Electronic Circuits and Projects Forum

One question, why?

Aren't there more effective ways to regulate the voltage like altering the field current?

I'd have to search the forum but there's a standard IC used in most auatomotive alternators that you might be able to use for this application.

sorry should have said that too really.

The basics: This is a wind generator.

Delta will produce more power at high revs.
Star will start making power at lower rev's.

What I need is a switch that will change from the default Star configuration into Delta mode when there is a significant increase in wind speed, this could work off voltage or revs or anything I think.



In the diagram I found this is user adjustable in 32 rpm steps:
The user has the ability to control at what rpm ( windmill blade speed) the switch
takes place and the duration the windmill must maintain a specific rpm before that
change takes place. This is done with a 10 pin 5 switch DIP that is located
on the main control board. This give 32 rpm selectable options from 25 to 800
rpm in 25 rpm steps.



What else do you need to know, have you ever heard of this sort of thing? Worst come's to worst, i would settle for a manual switch...

Looks like a fairly complete system already. Which parts do you think are missing?

The program for the microcontroller...

I want to use it to charge a 12volt battery... So aside from the program for the wonderful little microcontroller most of the stuff seems to be there?

The other question was is this still an appropriate switch to use for a 6 wire star/detla configuration... I think it is but I am still a newb.

so I understand that the voltages will change and the amperage as well, but surely there must be a reason for the switch, does it keep the blade spin rate more constant? (guessing?)

Look at how an automovtive regulator works.

It adjusts the DC rotor current to keep the output voltage the same at different engine speeds. At high speeds the rotor current is reduced lower speeds the current is increased.

Switching from star to delta can be useful for varying the voltage but it isn't as effective as varying the rotor field current.

I think I understand why. When the wind is weak, the RPMs are low, and the generator barely produces the 12 volts needed to charge the battery. When the wind is strong, a much higher voltage that isn't too healthy for that battery is produced, and needs to be reduced (usually wasted). Switching the windings produces lower voltages and higher current, less is wasted through a voltage regulator.

Seems like this could be done without the microcontroller. There should be tons of circuits that count RPMS and activate a switch. You can replace the 3 relays with just one with 3 contacts. I don't know, but think relays would tend to fail after a year or two.