Why is my turbine breaking?

[solarfingers]

We have had some rather strong winds and the turbine has been working extremely well.  After a day of good high winds the turbine appears to be on break and turns rather slowly.   The battery is currently around 48v but the turbine is still not engaging.  The local app simply says it is sleeping but there is a clock icon on the power meter. The documentation doesn't say what this clock icon stands for... any ideas why my turbine is stuck in a break condition?

[Boondocker]

Hi Solarfingers,

Are you running the Classic with a Clipper?   Is AUX 2 ON?

Boondocker

[Halfcrazy]

What does the Classic show in the upper left corner under IN for voltage? Could it have gone over voltage?

[solarfingers]

I am running the Classic with a Clipper and AUX is (Auto)(Off).  I tried switching it to "ON" with no effect. The status was RESTING with "No light" as the message.  I haven't seen an over-voltage error.

[Halfcrazy]

What does the classic show for voltage under the "IN" on the top left corner?

[Boondocker]

My turbine will be “braked”  once the batteries are charged.   The signal is sent to the Clipper thru AUX 2.

On many occasions when I wanted to see the turbine spin, I had to disconnect the solar panels and put a load on the batteries.   This caused the battery voltage to drop and the Classic comes out of Resting; releasing the turbine to produce needed energy.

[Cniemand]

How large of turbines do you all have? Do you find it adds a meaningful daily amount to your energy collection rather than pure solar? Do you also use a solar setup in conjunction with Turbines? Isn't the cost for a turbine setup much more expensive than solar itself between the turbine, clipper, mounting etc?

- Cloud

[Boondocker]

Cloud,

How large of turbines do you all have?
The turbine is 13.6’.
http://www.fieldlines.com/index.php/topic,147743.0.html


Do you find it adds a meaningful daily amount to your energy collection rather than pure solar?
Depends,  on a windy cloudy day, yes. 

Do you also use a solar setup in conjunction with Turbines?
Yes, each is on a separate charge controller

Isn't the cost for a turbine setup much more expensive than solar itself between the turbine, clipper, mounting etc?
In many instances, yes;  wind is definitely not for everyone.  For me it is not a ROI decision. 

Boondocker

[Cniemand]

Thanks, Boon.

Is it the hobbyist in your or a belief in energy diversification? I've thought about getting one as well, however, I would like to put up an anemometer first to see how much "real data" potential there is here rather than anecdotal feelings.

cloud

[solarfingers]

My turbine will be “braked”  once the batteries are charged.   The signal is sent to the Clipper thru AUX 2.

On many occasions when I wanted to see the turbine spin, I had to disconnect the solar panels and put a load on the batteries.   This caused the battery voltage to drop and the Classic comes out of Resting; releasing the turbine to produce needed energy.

I have a Whisper 175 and this is likely the case... I'm just trying to figure out what the cut-in should be and where to program it so that it cuts back on at a higher voltage.  The last time this happened I did exactly what you said.  I turned off the panels and allowed the voltage to drop.  There has to be a better way to do this programatically... There are only about 11 V Input coming in...

Thank you....

[toothy]

Programatically speaking, I have 2 solar Classics and one for the turbine, I set my charge voltages 1 or 2 tenths above for the turbine Classic. I believe it pisses them off on the follow me charging a bit but they get it together soon enough. Also my turbine isn't likely to put out more than I'm using, average, it has happened one really nasty night in 4+ years where it actually went to float after dark. Sometimes it will hold float until midnight but not push it there. I was quite impressed and turned on some more stuff, got to live like normal folks when the sun wasn't shining.

Wade

[Boondocker]

Cloudy,

I rationalize it as a practical hobby.

Boondocker