I am looking into upgrading my power generating system for remote research sites in NE Indiana. I currently am using solar to wet cell batteries. We have been happy with this setup until the past 3-4 years. Winter in NE indiana is killing us with its cloudy periods lasting well into weeks on end. I would like to upgrade to a LFP chemistry (100 Amp Battle Born) and add a Primus 40 Air 40 to the sites. All components at each site are 12V. I am concerned about the charging profile required for the battery since the turbine doesn't do a whole lot of controlling. Any thoughts??
What are your loads ? And how high would you be planning to put up the wind generator ?
For all the expense and maintenance a wind generator needs , have you analyzed any way to make your loads more efficient and increasing battery storage capacity and PV ?
Is your battery going to be in a warm place ? Lithiums usually can't be charged below freezing.
Larry
Quote from: ClassicCrazy on November 27, 2018, 07:01:29 PM
increasing battery storage capacity and PV ?
This. 1000x this.
For 13 years I was offgrid with AGM and PV. Even with what seemed to be "plenty" of capacity (1000AH @ 48V) of battery, I was averaging 1000 hours generator run per year.
A few years ago, I changed out all the AGM for LFP. With 900AH of LFP, (more "usable capacity" than the AGMs), and adding more PV than I can use, that has dropped to about 6hrs/year of generator run time, and most of that is a half-hour run every couple of months!
Over-paneling means even on crappy days, we generally get enough to hold our head above water, and with PV being as cheap as it is now, why wouldn't you?!
Yes Ross - I just almost doubled my PV input and it already has noticeable effects on getting the batteries full on overcast days and cutting down generator run time - especially up here in the frozen north short days of winter.
Larry
Thanks everyone for the advice. I wasn't too excited about putting up 50 30' towers. The batteries will be in heated space. I guess I'm going to reassess the wiring/charge controllers and PV capacity at my sites and probably try a couple of the Battle Borns to get one right before a heavy investment.