48V/20A Wind Turbine - 12V battery bank - 12V Inverter

quique
quique Solar Expert Posts: 259 ✭✭
I have a12V inverter and a 12V battery bank. Im thinking of buying a wind turbine rated at 48V for 1000W. I assume that means its rated at 20Amps.

1) Would I be able to use this turbine with that battery bank and inverter?

2) What would be optimal? Change the battery bank configuration to 24V?

3) If I change the battery bank to 24V would that damage my 12V Inverter?

Comments

  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    Re: 48V/20A Wind Turbine - 12V battery bank - 12V Inverter

    1 you will need a charge controller that will down convert (mppt)
    2?? depends on what you call optimal
    3 yes, no can do
     
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  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    Re: 48V/20A Wind Turbine - 12V battery bank - 12V Inverter

    Take a look at the Midnite MPPT wind turbine setup... A "Classic MPPT charge controller" (does the MPPT conversion--optimum voltage+current from turbine) plus a "Clipper" (for loading turbine when battery is full--As I understand--it probably does a lot more).

    Using a Midnite MPPT controller allows you to "optimally" use a 48 volt turbine with a 12-48 volt battery bank (even a 48 volt turbine can probably develop way more voltage than 59 volts for charging (remember, power=volts*current; so if you limit the current to max rated, but allow the voltage to rise higher than the 12-48 volts "clamped" by the battery--So you can dramatically increase the power output (assuming your turbine has the right blades, design, and wind to run at higher power levels).

    Obviously not a "cheap" solution--But potentially would increase the Watt out of a 48 volt turbine on a 12 volt batter bank by 4-8x or more (clamping of 12 volt bank plus the ability of the MPPT to manage voltages above 59 volts charging for a 48 volt battery bank).

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset