Follow up electrical question - Rutland 913 windgen.

chasroberts

chasroberts

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Gentlemen and Ladies

My apologies for the repeated post on this but I am near wits end on how to resolve this....

Set up is as follows:
Rutland 913 Windgen
Uni-Solar 32W Flexible solar panel
Rutland RWS200 charge regulator
Feeding double banks of batteries. (200Ah and 100Ah)

Nice sunny day in southern Portugal. About 12-15kts of breeze. Panel in full sun. Rutland whizzing round at great rate of knots.

Voltage read from windgen when disconnected from controller around 20.5.
Voltage read from solar panel when disconnected from controller around the same.

As soon as both or either is connected to controller then the voltage read from terminal of windgen and solar panel identical at around 6.5V. Even with only one of the two connected the voltage reads the same on the controller at both terminals. Apparently some problem with the controller but does anybody have any idea what? Fuse on controller is fine.

Please, please any help would be very greatfully welcomed.

Thanks in advance as always.

Chas
 
some controllers need to be connected up to the batteries and charging devices in a particular order, so that the internals can set themselves up properly.

I don't know the Rutland charger instructions on this point. worth checking ? Or worth an email to Rutland ?
 
Agreed it sounds like a faulty regulator.
I cannot find any info on that regulator as it is an obsolete type having been superseded by the HRDX. Presumably though from your readings it is a shunt type. The HRDX is pulse width modulated.
But is it merely shunting both wind generator and solar panel because the batteries are fully charged?

I would contact Marlec for advice but unless they are able to offer a repair service or refer you to a local agent they will probably recommend replacement with an HRDX. The alternative is a local electronics expert who could sort it out.

Maybe William H in Australia will have some ideas when he wakes up tomorrow morning (late this evening for us)
 
On the right hand side of the RWS200, about half way up you will see a little red light. Is it on? if so the RWS is shunting the charge from the panel and 913 because the batteries are charged. The reduced readings could be caused by the loading of the shunt.
Have fited and used a similar set up, minus solar panel but as it has always been working I have never noted the 913 voltage readings.
What voltage readings do you get on the ouput terminals to the batteries? They may give an indication of battery state.
BTW I would not have thought it a good idea to disconnect the 913 whilst running, may not be good for the diodes.
Sorry can't be more specific.
 
Hi Alex

No light I'm afraid! Main battery bank is only 10 days old and in good condition so can't see the problem is there. Only disconnected the 913 and let it run up to half speed to make sure that wasn't the problem. Same with solar panel.

Thanks for the input. Anymore ideas welcomed.
 
Hmmmmm??

The Rutland Wind Genny 913 is listed as 12 volt unit.
The Uni-Solar 32Watt is listed as 12 volts.
The Rutland RWS-200 seems to be listed as 24 volts regulator.

The Rutland SR-200 and the HRS-913 are listed as the compatible regulators for use with the 913?

If yours are compatible, have you tried feeding the regulator from both the wind and solar units through a high current series diode, one for each device?
 
[ QUOTE ]
The Rutland RWS-200 seems to be listed as 24 volts regulator.

[/ QUOTE ]
I don't know where you found that but what I found out was that it was the predecessor of the HRDX 12volt and 24 volt controllers and is based on the SR 200 regulator!

Possibly it was dual voltage or there were 12 and 24 volt versions
 
All the RWS-200's listed on e-Bay seem to be 24 volt types and I did see an installation listed which also showed a RWS-200 as a 24 volt regulator.

BUT digging a little deeper, I have seen 24 volt types, 12 volt types and dual 12/24volt types?

For the more technical searches, I use < www.ixquick.com > as it can take a Boolean logic input. At the government radio research laboratories I found it more useful than Google which at that time was still in its infancy. We also used InSpec which I no longer have access to /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

http://www.theiet.org/
 
ring marlec, thier support is very good. Unfortunetly i am less impressed with thier products, i had a rws controller which constantly misbehaved and teh new HDRX blew transistors at a great rate of knots. now using teh new HRSI which does seem better. I split my charge control, one for wind one for solar. was a pain to get working but now pleased i did.
regards
Roy
 
Chas. Noted that you say your battery bank is only 10 days old! How long have you had the problem with the charging? Might sound daft but check your battery wiring, polarities etc.
 
Hi Alex and everybody

Problem with the charging seems to have occurred during the winter sometime.

Old batteries were simply replaced connection for connection so don't believe the problem is there. Still can't understand why the voltage drop is occurring at the terminals.

Have emailed marlec with the same query. Whilst the controller is about 4 years old I will be a bit miffed if it is shot.... We'll see what they say . Once again thanks for all your thoughts.

Chas
 
John Holloway is on 351 914902538 or nojfairchild@hotmail.com. Or he is usually round Lagos Marina most days at some stage. Ask a marinero to point him out. Your problem sounds just like the sort of thing that he loves to deal with.Good luck.
 
Have you tried the obvious, by-pass the regulator ? had a quick scan through and could not spot you had. At least you know if it's faulty, or problem is else were.
It does sound like the reg dumping the charge.

Brian
 
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