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For the wind generator
I have chosen a Future Energy 48 volt, 1000w wind turbine,
these are made in the UK and I think represent excellent
value
for money. For any one that is interested, they are manufactured
in the same town that William Shakespeare was born.
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The specification
of the Future Energy can be found on their web site by
clicking the image above. |
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As I want the electricity that is
produced by the turbine to be added to my household supply,
my first choice was a SMA Windy Boy 1100LV Grid Tied
Mains Inverter, it is clearly the Rolls Royce of Inverters
due to the high manufacturing quality.
Unfortunately that is where the admiration of 1100LV
ends. For a unit that is so costly it does have a number
of restrictions and I was informed of these after the
unit was purchased.
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Permanent
damage will occur if the DC supply voltage exceeds
60 volts, (easily done) an additional voltage regulator
may cost in the
region of £600.00, this is starting to make the 1100LV
an expensive option.
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Once installed software is required
to enable the 'turbine' mode to be switched on, the
USB interface cable required
to do this may cost in the region of £150.00. Yet
more expense.
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Support emails sent to SMA via their
web site are seldom returned, this is very poor considering
the cost of SMA's
products.
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I felt that I had no other choice
but to return the 1100LV to the supplier for credit.
My second choice of Inverter was a Mastervolt
Windmaster 500, this is quite an amazing little unit manufactured
in Holland and it does everything that you want it to
at a low cost. However it doesn't have a large heat sink
on the top like the 1100LV and relies upon a fan for cooling,
(my only gripe). Due to it being a 500w unit, two will
be required to run in parallel with the Future Energy
Wind Turbine.
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The connections on the Windmaster
are simple, a DC positive and negative connector, the
AC output cable that will connect to a Micro Generation meter
and a RG11 connection for the serial interface cable. |
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I have opted for 16 x 20watt Solar
panels at 12volts. They will be wired in series in banks
of
four giving a 48 volt
output. I have a fear that if at some point one get's
damaged it will be cheaper to replace
a single
20 watt panel that say a larger 80 watt panel of the
same rating.
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For the Solar inverter I have kept
a little continuity and have chosen a Mastervolt Soladin
Inverter, this looks and feels exactly the same as a Windmaster
but the software programming is suited to Solar generation,
again it's easy to install and represents good value for
money. |
MGF
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