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ant_ocal
Member

Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 7

Testing a wind turbine & solar panel lamp

03/21/2008 10:44 AM

I need to test an off-grid wind turbine & solar panel lamp and would appreicate some guidance on the equipment required and where to purchase.

The setup consists of a wind turbine (rated 400W@15m/s), PV panel (120W), Lamp (55W), controller and 2x 12V 150Ahr batteries.

I need to measure wind speed (m/s), rpm, sunlight, and the power o/p from the turbine and the PV panel. Also need to monitor batteries.

Thanks

Anthony
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WindGenMan
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Redding, CA
Posts: 64
Good Answers: 7
#1

Re: Testing a wind turbine & solar panel lamp

03/22/2008 1:01 AM

Hi Anthony,

I might be able to help you but first I need to know: What is it you want to learn from these tests?

The reason I ask is that we may discover that some of the information you seek is already out there or can be obtained without spending money unnecessarily.


WindGenMan

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 There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance—that principle is contempt prior to investigation.” – Herbert Spencer
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ant_ocal
Member

Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 7
#3
In reply to #1

Re: Testing a wind turbine & solar panel lamp

03/22/2008 7:56 AM

Thanks for your reply.

I am looking at importing these lamps and want to compare how they perform in Ireland with the data supplied by the manufacturer.

Essentially I would like to produce a power curve for the turbine and measure the energy o/p of the PV panel throughtout the day.

Thanks

Anthony
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elnav
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Canada - Member - New Member Hobbies - Musician - New Member

Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Western Canada
Posts: 1863
Good Answers: 39
#2

Re: Testing a wind turbine & solar panel lamp

03/22/2008 1:09 AM

How accurately do you need to be? Where in the world are you located? No point in sending you to buy stuff in a store located a continent away.

Locally I can buy wind speed indicators at prices anywhere from $10 up to $1000. I also know people who built them from scrap pieces and calibrated them by driving down the road with a car and holding the anemometer out the open window. Done that myself.

What exactly are you testing for? A school project or a commercial venture, or just for a one off home installation.

Do you need to data log over a period of time.

One of the best products for assessing electrical generation and storage is called a LINK 10. Check eBay for deald. Seveal copy products are now also available from BEP, Mastervolt, Victron and Xantrex if you look up the product brand names. Thsi device can measure accumulated amp hours and discharged amp hours. It wil show capacity remainign in the battery bank. It also measures instantaneous current and voltage on a battery system.

If you are trying to assess a photo voltaic panel, remmeber that one square meter of earth's surface received 1000 watts of sunlight energy. To measure how efficient the PV panel is you measure the output from same across a calibrated load resistor. Crude but effective.

Expect to get about 15% - 18% return.

Wind turbines are usually tested at 10 meters above a flat unobstructed surface with nothing to create wind eddies or turbulence for at least 100 meters around. Spec sheet data can be skewed by elevating the wind turbine to a much higher tower. Numbers look good but you wil lnever be able to match then in real life. Your spec sounds like an Air-X which never yields as much power in real life. I just ordered the newer Breeze model which at first glance looks like less but is in fact more output over an averaged period of time.

Good luck

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 Elnav
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ant_ocal
Member

Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 7
#4
In reply to #2

Re: Testing a wind turbine & solar panel lamp

03/22/2008 8:38 AM

Thanks for the information.

I am based in Ireland and I am looking at importing the lamps but I want to compare how they perform in Ireland with the data supplied by the manufacturer.

Essentially I would like to produce a power curve for the turbine and measure the energy o/p of the PV panel and the turbine throughtout the day and compare this with the consumption of the lamp. So yes I am looking at logging data over a period of months.

The link10 looks like it will monitor everything I need on the batteries.

The turbine is mounted on top of a 10.5m pole and the area is a flat open space.

Thanks again

Anthony
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MUKULMAHANT
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Engineering Fields - Systems Engineering - New Member Hobbies - Model Rocketry - New Member

Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Long.92E,Lat.26N
Posts: 1336
Good Answers: 14
#5

Re: Testing a wind turbine & solar panel lamp

03/22/2008 12:30 PM

WIND TURBINE:Let us revisit "Internal Resistance" (of a DC generator ?) .

Don't you have a Rpm indicating Tachometer Signal Coming down already .

You do need one .

In any case Log these:

  • Terminal Volts at No Load Current at various wind speeds
  • Terminal Volts at Recommended max. Load Current -- at various wind speeds

PV PANEL: Log -(No-load&Full Load ) at various insolation(Solar Brightnesses). Don't you have a standard insolation meter(watt/ perpendicular sq.meter?)

LAMP- 55W @ 24V? You need Ammeter+Voltmeter+ Rheostat .

You say you HAVE a Controller is it this Rheostat?

-----------------------

Summary: You need only the items in Italics.

Means you need 1 Multimeter, 1 Tachometer(if not already with Wind Turbine) and an Insolation Meter. Voila
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Anonymous Poster
#6

Re: Testing a wind turbine & solar panel lamp

03/22/2008 6:34 PM

Where are you? We are a chinese dealer. Please contact with us, Henryzhang1@hotmail.com
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Users who posted comments:

Anonymous Poster (1); ant_ocal (2); elnav (1); MUKULMAHANT (1); WindGenMan (1)

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