 ✭✭✭
    I have a composting toilet that runs a fan 24/7 and a well pump that could come on at anytime. It seems the toilet fan draws batteries down overnight. I'm just looking to maintain them in the dark hours and on cloudy days.
    If a wind generator would work, the 2x maintenance would be worth it. Anther controller was expected. Any other thoughts? Anyone?
    Joe..... put timer on that composting toilet......only run it when the sun shines.

    Except when anyone notices.......then you are back where you started.  Worth a try.....just don't tell anybody during the transition.......
    23.16kW Kyocera panels; 2 Fronius 7.5kW inverters; Nyle hot water; Steffes ETS; Great Lakes RO; Generac 10kW w/ATS, TED Pro System monitoring
  • MrM1
    MrM1 Registered Users Posts: 487 ✭✭✭✭
    I have this one that BB posted,  works very well

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O1Q2HOQ

    REC TwinPeak 2 285W 3S-3P 2.6kW-STC / 1.9kW-NMOT Array / MN Solar Classic 150 / 2017 Conext SW 4024 Inverter latest firmware / OB PSX-240 Autotransfomer for load balancing / Trojan L16H-AC 435Ah bank 4S connected to Inverter with 7' of 4/0 cable / 24 volt system / Grid-Assist or Backup Solar Generator System Powering 3200Whs Daily / System went Online Oct 2017 / System, Pics and Discussion
  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    > @MrM1 said:
    > I have this one that BB posted,  works very well
    >
    > https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O1Q2HOQ

    The detail lists this one as having a 17mm jaw, which I think would be too small for my battery wire (2/0, 4/0). Do you use it for big wire?

    The 203 lists jaw opening as 28mm, which I think might work. @littleharbor2 , do you use yours for large wire?

    I kept checking for the Sears one while I was in the US a few months ago, but it was always listed as "out of stock". I'm guessing Sears is involuntarily "discontinuing" a lot of SKUs these days.
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    I have a UT 210 which has a ~ 1/2 inch jaw opening.

     
    KID #51B  4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
    CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM 
    Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
    2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
    Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
    West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
  • littleharbor2
    littleharbor2 Solar Expert Posts: 2,036 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Estragon said:
    > @MrM1 said:

    The detail lists this one as having a 17mm jaw, which I think would be too small for my battery wire (2/0, 4/0). Do you use it for big wire?

    The 203 lists jaw opening as 28mm, which I think might work. @littleharbor2 , do you use yours for large wire?

    2/0 is the largest wire I have in my system. 28 mm is 1.1 inch. Typical nominal O.D. for 4/0 is about 3/4 inch.


    2.1 Kw Suntech 175 mono, Classic 200, Trace SW 4024 ( 15 years old  but brand new out of sealed factory box Jan. 2015), Bogart Tri-metric,  460 Ah. 24 volt LiFePo4 battery bank. Plenty of Baja Sea of Cortez sunshine.

  • MrM1
    MrM1 Registered Users Posts: 487 ✭✭✭✭
    Estragon said:

    The detail lists this one as having a 17mm jaw, which I think would be too small for my battery wire (2/0, 4/0). Do you use it for big wire?

    The 203 lists jaw opening as 28mm, which I think might work. @littleharbor2 , do you use yours for large wire?

    I kept checking for the Sears one while I was in the US a few months ago, but it was always listed as "out of stock". I'm guessing Sears is involuntarily "discontinuing" a lot of SKUs these days.
    I use it for 4/0.   It does fit but to get a good read, you have to press the clamp together after you get it around the cable.  The jaw does open up enough to get it around the cable though,  at least the 4/0 fine strand that I have from Windy Nation.   Once around the cable,  it does close,  but not perfectly tight,  and when you press the clamp closed with your fingers, it does have a different amp reading,  But once closed it agrees with both my Classic 150 Whizbang Jr and The Schneider SW inverter SWP readings.   Seems to be more accurate and consistent than both.  But that little meter does NOT have In Rush or Max current for start  of motors.  There are a few others on Amazon that I am looking at for that purpose. 

    These 3 (which look nearly if not exactly Identical) have In Rush
    https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B015QSAJTM/?coliid=I106IQNJ78CW66&colid=28GSOAUQ6M2YF&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

    https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0017WRH7O/?coliid=I20YTSJ8FILN4T&colid=28GSOAUQ6M2YF&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

    https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01L0GABM4/?coliid=I1O8H1XG5FE5IR&colid=28GSOAUQ6M2YF&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

    And this one
    https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B005VUBGZW/?coliid=I13HK88KRJTWNJ&colid=28GSOAUQ6M2YF&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it




    REC TwinPeak 2 285W 3S-3P 2.6kW-STC / 1.9kW-NMOT Array / MN Solar Classic 150 / 2017 Conext SW 4024 Inverter latest firmware / OB PSX-240 Autotransfomer for load balancing / Trojan L16H-AC 435Ah bank 4S connected to Inverter with 7' of 4/0 cable / 24 volt system / Grid-Assist or Backup Solar Generator System Powering 3200Whs Daily / System went Online Oct 2017 / System, Pics and Discussion
  • MrM1
    MrM1 Registered Users Posts: 487 ✭✭✭✭
    Here is the view ...





    REC TwinPeak 2 285W 3S-3P 2.6kW-STC / 1.9kW-NMOT Array / MN Solar Classic 150 / 2017 Conext SW 4024 Inverter latest firmware / OB PSX-240 Autotransfomer for load balancing / Trojan L16H-AC 435Ah bank 4S connected to Inverter with 7' of 4/0 cable / 24 volt system / Grid-Assist or Backup Solar Generator System Powering 3200Whs Daily / System went Online Oct 2017 / System, Pics and Discussion
  • Desert Rat
    Desert Rat Solar Expert Posts: 138 ✭✭✭
    Allow me to get this thread back on track, that is, bashing small wind power, one of my favorite pastimes.  :p
    The NREL 30 meter wind chart for your area shows an average annual wind speed of 4 m/s or less. That's around 9 mph, less than what is considered even barely adequate for a small wind generator. And here's the kicker: that is being measured at 30 meters off the ground, nearly 100 feet. Think about the expense and labor involved in erecting a 100 foot tower, not to mention how you're going to do maintenance.  Not worth it.
  • Joesouth75
    Joesouth75 Registered Users Posts: 33 ✭✭
    Ok Everyone, my 3000w inverter us an Aims Pure sine wave model. I have in my shed on the shelf a 2000w modified sine wave model. It was my understanding that modified does not run motors well. Is this correct?