Vertical Axis Wind generator (a Forgen 500NT) rolls on my mizzen mast

[antaris]

Here it is:


It is quiet and rotates fine - and I just checked the Voltage on the 2-core cable that comes down the mast: anything from 5v all the way up to 20v, on a windy day (10-20knots, variable).

It was connected directly to my batteries. Is that a good setup? Surely 20V is not good (albeit with veeery low A). Should I connect it to some sort of controller?

Next year, I plan to connect a solar panel and controller - so (since it is there already) can I also connect this to the same controller - and maybe buy the solar panels next year? I thought, since it is there and seems operational, to use it as trickle charger. Not going up there to remove and ditch - as yet.

PS Pretty low amperage, really, but in Aegean winds are pretty often in the 20-35 knots range.

 

[Rappey]

With two wires the output is dc. Most are ac output into a charge controler.
You can't connect your generator to a solar charge controler as they basically work by just turning off when battery's are charged. Letting your wind spin with no load will damage it.
Dc wind needs a dump load for excess power to drain to and dc charge controler are hard to come by.
With a large battery bank and little input you may not need a charge controler.
I have a 20a aerogen connected directly to battery.
A computerised dump load connects to battery and draws power to stop battery overcharging when needed

 

[antaris]

With two wires the output is dc. Most are ac output into a charge controler.
You can't connect your generator to a solar charge controler as they basically work by just turning off when battery's are charged. Letting your wind spin with no load will damage it.
Dc wind needs a dump load for excess power to drain to and dc charge controler are hard to come by.
With a large battery bank and little input you may not need a charge controler.
I have a 20a aerogen connected directly to battery.
A computerised dump load connects to battery and draws power to stop battery overcharging when needed

Thank you for taking time to respond!

I see - so I could reconnect directly onto batteries, regardless of the fluctuating current.

You mention that "Letting your wind spin with no load will damage it."... I disconnected it yesterday (fixing cabling) should I immediately reconnect it, as it is currently spinning?

 

[Rappey]

Spinning with no load can damage the rectifier that is built into the unit and the unit can overspeed leading to self destruction.
If you need to disconnect I would suggest temporarily connecting any 12v item that can draw 3+ amps as a load. (55w halogen bulb?)
I can't remember the actual figure but something like if the current input is less than 10% of battery capacity then you can get away without a charge controler
give it time and I'm sure others will give the finer details

 

[andsarkit]

I would guess that the maximum speed is self limiting as the design is not very aerodynamic and at high speed the blades will interfere and the flow will become turbulent. For a few extra pennies I would hope that the rectifier is rated to at least 100V. I don't think a small unit like this is going to be damaged without a load.
The average output is unlikely to be more than half an amp so a direct battery connection (with fuse) would be OK. If you monitor the battery voltage and it stays below about 13.8V then they will not be harmed.
Years ago I had a similar low power Selectromarine wind generator that kept the batteries topped up but was fairly useless for real charging.

 

[ProDave]

Don't expect much from that charger. You don't get up to 1 amp of charge until you are up to a gale. Those things just are not very efficient at all. And that 1 amp is just 12 watts.

A small solar panel will do far more for your battery than that ever will.

 

[doug748]

Some very interesting stuff here:

Seismology support from GEO-eWorkshop | Main / Wind-solar-power browse

Which leads you to here:

V30 Microturbine | Prolectric Ltd

I don't know if these units are still available but did notice that one of the recent Round the World amateur racers used one and was his sole power source the whole way around. Apparently they are good to 100mph !

.

 

[antaris]

Some very interesting stuff here:

Seismology support from GEO-eWorkshop | Main / Wind-solar-power browse

Which leads you to here:

V30 Microturbine | Prolectric Ltd

I don't know if these units are still available but did notice that one of the recent Round the World amateur racers used one and was his sole power source the whole way around. Apparently they are good to 100mph !

.

Similar - if not identical design, that one. As for 100mph... the gear may be able to take it - but I hope to be down the pub!

(On another note, just ordered some solar panels - now I gotta go down this charade, to install!)