help with a controller for a windgenerator powered heater
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Posts: 46,084
Hello,
I am looking for a controller for a small wall heater which will be
powered by a windgenerator. The output from the generator will be
around 0-100v dc at a maximum continuous of around 500w. When the
generator starts turning the voltage will begin to rise so the
controller will be required to gradually increase the load as it
gathers speed and decrease the load when it slows down. I am pretty
much a beginner at electronics so any help would be much appreciated.
Regards
I am looking for a controller for a small wall heater which will be
powered by a windgenerator. The output from the generator will be
around 0-100v dc at a maximum continuous of around 500w. When the
generator starts turning the voltage will begin to rise so the
controller will be required to gradually increase the load as it
gathers speed and decrease the load when it slows down. I am pretty
much a beginner at electronics so any help would be much appreciated.
Regards
Comments
>Hello,
>
>I am looking for a controller for a small wall heater which will be
>powered by a windgenerator. The output from the generator will be
>around 0-100v dc at a maximum continuous of around 500w. When the
>generator starts turning the voltage will begin to rise so the
>controller will be required to gradually increase the load as it
>gathers speed and decrease the load when it slows down. I am pretty
>much a beginner at electronics so any help would be much appreciated.
>
>Regards
>
>If the heater has multiple settings (high, medium, low), you may be able
>to tap
>into that with relays. Perhpas you could describe the heater, or provide a
>link ?
>
>Bruce Bates
110v one. I am not sure what controls it will have.
Original Message
From: Bruce Bates [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=a2TTzMLoYHGZf41NCuKjDrN8iir_t0qxKTTfH0X6b_z1Bua0vEjUyBrzB1aPcS7UWQHP6rM7FsbcZdLo]bvbates@u...[/url
Sent: 07 November 2003 14:38
To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] help with a controller for a windgenerator
powered heater
At 10:41 AM 11/7/03 +0000, hallmgr wrote:
>Hello,
>
>I am looking for a controller for a small wall heater which will be
>powered by a windgenerator. The output from the generator will be
>around 0-100v dc at a maximum continuous of around 500w. When the
>generator starts turning the voltage will begin to rise so the
>controller will be required to gradually increase the load as it
>gathers speed and decrease the load when it slows down. I am pretty
>much a beginner at electronics so any help would be much appreciated.
>
>Regards
>
>If the heater has multiple settings (high, medium, low), you may be able
>to tap
>into that with relays. Perhpas you could describe the heater, or provide a
>link ?
>
>Bruce Bates
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> Hello,
>
> I am looking for a controller for a small wall heater which will be
> powered by a windgenerator. The output from the generator will be
> around 0-100v dc at a maximum continuous of around 500w. When the
> generator starts turning the voltage will begin to rise so the
> controller will be required to gradually increase the load as it
> gathers speed and decrease the load when it slows down. I am
pretty
> much a beginner at electronics so any help would be much
appreciated.
>
> Regards
I'm not sure I follow.
as the wind speed changes, the heater increases ? that would make
heat dependant on wind speed ?
are you sure the voltage from the generator is not contorlled so you
get 100VAC at any speed above "x" but the available amps changes with
speed ?
Dave
When the voltage rises, the current rises accordingly.
You have to verify that a typhon will not burn the heater.
Regards
ECO
Original Message
From: "hallmgr" <HallMG@b...>
To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, November 07, 2003 11:41 AM
Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] help with a controller for a windgenerator powered heater
> Hello,
>
> I am looking for a controller for a small wall heater which will be
> powered by a windgenerator. The output from the generator will be
> around 0-100v dc at a maximum continuous of around 500w. When the
> generator starts turning the voltage will begin to rise so the
> controller will be required to gradually increase the load as it
> gathers speed and decrease the load when it slows down. I am pretty
> much a beginner at electronics so any help would be much appreciated.
>
> Regards
>
>
>
>
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and Body
of the message will be ignored.
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>
windgenerator to get up to speed before connecting the load. Connecting all the
load in one go would be too much for the generator, it would probably stall, so
some kind of gradual loading would be required as the generator increases speed
to maintain optimum loading. The generator produces unregulated dc from 0 to
around 100v so so I thought the controller would be able to monitor this to
control the loading? All I require from the heater is for it to deliver what
heat it can depending on the power from the wind, I dont need any specific heat
settings other than an emergency cut out. The generator has to be kept loaded
when it is running or it will overspeed.
Melvin.
Original Message
From: Dave Mucha [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=SmthpgzJJQu6o2gJtyKDi-14u5jUTfjD0wavUurkNIngRiKh9KSyTT7pQbi0rCLeQD_cVrzeknZJ]davemucha@j...[/url
Sent: 07 November 2003 15:49
To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: help with a controller for a windgenerator
powered heater
--- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "hallmgr" <HallMG@b...> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I am looking for a controller for a small wall heater which will be
> powered by a windgenerator. The output from the generator will be
> around 0-100v dc at a maximum continuous of around 500w. When the
> generator starts turning the voltage will begin to rise so the
> controller will be required to gradually increase the load as it
> gathers speed and decrease the load when it slows down. I am
pretty
> much a beginner at electronics so any help would be much
appreciated.
>
> Regards
I'm not sure I follow.
as the wind speed changes, the heater increases ? that would make
heat dependant on wind speed ?
are you sure the voltage from the generator is not contorlled so you
get 100VAC at any speed above "x" but the available amps changes with
speed ?
Dave
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wrote:
> What I am looking for is some kind of controller which will allow
the windgenerator to get up to speed before connecting the load.
Connecting all the load in one go would be too much for the
generator, it would probably stall, so some kind of gradual loading
would be required as the generator increases speed to maintain
optimum loading. The generator produces unregulated dc from 0 to
around 100v so so I thought the controller would be able to monitor
this to control the loading? All I require from the heater is for
it to deliver what heat it can depending on the power from the wind,
I dont need any specific heat settings other than an emergency cut
out. The generator has to be kept loaded when it is running or it
will overspeed.
>
> Melvin.
The heater is a resistive load. as the generator increases above
zero, the get some voltage and some current. do ohms law on what you
can find on the spec sheet for the unit.
the heater will not prevent the generator from turning as it cannot
get 10 amps when only 1/10th amp is being generated.
It seems like you have the easist setup. the heater is a resistive
load and will just follow the curve of voltage and amps as the
generator changes speed.
Storage Batteries on the other hand are much more sensitive to a very
narrow voltage band and require electronics.
If you are just looking for a project, considder a voltage monitor
that turns on different heaters at different voltages. maybe even a
fan will be turned at some voltage and a voltage regulation circuit
to keep the fan voltage constant.
Dave
heater on when the generator gets going. How would I go about obtaining one?
Melvin.
Original Message
From: Dave Mucha [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=oWXL15Ql0lFHib6GH_LT6l-3_uPwVtpTo3y7LgCizURsa-va7BhF4NM5RyxvUesvME_4TsvVko6slw]davemucha@j...[/url
Sent: 07 November 2003 18:21
To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: help with a controller for a windgenerator
powered heater
--- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "Hall, Melvin GR" <HallMG@b...>
wrote:
> What I am looking for is some kind of controller which will allow
the windgenerator to get up to speed before connecting the load.
Connecting all the load in one go would be too much for the
generator, it would probably stall, so some kind of gradual loading
would be required as the generator increases speed to maintain
optimum loading. The generator produces unregulated dc from 0 to
around 100v so so I thought the controller would be able to monitor
this to control the loading? All I require from the heater is for
it to deliver what heat it can depending on the power from the wind,
I dont need any specific heat settings other than an emergency cut
out. The generator has to be kept loaded when it is running or it
will overspeed.
>
> Melvin.
The heater is a resistive load. as the generator increases above
zero, the get some voltage and some current. do ohms law on what you
can find on the spec sheet for the unit.
the heater will not prevent the generator from turning as it cannot
get 10 amps when only 1/10th amp is being generated.
It seems like you have the easist setup. the heater is a resistive
load and will just follow the curve of voltage and amps as the
generator changes speed.
Storage Batteries on the other hand are much more sensitive to a very
narrow voltage band and require electronics.
If you are just looking for a project, considder a voltage monitor
that turns on different heaters at different voltages. maybe even a
fan will be turned at some voltage and a voltage regulation circuit
to keep the fan voltage constant.
Dave
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generator when it gets up to speed so it wont stall.
Melvin.
Original Message
From: ECO [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=oEO5Ss0qbmsMSp4PSoLEAwFmJYRnY701N1ffqVV7cG1PqaT3cdbg7BWr_kH_CVbSfOs0ALdoc0Fr]ecourt@b...[/url
Sent: 07 November 2003 15:56
To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] help with a controller for a windgenerator
powered heater
You need absolutely nothing.
When the voltage rises, the current rises accordingly.
You have to verify that a typhon will not burn the heater.
Regards
ECO
Original Message
From: "hallmgr" <HallMG@b...>
To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, November 07, 2003 11:41 AM
Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] help with a controller for a windgenerator powered heater
> Hello,
>
> I am looking for a controller for a small wall heater which will be
> powered by a windgenerator. The output from the generator will be
> around 0-100v dc at a maximum continuous of around 500w. When the
> generator starts turning the voltage will begin to rise so the
> controller will be required to gradually increase the load as it
> gathers speed and decrease the load when it slows down. I am pretty
> much a beginner at electronics so any help would be much appreciated.
>
> Regards
>
>
>
>
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and Body
of the message will be ignored.
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>
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If I understand correctly, you want to turn on a heater when there is enough
current to run it, and change the setting on the heater from low to high
depending on the current available.
I assume that the heater has switches to set the heat output. A relay could
be used to switch between them. Have the Stamp check the input voltage, and
if it's high enough, then try the heater on low. If the voltage remains OK,
switch to high. If it drops, cut out the heater. You will need to set the
parameters to avoid too rapid switching on and off. Does the heater have a
thermostat? If not, you could easily add a temp. sensor and control the room
temp. This would allow you to use the current being generated for other
things once the room is warm enough.
Another option would be to get the windspeed from the generator. You could
use a NIB magnet and a Hall effect sensor. Then you could turn the system on
when the wind gets above X miles per hour.
Hope this helps,
Jonathan
www.madlabs.info
Original Message
From: "Hall, Melvin GR" <HallMG@b...>
To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, November 10, 2003 8:24 AM
Subject: RE: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] help with a controller for a windgenerator
powered heater
> I will need some kind of controller that will only connect the load to the
generator when it gets up to speed so it wont stall.
>
> Melvin.
>
>
Original Message
> From: ECO [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=tSYn30jN-tlpdPuX-m5g2LY6FZ2tuiV-DnVsGD58XUdRUOD0sZHzOC5qxK2hRFvWoZ5ElBdtNKXUNOARas8]ecourt@b...[/url
> Sent: 07 November 2003 15:56
> To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] help with a controller for a windgenerator
> powered heater
>
>
> You need absolutely nothing.
> When the voltage rises, the current rises accordingly.
> You have to verify that a typhon will not burn the heater.
> Regards
> ECO
>
Original Message
> From: "hallmgr" <HallMG@b...>
> To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Friday, November 07, 2003 11:41 AM
> Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] help with a controller for a windgenerator powered
heater
>
>
> > Hello,
> >
> > I am looking for a controller for a small wall heater which will be
> > powered by a windgenerator. The output from the generator will be
> > around 0-100v dc at a maximum continuous of around 500w. When the
> > generator starts turning the voltage will begin to rise so the
> > controller will be required to gradually increase the load as it
> > gathers speed and decrease the load when it slows down. I am pretty
> > much a beginner at electronics so any help would be much appreciated.
> >
> > Regards
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject
and Body of the message will be ignored.
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
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Body of the message will be ignored.
>
>
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>
>
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
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Body of the message will be ignored.
>
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>
>
>
>
>I will need some kind of controller that will only connect the load to the
>generator when it gets up to speed so it wont stall.
>
>Melvin.
Yes, you need a controller to let the rotor get up to speed before any
substantial load is connected or the blades will stall.
Does your mill use an alternator or a generator?
If it's an alternator you can look at the output frequency to determine the
speed. Disconnect all load below a certain speed, then connect more
load in stages as the RPM increases, or PWM the output to provide
"load matching" to the speed.
A generator might need some kind of magnetic or optical sensing system
on the rotating parts to count RPM.
Available power goes up as the cube of wind speed, so make sure you
can provide plenty of load to keep from over-speeding in severe weather.
Or use a furling system to turn it out of the wind when things get scary...
Steve
Good point about the over-speeding. Perhaps a water heater element or
similar could be switched on by the Stamp to prevent this.
Jonathan
Original Message
From: <laurasdog@w...>
To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, November 10, 2003 10:19 AM
Subject: RE: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] help with a controller for a windgenerator
powered heater
> At 08:24 AM 11/10/2003, you wrote:
> >I will need some kind of controller that will only connect the load to
the
> >generator when it gets up to speed so it wont stall.
> >
> >Melvin.
>
> Yes, you need a controller to let the rotor get up to speed before any
> substantial load is connected or the blades will stall.
>
> Does your mill use an alternator or a generator?
> If it's an alternator you can look at the output frequency to determine
the
> speed. Disconnect all load below a certain speed, then connect more
> load in stages as the RPM increases, or PWM the output to provide
> "load matching" to the speed.
> A generator might need some kind of magnetic or optical sensing system
> on the rotating parts to count RPM.
>
> Available power goes up as the cube of wind speed, so make sure you
> can provide plenty of load to keep from over-speeding in severe weather.
> Or use a furling system to turn it out of the wind when things get
scary...
>
> Steve
>
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
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Body of the message will be ignored.
>
>
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>
>
>
>
wrote:
> I will need some kind of controller that will only connect the load
to the generator when it gets up to speed so it wont stall.
>
> Melvin.
There are more than a few ways to make a cheap ADC.
a 555 and a BS2 can work together as a cheap ADC.
I have not tried an RC to see how it would work as the voltage
changes, but there is no reason why you can't make some very simple
and low cost voltage monitoring and then as you pass each threshold,
you can open or close different relays.
if you get a milti channel ADC, you can also put in a shunt and
measure the current the unit is putting out and control your load
that way too. the wire itself can be used. I'm not sure of your
amps, but a few feet of wire has a measurable resistance and would
change as the voltage changes yielding an amp reading.
There was a link to resistance per foot, I am guessing someone on
here posted a link some time ago. ?
do you have a link to the generator ?
It would help if we had some of the parts to he puzzle.
Dave
>if you get a milti channel ADC, you can also put in a shunt and
>measure the current the unit is putting out and control your load
>that way too. the wire itself can be used. I'm not sure of your
>amps, but a few feet of wire has a measurable resistance and would
>change as the voltage changes yielding an amp reading.
>
>There was a link to resistance per foot, I am guessing someone on
>here posted a link some time ago. ?
----
10 GA solid wire has a resistance of just a tiny bit over 0.001 ohms per foot
at room temperature, which conveniently gives 1 millivolt per amp on a
voltmeter...
Here's a pair of 10 GA shunts I built on one board...
http://www.weirdstuffwemake.com/altenergy/misc/10GAshunt.jpg
Cheers,
Steve
but I will thoroughly test the alternator before putting it to use. The
alternator has ten coils which are arranged in pairs to give a five phase
output. This is rectified at the top of the windmill tower to give a course dc
which is carried down the pole to the ground using a pos and neg cable.
At maximum continuous running speed the voltage is likely to be around 70v,
current of around 10A
and so power of around 700w. I am not sure what you mean by the terms 555,
bs2, adc and shunt, please could you tell me more about them. If the controller
you suggest can switch on relays at various voltage thresholds then the best
idea may be to use several small elements, say 100w each and have them switching
on one at a time.
Melvin
Original Message
From: Dave Mucha [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=Nt0yevUimBck4wQJhQfHoWDnirU0iosDOMTwElCdkHABJzssCCsxOKUtflm2Inymihj0Bgpyfs-8J3Ef]davemucha@j...[/url
Sent: 11 November 2003 01:28
To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: help with a controller for a windgenerator
powered heater
--- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "Hall, Melvin GR" <HallMG@b...>
wrote:
> I will need some kind of controller that will only connect the load
to the generator when it gets up to speed so it wont stall.
>
> Melvin.
There are more than a few ways to make a cheap ADC.
a 555 and a BS2 can work together as a cheap ADC.
I have not tried an RC to see how it would work as the voltage
changes, but there is no reason why you can't make some very simple
and low cost voltage monitoring and then as you pass each threshold,
you can open or close different relays.
if you get a milti channel ADC, you can also put in a shunt and
measure the current the unit is putting out and control your load
that way too. the wire itself can be used. I'm not sure of your
amps, but a few feet of wire has a measurable resistance and would
change as the voltage changes yielding an amp reading.
There was a link to resistance per foot, I am guessing someone on
here posted a link some time ago. ?
do you have a link to the generator ?
It would help if we had some of the parts to he puzzle.
Dave
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