Rutland 503 wind generator

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mdonnelly

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How can I measure output of this? Attached to 110aHr battery via a regulator but battery definately not being charged. Regulator shows that it is charging but battery is <12v. Any ideas? Thanks in advance, Mark.
 
What are you measuring with?
If you have a multimeter, check the amps flowing and the voltage at the battery AND at the generator.
Try it with the regulator removed for a wee while, but monitor the battery voltage and keep it below 15V.
If your weather is anything like ours at the moment, it should be full to the brim!
 
mdonnelly said:
How can I measure output of this? Attached to 110aHr battery via a regulator but battery definately not being charged. Regulator shows that it is charging but battery is <12v. Any ideas? Thanks in advance, Mark.
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In 10kts of wind, mine makes 0.1a. In 20kts it peaks at 1.0a.
Its enough, over the week, to keep my batteries just topped up so I can start the engine.

I have a DCM600 monitor which works very well

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I can hear my voltage relays chattering over to the domestic bank in high winds when the start battery (to which it is attached) is full.
 
mdonnelly said:
Have been trying multimeter but seems to stop the generator. Is this possible??
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If you've got the meter set to AMPS and you're measuring across the generator as you would while measuring VOLTS, then yes, you may stall the generator by effectively putting a short circuit across it.
Amps are measured by putting the meter in series with the rest of the circuit, however, what you may have proved, is that the generator is working as it is the power it generates which causes it to stall.
Measure the voltage at the generator terminals (before it goes to the regulator) and also at the battery. Any significant difference points to the regulator.
Try connecting the generator directly to the battery and see if the voltage starts to rise.
If you use the meter set to AMPS as one of the leads in the direct setup above, it will tell you how much charge current is flowing.
 
I was completely baffled for a while when testing my 503. I was using a digital multimeter to test the voltage output of the generator, and the reading was zero, even when the blades were turning quite fast. I had the meter set to 20V range. It turned out that the open-circuit (disconnected) voltage from the generator was a lot higher than 20V, and in that case the meter read zero. When I changed the range to 200V I got a reading (I can't recall what it was). I don't suppose all meters behave in this way, but it's possible that's your problem.
 
''Amps are measured by putting the meter in series with the rest of the circuit, however, what you may have proved, is that the generator is working as it is the power it generates which causes it to stall.''

The generated voltage is actually acting as an electrical brake.

You have set the meter to read DC haven't you ?? I know its probably obvious but have seen it done before.

Is the battery good ??
 
If you have less than 12v showing... you have a dead battery... and I would be gobsmacked if your 503 would provide anywere near to enough oomph to recharge it.

My 503 certainly would not have... and never did!

The 503 is really only good for keeping a battery in charge... versus charging it up from dead. Especially one as large as a 110ah....

I would also look at how you are running this power into your battery... for instance... are you runing it through a split charge diode thing??

As originally set up my 503 was trying to charge a 140ah battery via the center pole of a split charger... with a 50ah starting battery on as well.... So I was trying to push the power through the split charge.... (Were you get a loss as well BTW) into 190 ah of batteries...

This was a no hopper!

I now have the new 504 running straight into the 140ah battery... I still suspect that this battery is too big to be getting anything usefull from the 504.... I suspect that a 110ah is only just do-able.

I would suggest make sure you are running straight into the battery from the regulator... and get the battery up to charge on the motor before expecting the 503 to keep it topped up whilst unnattended... If you look at the Marlec site they kinda hint that it is only really good at keeping a starting battery from going flat!

I think the 913 is the minimum needed to have a usefull windy.... we only got ours to keep them topped up on the mooring..... in reality I think the 503/4 is next to useless, and i am intent on replacing it when funds allow!
 
The OP said his battery was new, so I assume it came charged and that the Wind Genny is not keeping it that way.

If you have checked all cables connections & the likes I think you need to now check the brushes and commutator, and the bridge rectifier. Possibly one or more of the diodes has gone U/S which means you might not get a reading on a digital meter.
 
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Had the same problem so I bit the bullet and threw the regulator away (Not lterally) since then I have seen a signifiant output. Since high winds during the summer last for relative short periods the batteries are always charged. Service battery has auto bildge connected and a known leak, so that must run every 12 hours or so it (503) keeps up with it ok.
 
The OP said his battery was new, so I assume it came charged
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You cannot rely on that. They should be recharged if held in stock I think after 6 months but one I bought some years ago had clearly not been.
A phone call to Lucas had their technical department wondering "where it had been all this while" when i quoted the serial number!
 
Disconnect from the battery. Measure the battery voltage. Reconnect the charger and measure the voltage again. The first reading will give you a guide as to the battery state, the second should be higher if the charger is working. (Make sure it is whzzing round) You don't say what your regulator is. I only have experience of the older 913 regulator that will dump the geny o/p to a shunt at about 13.8 volts. This is signified by a red LED on the regulator. I wouldn't worry too much about measuring amps. If you have the volts the amps will look after themselves!
Note: Marlec state that a 503 is for batteries up to 100ah so if your battery is a bit low to start with it may struggle.
 
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mdonnelly said:
its a HRS 12v regulator. As Marlec recommend the 503 for batteries up to 100ah will connecting it to a 110ah battery make a significant difference?
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If your battery is discharged it will draw more amps when the charger is "switched on" the bigger the battery, the bigger the current (amps) It is possible that the charger sees 110ah as pulling too much current and regulates it back to prevent overload. That is a bit of a guess as the info on the Marlec website is a bit sparse.
As some one else said with a reading under 12 volts your battery would appear to be a bit low. I would get the battery charged up first and then see how the geny performs. You say the geny and the regulator are both new so I would be inclined to make sure the battery charge is well up first. Also just double check all your wiring and connections are correct and tight.
 
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