Combiner box for solar and wind to charge a single battery
by admin on Friday, December 23rd, 2011 | 20 Comments
www.elperfecto.com This video shows how to make a combiner box to allow solar panels and a wind turbine to charge the same battery. This combiner box could also be used for other power sources, like combining thermoelectric generation and solar panels. Idea for box came from: www.youtube.com Also shown: How to make an extension cord out of spare CRT cables and heat shrink.
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@TheDarkeJ I do use 12V lighting, which works nicely with wind and solar power.
I haven’t forgotten what I promised to send you. I will do that this week.
Cool job, can you rig up some 12v bulbs to light up the shop and battery area from the wind turbine? That way it gets some load, I would like to know how to make a converter, if you plan on doing that! That way you could put a battery on the wind turbine to convert to ac to use as a recharge station for cordless tools!
@ferdna1 Here is a part number for a Schottky diode, but I don’t remember the one I used in this project: MBR1645.
@field16, wow… I learn something new everyday =)… can you list part number?
@field16, wow… guess i learn something new everyday =)… can you list part number?
@ferdna1 Yes, they do look like transistors. 
They have the same package dimensions. In the video, I see only two terminals, as a diode would require, instead of three, as transistors usually have. They were diodes. Peace to you.
those look like transistors (TO-220) and not diodes… at least to me…
To be safe you should add a block of plastic that fills the space up to the lid or a small plastic non-conductive box that you might otherwise throw away, between the connector bars. Super glue is not the best at staying stuck if there is any flexing at all, this is outside and takes big temperature swings, expansion etc also wires twisting. If one of the bars comes loose the plastic prevents shorting. Drop by the forums at techluck.com
question?
the cable conected to the wind turbine what # gauge is ? #6?
thanks
I like the idea of being able to use low voltage from the wind turbine and have some ideas that will address that in a future video. MPPT may be a good choice for some. For me, I try to do things cheaply and MPPT controllers look pricey to me. I do like that they contain DC-DC converters, but I could make that myself.
Thanks for your comment and suggestion. I like your solar dog video.
Take a MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) solar charge controller. it handels any voltage from 5 – 60 Volts into 12 or 24 Volt batteries. 5 Volts can be easily reached by a windturbine. And thanks for the schottky-diode hint…
WoW .. Very nice
Thanks, I really appreciate that.
A dump load diversionary switching is a valuable precaution. Too bad the charge controller went off sale, I still may get one now that i know about the built in dump load.
I have to use a relay with a variable resistor to set the trip voltage.
MUDDy
Very Good job of explaining the presentation. I like the fact that you’re not afraid to try things. Nice try and good analogy of the symptoms. I also like the fact that you take your time to be understood clearly and choose your words with care. You would make a good instructor.
MUDDy
Thanks. Yes, I agree. I have both a wind and a solar charge controller now.
very good video. You may need two different charge controllers to do both wind and solar. Hi from sunny FL
Hey, that is a good looking combiner box you have there! That is the only problem, combining the two energy sources. I would think that you could run them independently and hook both to your batteries, but you may risk overcharging when that wind turbine kicks in.
Thanks, Doug! One charge controller I bought came with a paper saying to use only with solar panels and warned that it was not compatible with a wind turbine. I have a marine battery (13.1V max), which is sealed, so I am wary of overcharging it. Maybe for lead-acid batteries it’s not? a big deal. You could always add more water to a lead-acid but can’t to a sealed battery.
Harbor Freight does have a Chicago Electric charge controller, $30, ITEM 96728-0VGA. Don’t know if it’s any good.
SUPER VIDEO, You could get a charge controller from harbor freight for about $15 and run your turbine through that all though they are made for solar they work well for turbines and they also have a dump load………LATER FROM THE WEST COAST……..