Learning mode?

[SolarWind]

Is learning mode implemented yet? I see it in my menu but not sure if and how it works. I.E. how long does it take, etc. Right now I have it turned on but my voltage is at 63 incoming, battery voltage is 50.4 and yet I'm showing zero watts.

[SolarWind]

Sorry, should have provided more details. Classic 200, Clipper, 48v system, 2500w turbine (not a model listed in your profiles).

[boB]

Sorry, should have provided more details. Classic 200, Clipper, 48v system, 2500w turbine (not a model listed in your profiles).

I think you have pretty old software in there as the "Learning Mode" has not been displayed in quite a while now...

We took that out because it was going to take a while before we could actually implement that wind learning
mode function.  Hopefully that can be done in a few months.  Hopefully...

boB

[SolarWind]

dang...I thought I had some really new software . I'll run the firmware patch and bring it up to current status. Can you point me in any direction to get more info on how to develop a wind profile for my turbine? I don't see any help on that in the manual or on the website. I have a Proven 2500.

[boB]

dang...I thought I had some really new software . I'll run the firmware patch and bring it up to current status. Can you point me in any direction to get more info on how to develop a wind profile for my turbine? I don't see any help on that in the manual or on the website. I have a Proven 2500.

Ahhhh...   Great idea to have something in documentation to help build a power curve !!

The BEST way is to have a wind tunnel...    Since most of us don't have a wind tunnel, the
next best thing is to have a large (ish) fan to blow on the turbine to make it spin.
If wind didn't change speed all the time, you could develop a good curve using real
wind.  So, with the fan spinning the turbine at different wind speeds, you adjust the
input voltage at a given (and steady) wind speed until you get maximum power output
and then note the voltage the turbine is loaded at.  You also have wind turbine
inertial to deal with and so you need to go slowly while varying that input voltage,
or wait until the output power stabilizes.

To do this testing, you could use the Hydro mode in Manual MPP Voltage mode and
vary the input voltage up and down from the main status screen by using the Soft-Left
and Soft-Right keys to lower and raise the input voltage, respectively.  Soft-left key
lowers voltage and soft-right key raises it.  This also goes for U-Set mode.

A wind tunnel with smooth, laminar flow is best, but you may have to use turbulent
flow or whatever is available up on the tower.

boB


boB

[SolarWind]

Ok boB, I don't begin to grok most of this...I really just want the Classic to work with my Clipper to get superior output from my turbine. That's why I spent the big bucks. I am currently using a Bergey XL 48v power curve that's in the Classic but I have no idea how close that may be to my own turbine. Also I think there should be an online editor of some kind so you can input a power curve data then upload it to the Classic. I tried building one by fiddling with the arrow keys for half an hour but I ended up with a pretty crude result that didn't look close to what I was trying to get.

Oh, by the way, I checked and my firmware isn't old and it still shows learning mode, it's June 2012  Classic Rev: 1043

[boB]

Uh Oh.  Sorry, Solarwind....

I didn't know you were looking at the MEM (memory) recall slots in the MNGP.  I thought you
meant the actual MPPT MODE selection...

Those curves labeled MID wind learn (etc.) in the higher memories are definitely meant
to be used with either an initial wind curve OR wind learn mode when it gets implemented.

There have evidently been two people that thought those memory slots were wind learn
mode.  I better change the wording until we really get wind learn mode going.

For now, tell us what your wind turbine is and your battery voltage and maybe one of us
or someone we know can find you a better curve to start with if the Bergey one isn't
good for it.  I am assuming you have a 48V battery though.

Thanks and very sorry for the confusion,
boB

[boB]

Also I think there should be an online editor of some kind so you can input a power curve data then upload it to the Classic. I tried building one by fiddling with the arrow keys for half an hour but I ended up with a pretty crude result that didn't look close to what I was trying to get.

[/quote

There is a wind graph editor in the latest Local Application that should do what you want.   It can also export and import
CSV files of curves that you can change.

You are already in wind mppt mode so it should appear in the advanced menu I think it is.  It's called wind graph and
should be at the top of that advanced page.

boB

[SolarWind]

I've got version 0.2.7 of the local status panel which is the latest I think, and there is no wind graph under the config>advanced menu that I can see, or anywhere else it seems. Are you talking about a future version?

I have a Proven 48v 2500T and found this example of a power curve online. Do you think it would be useful? It's power vs. speed not volts & amps as in the Classic so I'm not sure if it translates the same way.

[boB]

OK, I will check with the Local App guy and see what is up with that graph.

I thought it had been released.  If not, it will be out very very soon, maybe this
week even ??  That is what you want and are talking about.  We'll expedite that
if possible.

The graph you have may be somewhat useful but is not data suitable for
MPPT.  No manufacturer that I know of publishes a curve that has the
required data.  If so, very very few do because they all, up until recently,
connected up directly to the battery and the voltage was basically constant
and not varying as it does with an MPPT controller.  These graphs should
be common now though because of grid tie inverter for wind turbines.
even though the voltages for a grid tie inverter for wind will normally be
higher than with one wound for battery voltages, the curve may very well
have the same shape which is definitely useful.

What the power curve of data wants to have is power vs. voltage.  Then everything
else can be found out from that data.  RPM vs. power won't tell us really what we
need to know, but, the slope of the curve may give some information.

I will ask around for information regarding this turbine.  I wonder if there is
any data for the Proven with grid tie inverters ??  That would really help a lot.
Proven recently had some company issues and I believe was bailed out or bought
by some other company but I don't know how that is going these days.

I wonder if there is anybody at Proven that knows these wind curve kind of answers ??
Can you even talk to anybody from Proven these days ?  Will have to check them
out on the web I guess...

boB

[SolarWind]

Hey boB, just downloaded the updated version of the local App and see the wind graph function, awesome, much easier to adjust! Now if only I knew what to program into it ;-)
I have several years of monthly data that I've collected via a Windwatcher but I imagine that is not granular enough to give me what I need? It includes Power Density, Maximum Gust, Average Speed, and Power/Density Speed. I'm not in a steady wind area, it tends to be seasonal so not so easy to just look at the instantaneous data and make notes.