The power/solar/batteries/generator thread

[7.62x39(4)life]

48 volt system. The advantage to 48 over 24 is lower current, smaller gauge wire $, single series string of batteries.

1180 AH battery bank, 24-2volt cells. A nominal 50V's x 1180 = 59, 000 watts capacity. We use about 8 KW's a day. Battery bank gives us 3 day storage discharging down to 50%. Very rare to go 3 days w/o sun or wind.

This is always the best way to build a battery bank for sure, as differences in battery internal resistance can cause havoc in larger Parallel Strings of batteries.

48 volts is a good battery bank voltage for wind turbine systems, with long cable runs out to the tower.

In larger electrical substations they use a 125-130Vdc battery system consisting of a large string of batteries that is center grounded for so if you touch a wire it is only + or - 65 VDC with respect to ground.


I have a high voltage dc grid tied solar system all planned out, when I have the money...

[paulmartin483]

Yups I am also trying to design a solar power battery charger that won't overcharge batteries. I've worked out how to make a basic solar charger with solar panel, blocking diode, voltage regular, battery, but I can't figure out how to prevent the batteries from overcharging if I leave them out. I was thinking that an NPN transistor might be useful as a switch, but I don't know where to start.Any suggestions.

[offgrid]

Yups I am also trying to design a solar power battery charger that won't overcharge batteries. I've worked out how to make a basic solar charger with solar panel, blocking diode, voltage regular, battery, but I can't figure out how to prevent the batteries from overcharging if I leave them out. I was thinking that an NPN transistor might be useful as a switch, but I don't know where to start.Any suggestions.

Suggest a Morningstar TS45 or a Xantrex C40 charge controller. These monitor the battery voltage/charge, no worries about overcharging. If you are wanting to build a charge controller, check out www.otherpower.com forum, I'm sure you can find a schematic for one. Hugh Piggot, a well know small wind turbine designer posts over there. Or google Hugh Piggot.

What do you have for panel(s), batteries? Voltage?

The link you provided, do you work for that company? Do you have a Southwest wind turbine?

[jerrymrc]

Suggest a Morningstar TS45 or a Xantrex C40 charge controller. These monitor the battery voltage/charge, no worries about overcharging. If you are wanting to build a charge controller, check out www.otherpower.com forum, I'm sure you can find a schematic for one. Hugh Piggot, a well know small wind turbine designer posts over there. Or google Hugh Piggot.

What do you have for panel(s), batteries? Voltage?

The link you provided, do you work for that company? Do you have a Southwest wind turbine?

I do like the article here. http://www.otherpower.com/popup.html This is exactly how I learned. I used to camp for 5-7 days at a time up at the Buffalo Creek range. This is how through trial and error exactly what and how was needed. Even though I have worked the electronics field for 30 years now it was fun and challenging to learn something new. This led to my LED trials and other projects.

I do need to find another place to camp in the middle of nowhere.

[DOC]

I got my own ideas for getting off the grid. About $5,000 will fix all my electric and car needs.

[mangyhyena]

I got my own ideas for getting off the grid. About $5,000 will fix all my electric and car needs.

Wood gas? I priced them out at around $5K and they'll make electricity or run a vehicle. Do I get 5 points for a right answer or the big buzzer for being off base?
If I'm right, have you checked into storing wood gas in pressurized tanks? Someone is doing that right now. Don't know how safe that is, but it's being done. That would allow you to build up a store of fuel ahead of time and it would allow you to run your vehicle without pulling a gasifier along for the ride on a trailer.

[DOC]

Its the buzzer sorry. Wood gas sounds very interesting indeed. If done with the right wood one could smoke a brisket while making fuel for their car.
Mine idea is an engine idea that I've been kicking around since 1999 or so. I've tried it once but haven't committed to finishing it yet. The idea of pissing off the OPEC because we wouldn't need their oil anymore is what I see happening and its a double edged sword. And it wouldn't require a change in lifestyle so I think it would catch on with everyone after a while.

[funkfool]

This looks like a good deal... but it also looks like it may be cheap and easily destructable...
Anyone have experience with a simple charger like this? Jerry?



Wavelength Emergency Radio, Charger & Flashlight

http://beprepared.com/product.asp?pn=CL%20L530&sid=INEM881&EID=ALL1010&l m=emer&bhcd2=1285948940

The Wavelength is a crucial emergency preparedness item. It is an AM/FM radio, a cell phone charger and a rechargeable flashlight all in one!

A hand crank charges the built-in Nickel Metal Hydride battery. The battery will run the radio for up to 12 minutes from just 1 minute of cranking.

One of the unique features of the Wavelength is its ability to charge a cell phone with its universal charging cable. Unlike other cell phone chargers, the Wavelength comes with a cable that looks just like your car's power outlet. This allows you to plug in phones, PDA's, and other electronics that have car-charging cables. Simply connect the included cable into the Wavelength™, then plug in your car charging cable, and finally plug in the electronic device, and begin cranking. It's that easy! The unit sends the electricity to your device as long as you crank at the rate of two turns per second. The Wavelength™ isn't any faster at charging your electronics than your car, so if you have a very low battery, you'll have to crank for a while to get a full charge. But in an emergency you should get about 3 minutes of talk-time for every minute of cranking.

There is also a 3 LED flashlight that toggles between two brightness settings. The flashlight will stay on for up to 30 minutes on the low setting (only using 1 LED bulb) for every minute of cranking.

We highly recommend that you include the Wavelength Emergency Radio, Charger & Flashlight in your emergency supplies.

[Irving]

Here is my failed attempt at trying to improve a similar flashlight. http://www.co-ar15.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20482

I love the concept, but the batter in all three of my wind up flashlights is a tiny button battery that really doesn't last long at all. I need to try this again but just haven't gotten around to it.

[jerrymrc]

This looks like a good deal... but it also looks like it may be cheap and easily destructable...
Anyone have experience with a simple charger like this? Jerry?


Wavelength Emergency Radio, Charger & Flashlight

http://beprepared.com/product.asp?pn...cd2=1285948940

The Wavelength is a crucial emergency preparedness item. It is an AM/FM radio, a cell phone charger and a rechargeable flashlight all in one!

A hand crank charges the built-in Nickel Metal Hydride battery. The battery will run the radio for up to 12 minutes from just 1 minute of cranking.

One of the unique features of the Wavelength is its ability to charge a cell phone with its universal charging cable. Unlike other cell phone chargers, the Wavelength comes with a cable that looks just like your car's power outlet. This allows you to plug in phones, PDA's, and other electronics that have car-charging cables. Simply connect the included cable into the Wavelength™, then plug in your car charging cable, and finally plug in the electronic device, and begin cranking. It's that easy! The unit sends the electricity to your device as long as you crank at the rate of two turns per second. The Wavelength™ isn't any faster at charging your electronics than your car, so if you have a very low battery, you'll have to crank for a while to get a full charge. But in an emergency you should get about 3 minutes of talk-time for every minute of cranking.

There is also a 3 LED flashlight that toggles between two brightness settings. The flashlight will stay on for up to 30 minutes on the low setting (only using 1 LED bulb) for every minute of cranking.

We highly recommend that you include the Wavelength Emergency Radio, Charger & Flashlight in your emergency supplies.

It would be alright to have for $12 as long as the shipping does not kill ya. The wife has one like it in her van. OK for what it is.