Help with Solar / Wind hook-up

System
System Posts: 2,511 admin
in Solar Beginners Corner #1
Hi all, I have a small 65 watt panel that I use to run a couple of lights and a small radio in my cabin. I do take the panel down when I am away as I am sure it will grow legs. I am considering adding a small wind turbin that I could leave up when I leave. Can I wire both the solar panel and the turbine into the same ports on the charge controller? Also, do I need a larger charge controller (I believe mine is only 4 amps but enough for the panel alone). Thanks in advance. This site is a gem for newbies.
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  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #2
    Re: Help with Solar / Wind hook-up

    You will likely need 2 seperate charge controllers for the 2 sources (Solar, Wind)

    The Wind's charge controller, will need to have provisions for a "Dump load" of some sort, to shunt the wind gennie's power to, when the battery is full.

    Without a dump load, a wind gennie can over-speed when the batteries are full, and shred itself.
    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
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  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    #3
    Re: Help with Solar / Wind hook-up

    why invest so much more money on a wind turbine that would also possibly develop legs? this isn't something you put on top of the cabin like a tv antenna either so a tower is needed and must clear the trees by at least 25ft if it is to even hope to function well?
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  • icarus
    icarus Solar Expert Posts: 5,436 ✭✭✭✭
    #4
    Re: Help with Solar / Wind hook-up

    If you are considering the AirX that they sell at Canadian Tire, please read through the wind section threads about how poor they really perform. Most people consider small scale wind to be a real loser. At the price of Pv right now, (Under $3/Watt USD (I ahve even seen under $2/watt)) I think that Pv is a much better bargain.

    My worry is not that the wind genny will grow legs while you are not there, but rather it will fly apart. If you are worried about Pv growing legs, buy a good insurance policy, mount it securely and hope for the best. I have a neighbour, who's place is vacant 10 months a year, 150 kms from town, on a significant snowmobil route, and his Pv system as lasted 10 years without walking off.

    Tony
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  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,637 admin
    #5
    Re: Help with Solar / Wind hook-up

    And/or get a small panel (10 watts or so) that you can leave up while you are gone to trickle charge the battery... Small and nobody will bother it--or if something happens--you will be able to take the loss.

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