I've been working on my Whisper 1000 - 32 volt. Bought it awhile ago, 1996 or so, #102. I've also got another one, #227, so I can interchange parts. Well, they're getting a little worn out, I might have some tiny shorts in the weather exposed windings. I'm sort of stuck with a 32 volt system. I just replaced my four 8-volt batteries($1580 for the set) My Trace Inverter is a 2232 watt I got back in 1991 and works without a hitch,I think I paid around $1800 for it. And also started out back then(20 years ago) with an old 1932 Windcharger from the prairies(I've also got three of those now too! Poor design with screaming barrel gears and oil bath and very heavy!) What my dream machine would be is a Windtura 750, I've already got the 1-1/2" sched. 80 tower installed and can take out one of the batteries to make it 24 volt, but can't afford both a new 2000 watt 24-volt inverter plus the $1000 for the Windtura 750 wind-generator. So, what I'm asking anyone out there is, can the 24 volt - 750 watt generator be rewired to 32 volt ? I've included the wiring diagram for the Whisper 1000.[attachment=0:3va0zltc]wiring.JPG[/attachment:3va0zltc]
Hi Barry , I might be able to help but first a few questions. Are you off the grid? If not, why a battery bank? Have you considered grid tie? You can make a grid tie battery cababiltiy for about $1,600.00 with a new turbine and grid tie inverter all 24v. Turbine 750 $1000.000 grid tie and some components about $800.00 or less if you are savoy. Not sure if the 750 can be wired to 32v. Ask Josh from windy Nation-windguru is his forum name. If interested in the gris tie idea check out the grid tie forum. Hope this helps. Larry
Thanks Larry, No grid on this island. It just seems if the Whisper can be voltage regulated 12 v up to 48 v by changing a few wires, one would assume it might be possible with the Windtura 750. I'll have to find some one who can check for shorts on my unit. I'm not sure how to do it. Joining the three wires together does create the braking effect, but with the blades installed, it's hardly noticeable, which means it won't stop in moderate winds and spins until it furls at higher winds. When first installed, it would only turn slowly in higher winds. which means there was more resistance. Can I check the resistance on a meter in shop?
Barry, The Windtura 750 will work on a 32 volt system as is. The drawback is that your cut-in wind speed will be raised a little but not much. I would say that the 750 would start charging a 32 volt battery bank at around a 9-10 mph wind. You only need the generator to make 8 more volts to get to charging voltage on a 32 volt battery bank compared to a 24 volt sysetm. The 750 PMA does right around 12 volts at 90 rpm. So, 240 rpm would be your approximate cut-in rpm for a 32 volt system. These is a very achievable rpm for the Windtura 750. Again, I think this would happen in approximately 10 mph winds.
Well, now I'm really confused. :? How many watts does the 750 produce at 32 volts if it makes 750 watts at 24 volts? Actually I think I need 34 volts to charge my batteries. It's not that I don't think it's possible. Maybe I would understand better on a graft. What would be the voltage when the blades reach a maximum rpm? Hope I'm not asking dumb questions, I just never thought of a 24 volt charger working on my 32 volt system.
The 750 is capable of higher voltages at higher rpms. The voltage is tied to the battery voltage. That is why the higher cut in speed. The rest windy would have to give info. I do not know if they ever tried it at this voltage. Not that it would be bad.Just no info for a power curve or anything. From the graph 24v outputs more power than 12v that has to do with PMA coil wire size. So 36v should be better. Just loose some at the low end.
Barry, You will notice that the power curve for the Windltura 750 shows charging for 12 and 24 volt battery banks. There is no "12 volt Windtura 750" and there is no "24 volt Windtura 750". There is just one Windltura 750 and it can be used on 12 or 24 volt battery banks. To charge a battery bank, the voltage of the generator must be higher than the voltage of the battery bank. The 750 hits 14 volts in about 5-7 mph wind and thus will start to charge a 12 volt battery bank in 5-7 mph wind. The 750 hits 28 volts in about 7-9 mph wind and thus will start to charge a 24 volt battery bank in 7-9 mph wind. The 750 will probably hit 34 volts in about 9-10 mph wind and will thus start to charge your battery bank in 9-10 mph wind. With your battery bank, the 750 will make more power compared to the 24 volt battery bank. I would not be surprised if you get something around 900-1000 Watts in 28 mph wind.
Thanks Windyguru, you've explained the charging process very clearly. I will give my Whisper one more chance, since I just got the new blades and if it's still not putting out it's rated wattage I'll be in the market for the Windtura. This burning gas thing is so obsolete, plus I've lived with wind generating for over 30 years and know the real truth about it. I think that my Whisper was the first one up on the west coast of Canada way back. It's always been my main power source. Check out the wind today. And I don't have a wind generator up yet :evil:[attachment=1:15mtgqzg]Picture 1.png[/attachment:15mtgqzg][attachment=0:15mtgqzg]Picture 2.png[/attachment:15mtgqzg] I'm at the north end of that little island in the middle 250' above sea level.
WOW now thats some wind. I think my delco would do good there but I dont think I would want to live there. Just me though.
