not generating

wordave

we have a 400 watt wind generator and a 200 watt solar panel on a bank of 4 batteries and they are running  cctv and not coping as wind generator is not kicking in we have the dual control panel .The solar is working but cant cope , thanks for any advice . 

706jim

How many batteries?

And what is "cctv"?

wordave

security cameras 4 x 110 amp batteries don't last more than a couple of days

BB.

Welcome to the forum WorDave,

CCTV=Closed Circuit TV (security cameras)?

To help you here--Details matter.

What is your daily energy usage? Amp*Hour at XX Amp*Hours or XXX Watt*Hours per day?

What is your battery bank type and size (Lead Acid / Li Ion / XX Volts and YYY Amp*hours)?

Location... I guess you are somewhere in Great Britain... So not a lot of sun, on average.

What is the "dual control panel"? (one Solar and one Wind controller?)

My suggestion... Define your power needs. Design the battery bank to support those loads (typically 2 days of storage and 50% max discharge). And design the solar array to both power your loads (based on minimum sun such as  December to both charge the battery bank and support your loads--And if you want to have minimum genset/backup power--The solar array should support 2x your daily loads at minimum predicted sun for December.

The wind turbine would, hopefully, supply energy during cloudy/windy conditions---Personally, I am not a fan of small wind systems. They tend to not perform very well (at least most of the units you can purchase) and they require maintenance (need to tilt tower down and/or a lift truck to access turbine).

Like to get the solar working first.

So, working backwards, what could a 200 Watt solar panel support battery and load wise?

The battery bank should be charged at 5% to 10% to 13% rate of charge--And 10% minimum for a full time off grid system suggested (usually for deep cycle lead acid storage batteries--10% to 13% is a good rate of charge for battery life).

• 200 Watt array * 0.77 derating * 1/14.5 volts charging = 10.6 Amps nominal (average best case charging current)
• 10.6 Amps * 1/0.13 rate of charge = 82 AH @ 12 volts minimum battery bank
• 10.6 Amps * 1/0.10 rate of charge = 106 AH @ 12 volts nominal battery bank
• 10.6 amps * 1/0.05 rate of charge = 212 AH @ 12 volts "max suggested" battery bank
• 26.5 AH / 25 hours per day = 1.1 Amp average load (for CCTV system @ 24 hours per day)--Example

If you design for 2 days storage @ 50% discharge support of your loads by the battery bank... Using the 10% rate of charge "nominal" battery bank, that would be:

• 106 AH * 1/2 days of storage * 0.50 max discharge (for long battery life) = 26.5 AH per day @ 12 volts suggested load
• 26.5 AH * 12 volts = 318 Watt*Hours per day suggested battery load

And how much energy can the solar panels output on an average Midlands day:
http://www.solarelectricityhandbook.com/solar-irradiance.html

Newcastle upon Tyne
Average Solar Insolation figures

Measured in kWh/m2/day onto a solar panel set at a 20° angle from vertical:
(Optimal winter settings)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun
1.24	2.22	3.03	3.76	4.33	4.07
Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
3.95	3.85	3.34	2.52	1.46	0.98

For December, a 200 Watt array would produce (on average):

• 200 Watts * 0.61 DC off grid system eff * 0.98 hours of sun per day (December) = 120 WH per day
• 120 Watts * 0.5 solar fudge factor "base load" derating = 60 Watts suggested average base load support with 200 Watt panel in December in Newcastle upon Tyne (I really like the city names in the UK)

At this point, we probably have a mismatch between major components (solar array, battery bank, and your daily loads). But without your details... I really cannot give any accurate estimates for "your" system and energy needs.

The idea would be to upgrade your solar panels (more panels) at least, to get the system were it works "most of the time"--Then look at wind for stormy weather backup (if that is your only other option).

Your thoughts/corrections/updates?

-Bill

wordave

I am not sure as i dont know a lot about it ,I know the windmill isnt running ,yes i live in the north east of England plenty wind not a lot of sun , thanks for your reply i will try and work it out ,get back to you .

petertearai

Yep  add solar . Pv  is cheap and no moving parts .