Which Windcharger Regulator

[VicS]

The Marlec HRS504 Regulator is a dump reg. I have one (probably an earlier version) on my 913.
PS £50 https://www.force4.co.uk/marlec-hrs504-regulator-12v.html

Thats not the impression I get from reading Marlec's description

HRS504 12V Regulator
The HRS Charge Controller was the first Marlec regulator to incorporate electronic Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) technology to regulate battery voltage to prevent overcharge. This generation of voltage regulation saw the end of the need for bulky heat sinks to dissipate excess energy generated by the windcharger and, more importantly for the lifetime of the windcharger, introduced speed limiting to the turbine when the battery is full.
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[LadyInBed]

Thats not the impression I get from reading Marlec's description

Ah! You could well be right, as I said, mine is an earlier version which I think is a dump type!

 

[VicS]

Ah! You could well be right, as I said, mine is an earlier version which I think is a dump type!

If its a "dump" type it will have a big resistor and heat sink to which the power is diverted.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

If its a "dump" type it will have a big resistor and heat sink to which the power is diverted.

I looked around for dump voltage regulators and they appear to be the bulky resistance type. The Aerogen wind charger on the boat, is an old one but works well; however, if I dont find a suitable low cost regulator, I may be better off replacecing the Aerogen with a modern one. Thanks for replies; much appreciated

 

[VicS]

I looked around for dump voltage regulators and they appear to be the bulky resistance type. The Aerogen wind charger on the boat, is an old one but works well; however, if I dont find a suitable low cost regulator, I may be better off replacecing the Aerogen with a modern one. Thanks for replies; much appreciated

Tha'ts right. That is how they work, the power from the wind turbine being to a ballast resistor and heat sink where it is dissipated as heat. There appears to be a snag with some in as much that they cannot be used if there is another charging system connected to the battery. I guess the dump system tries to dump the output from that as well .The dual battery Aerogen controller gets around this. Again I guess, because it incorporates diodes in its battery connections.

I've no idea what it is about the modern Marlec/ Rutland windchargers and controllers that makes them compatible with each other or why the modern Marlec PWM controllers are not compatible with the Aerogens. I imagine its something to do with the fact that a wind turbine is an inductive device and that pulse width modulation will cause damaging voltage surges I can't help feeling that an electronics expert could come up with a work around