Kestrel wind turbine voltage limiter fan noise

[David]

I am using the Kestrel voltage limiter that I purchased with a Kestrel e300i 110V turbine.  The only complaint I have about the entire system is that the fans kick on inside the limiter whenever voltage limiting occurs.  Even though it is in the basement it is annoyingly loud..  The limiter is factory set to 135VDC, which seems to be hit even with low to moderate wind speeds.  I have the limiter connected to a Midnite Classic 200. 

Any ideas on how I might be able to reduce the fan noise? I also sent an enquiry to Kestrel about this but thought I would look for input here as well.

Kestrel turbine video

[toothy]

Hello David

My turbine has the same unit and does the same thing, it is in the gen shed away from the house so the noise is a non issue for me. I can see how it's variable howling could be annoying in a living space.

Is the Classic in bulk when you hear the fan?

If the Classic isn't using all the input, as in absorb or float the fan runs. Mine also runs for short periods during gusts and such when up near 1K output. This happens when the input voltage shoots up before the furling takes over.

I just brake mine if I don't need the power, then no fan and saving the bearings.

Wade

[David]

My turbine has the same unit and does the same thing, it is in the gen shed away from the house so the noise is a non issue for me. I can see how it's variable howling could be annoying in a living space.

Is the Classic in bulk when you hear the fan?

Yes, it is in bulk when the fan runs.  I originally thought it was only supposed to come on when the batteries are full but when I re-read the documentation it states the fans come on whenever the limiter is limiting.

I had ordered my Kestrel with the voltage limiter early last year when the Midnite Clipper wasn't available yet.  At some point I think I will have to swap the kestrel limiter out for the Midnite version so visitors don't think we have a troll chained up in the basement.

edit: I see I was inquiring about the Clipper in late 2010

[boB]

Yes, it is in bulk when the fan runs.  I originally thought it was only supposed to come on when the batteries are full but when I re-read the documentation it states the fans come on whenever the limiter is limiting.

The Kestrel limiter may be limiting because the Classic has reached its current limit and has to
raise its input voltage.

Their limiter works pretty well from what I saw but is not adjustable of course.

Better feed that troll !

boB

[David]

The troll starts growling when the Classic shows  only 3-400 watts.  It gets progressively louder until it is really roaring at around 900 watts.  It also frequently revs up to a low rpm with a small wind gust and then stops.  It seems like there should have at least been some minimum sustained threshold until the fan would kick in.

[toothy]

I don't believe my troll makes any noise until at least 800+ in bulk.

Then again, I keep him in his own hovel in the yard so I might not notice.

3-400 would make me think I wasn't getting the most troll power out of him.

Are you sure you have the Classic input-output limits maxed out? Does it make it up to 1k sometimes? I've seen just over 1k on many occasions.

Wade

[David]

I checked the limits and it was still at the default 80A and 99A.  I then actually lowered the one to 60A since I only have a 60A breaker on the controller.  And yes, today I saw a reading from the Classic showing over 1000 watts.  It's actually putting out over 900 watts as I write this.

[Westbranch]

What about the Troll? 

[David]

I'm really not sure why the Troll isn't happy.  It's been fed plenty.

[toothy]

I went and paid attention to the growling mine starts at about 925+/- watts.

Wade

[David]

Here's video with audio:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/edspa5q2c2pupq5/P1040669.MOV

[David]

I just brake mine if I don't need the power, then no fan and saving the bearings.

I don't know how often you are braking the turbine but I have been told by someone at Kestrel that using the brake switch on a regular basis(daily?) is going shorten the lifespan of the switch quite a bit.  I also asked about the bearings and was told at least 10 years in general for their lifespan.

[toothy]

Hello David

I wouldn't say I brake it that often. It all depends on the weather, I'll cross the switch failure bridge when it happens. Did they happen to say if it failed brake on or off?

I thought they said 5 years on bearing replacement, however that info is just a faded old memory from the last time I looked at the manual. I like the sound of 10 years better. My tower is a 3 legged lattice model and the gin pole bit is just no fun, but the view is nice.

Wade