Silentwind generator control, LIFEPO4

[Hawkeeye2]

Recently on another forum or thread, there was a comment about my wind generator (the Silentwind) that caught my attention.

The comment or question was about how to use a battery bms to turn off the Silentwind generator controller. I didn't quite understand how, so I was hoping that someone here would be able to explain how to do this without letting the generator free wheel and possible destroy itself.

The comment was that a manual remote stop switch can be used to stop the generator, but I can't figure out how.....?

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Hawkeye.

Typically, you stop a wind gen by shorting the output leads together.

[senormechanico]

The HVC signal from the BMS can be used to energize a relay which can disconnect and short the output of the generator.
That's just a quickie answer.

[Lars_L]

Here is a diagram of the connection we talk about.

When the relay is activated it will disconnect the plus line that goes from the generator to the battery and short-circuit the generator.

The generator can deliver 40 A and that needs the relay be able to manage. That’s quite big relay, and the coil will take some current. Check if the BMS signal can deliver that.

[Hawkeeye2]

I am not sure that just disconnecting the controller output will stop it from rotating.

There is a stop switch which has an auto position to slow down the generator if wind speed gets too high and a "manual" position too.

The auto position will work temporarily if the wind speed gets too high, and then let the generator spin again when the windspeed decreases. My question is more related to how to get the BMS to control the manual position to stop the generator from rotating and not release it again until the reason for the disconnect has been found.

I don't know if the manual or auto stop switches uses the 3 phase AC input to the controller or the 24V DC output from the controller to stop it from rotating.

[senormechanico]

Originally Posted by Lars_L

Here is a diagram of the connection we talk about.

When the relay is activated it will disconnect the plus line that goes from the generator to the battery and short-circuit the generator.

The generator can deliver 40 A and that needs the relay be able to manage. That’s quite big relay, and the coil will take some current. Check if the BMS signal can deliver that.

Label contact connections on your diagram to indicate the wind generator + connection is the common of the relay contact.
Otherwise, the relay contacts could be a dead short across the battery as well as the wind generator.
To the uninitiated, it might not be obvious from your drawing.
Small, but very important detail.

[Garethk]

the silentwind, good wind gen if you can keep the powder coating on them.
defiantly follow the instruction on how to wire them up and you should have no issues with the braking system. I have two wind gens on my boat, one silentwind and the other Airbrease. retro fitted the airbrease with the blue blades from silentwind and it made a big difference for noise issues.

[Hawkeeye2]

thanks for the replies.

Im still not sure how to handle this: is the stop switch shorting the 3 ac input wires to stop the generator from rotating or just shorting 1 wire, or........?

[zboss]

You need to short all three wires. This will not completely stop the wind generator but it will stop it from producing any real output.

[Hawkeeye2]

Understood, thanks.

Any idea of how to connect this short circuit to the manual stop switch wires?

[Neptune's Gear]

Which controller do you have, the 600 or the 1000?
The 1000 has a 3.5mm socket in it FOR a stop/Brake switch. Simply connect a 2 pole 3.5mm stereo plug to a switch, and plug it in. The controller is already set up internally for this, don't change the cables in any way contrary to the wiring diagrams!
The 600 series controller is probably the same, but Id have to look it up to be sure!

[Hawkeeye2]

its the 600W, the old one.

[Neptune's Gear]

The old one has an integrated brake switch, no need to add anything http://www.emarineinc.com/pdf/manual...controller.pdf

[Hawkeeye2]

That switch has two functions:

1. automatic stopping in case of high RPM.
2. manual stop, say for maintenance.

Is there a way to wire the manual part of this switch to allow a BMS to engage the manual stop function?

I know, I'm a bit useless with the electrical things on my boat....

[Neptune's Gear]

Actually the switch is there to turn off the system, and brake the generator. The controller will automatically switch off the generator when the battery is charged, or when the max wind speed is exceeded. You don't need to touch the switch. That is the controllers job. If you don't want it to start up, turn if off with the brake switch.

I guess if you really want a BMS to switch the system on and off, you could. Just wire it to the two terminals switched on/off with that switch, but really I fail to see why you would. The controller already does this, and you can manually turn it off with the std switch if you want. Otherwise, if the batt is not fully charged, and there is wind, it will go.