A Forum run by Enthusiasts of MidNite Solar

Charge Controllers and Clippers => The "Classic" charge controller => Topic started by: SolarMusher on November 17, 2012, 10:26:13 AM

Title: Whisper 200 with Classic CC
Post by: SolarMusher on November 17, 2012, 10:26:13 AM
Hi everyone,
I would like to repair my old broken Whisper 200 (1kw/65 feet guyed tower) which as you know was not the best wind turbine ever made (when it was working...). This turbine was so bad that when it has been hit with strike i didn't want to spend money to repair even on warranty! In the past I had a refurbished Lakota turbine I bought from Dave Cook in Ontario (True North Power) and it has been working fine for several years. Thanks Dave if you read me.
But for now, I have this $?%&* Whisper 200 standing on its 65 feet tower!!
I would like to mount it with Clipper and Classic and have a few questions hoping I could have a better ouput than I had with Southwest controller (not very difficult i think).
I've read I need a curve to set in the Classic, where could I find this curve?
Could I really expect a better output in low/medium wind with a Classic as this turbine is badly known to output near 0 amps in small winds?
Or am I better to scrapp all this Southwest stuff and plant trees?
All advices greatly appreciated.
Thanks a lot,
Erik
Title: Re: Whisper 200 with Classic CC
Post by: boB on November 17, 2012, 06:44:45 PM

There is a whisper turbine running on a Classic in Hawaii but I have not heard how it is doing, lately.

I ~think~ it was a 200, also.  Will try to dig up info.

He started with a built in curve in the MNGP but can't remember which one now.

boB
Title: Re: Whisper 200 with Classic CC
Post by: SolarMusher on November 18, 2012, 07:02:16 AM
Hi boB,
QuoteHe started with a built in curve in the MNGP but can't remember which one now.
Ok, but where can he find these built in curves in the MNGP?
Sorry for this dummy question...  ::)
A+
Erik
Title: Re: Whisper 200 with Classic CC
Post by: Halfcrazy on November 18, 2012, 09:16:12 AM
When you are in the classics menu go to Main Menu and then into the Mode menu. The right soft key is labeled Graph, pushing the soft key will bring you into the graphs. Using the up and down arrows to scroll through them. The first 1-9 are adjustable presets where you can save custom curves. above 9 you will find all the factory installed curves. The whisper 200 running local to me is using the DWP320 curve. His happened to be a 24 volt turbine and a 24 volt battery.

You can also change the curve from the local app. The newer app and classic firmware allow you to go into the Config ---> tweaks menu and adjust the wind curve. It can also be exported and imported in the form of an excel spreadsheet so you can make changes that way as well.

Ryan
Title: Re: Whisper 200 with Classic CC
Post by: SolarMusher on November 18, 2012, 11:25:32 AM
Thanks for your help Ryan,
This whisper 200 turbine was set for 48V bat. I do not use local app yet.
Could I choose a curve directly through the Classic or do I need to use the local app to choose one?
Is the DPW320 curve also correct for 48V bat or do you think that I need to look for another one?
My Classic is set for solar so I didn't have a look on wind at this time, sorry  ???
Thanks,
Erik
Title: Re: Whisper 200 with Classic CC
Post by: Halfcrazy on November 18, 2012, 02:35:59 PM
You do not need the app you can do everything from the remote (MNGP). I would probably pick the Otherpower10ft on a 48 volt battery for now. We will be working hard to make a curve for the whisper 200 at the site local here. He has a good wind site and will work hard to get it dialed in ASAP

Ryan
Title: Re: Whisper 200 with Classic CC
Post by: SolarMusher on November 18, 2012, 03:27:50 PM
So you think that I'd better wait for you to find a curve or could I experiment these curves I already have into the Classic/local app, one by one ???
Thanks,
Erik
Title: Re: Whisper 200 with Classic CC
Post by: Halfcrazy on November 18, 2012, 03:37:39 PM
I would start with the one I listed and tweak it up or down in voltage on the higher end if need be. My guess is it will run a little slow on the high end (Not really a bad thing)

Ryan
Title: Re: Whisper 200 with Classic CC
Post by: SolarMusher on November 18, 2012, 05:11:59 PM
Thanks Ryan I'going to look at this stuff closer.
Erik
Title: Re: Whisper 200 with Classic CC
Post by: ChrisOlson on November 18, 2012, 07:56:36 PM
Attached is the power curve for the Dairyland Windpower DWP350 48V turbine.  If the 320 curve works for the 24V SWWP Whisper 200, the curve for the 350 should work for the 48V Whisper 200.  It should run it fairly tame on the top end like the 320 curve does for the 24V Whisper.

I engage the clipper at 130 volts and 2.4 kW output on the DWP350.  If you want more top end up to 3+ KW just move the clipper up to 142 volts because the Classic will continue to let voltage increase past Step 16 on the power curve up to where the clipper engages.

The attached curve is CSV and can be loaded into the Classic using the Local App, then saved to one of the user memory locations.
--
Chris
Title: Re: Whisper 200 with Classic CC
Post by: SolarMusher on November 20, 2012, 05:00:45 PM
Thank you very much Chris, I was hoping for an answer from you.
Great that I could use a similar (+-) curve to begin on this project.
Do you think personnaly, I could expect a (little) better output with this design? I think I never saw more than 500/600W from this turbine when it was mounted with southwest controller  :'(
Erik
Title: Re: Whisper 200 with Classic CC
Post by: ChrisOlson on November 20, 2012, 07:26:06 PM
I think you should be able to, yes.  The Whisper turbines like to run very, very fast and the curve for my DWP350 will probably be a bit slow at the top end.  But that can be adjusted once you get the turbine running and see what it does.  The DWP350 is a 3.5 meter machine with a geared generator, and the Whisper 200 is a 3.1 meter direct drive.  So by the very nature of the power curve the Whisper is going to have to spin faster to generate the required voltage.

SWWP "tunes" them more for lower wind speeds, which is fine, but you should be able to see an improvement at wind speeds over 15 mph.  I doubt you'll see the 2+ kW that I run my DWP350's at, but you should be able to get 1,200 watts fairly easily at 28 mph wind speed.

The Whisper 200 has now been discontinued, of course, because they couldn't sell them.  They take a more substantial tower than the Whisper 100 with its smaller rotor, so the 100 (H40) is more popular simply because it's cheaper to get one up.
--
Chris
Title: Re: Whisper 200 with Classic CC
Post by: SolarMusher on November 21, 2012, 07:23:31 AM
Hi Chris,
QuoteSWWP "tunes" them more for lower wind speeds, which is fine, but you should be able to see an improvement at wind speeds over 15 mph.  I doubt you'll see the 2+ kW that I run my DWP350's at, but you should be able to get 1,200 watts fairly easily at 28 mph wind speed.
If I could only have 1kw sometime in fall when solar is out for long periods, it would be great!
I will try it.
Thanks for your input, Chris.
Erik
Title: Re: Whisper 200 with Classic CC
Post by: MGP on November 29, 2012, 06:02:32 PM
Hi All have been watching this thread for a bit now and am interested in how every one is getting on with there curves..

I have been running my H200 at 48v charging a 24v battery bank, have done this to try and get better performance out of it in low winds, am using the 10ft Otherpower 48v curve with the start voltage pulled down to around the 40v mark..

Seems to work ok but still not getting the top end out of it, max so far is about 850w but in saying that not had the big winds to push it hard. Would the DWP curve work better???

Cheers Mike




Title: Re: Whisper 200 with Classic CC
Post by: MGP on December 10, 2012, 06:30:47 PM
Well had the winds come through (tornado in parts of the city) logging shows peaks of 1485w , best ive ever seen out of a Whisper .. All it takes is a tornado !!!! :o
Title: Re: Whisper 200 with Classic CC
Post by: SolarMusher on December 10, 2012, 08:29:09 PM
QuoteAll it takes is a tornado !!!!
Ha!Ha!
I hope you will have several tornadoes to charge your bank but not too much  ;D
I think that I never saw mine above 700/800W in high winds with its Southwest controller! And I'm optimistic...
Have not try yet DWP320 curve. Give us your feed back if you have time to try it.
Erik
Title: Re: Whisper 200 with Classic CC
Post by: MGP on December 11, 2012, 04:09:06 PM
Hi Erik I havent tried the DWP curve but looking at it is very close to what i am running, but i have pulled the top end down to about 90v 40amps , my Whisper seems to struggle to get the upper voltage, Well it struggles in general :D.
Running 48v turbine to 24v battery with kick in about 40v seems to help the low end performance, now generates steady power with very low winds< Love MPPT >

Cheers Mike