Hydro System
I have a micro hydro system designed for 400 watts at 48 volts DC.
My water source is a seasonal stream with 47 feet of head. I use 25 to 100 GPM from it. It provided about 10% of my electric needs. Solar provided the rest of my electric needs.
I have a 4” heat fused HDPE penstock 320’ long buried. I found the HDPE surplus at the local university. I purchased it and rented their heat fusing machine. I fabricated my own screened intake.
I had an outback grid tie 48 volt solar system. The output from my turbine was tied directly into the batteries. The solar charge controller I had I used an output from it to drive a relay to a dump load to dump excess power from the turbine in case of a total system failure. I wanted to have a place for the power to always go. Never really needed it with the battery system.
I have upgraded to an AC coupled system using Enphase micro inverters on 15,000 watts of solar to a quad Tesla Powerwall system.
With an AC coupled system I needed AC from the turbine. It puts out wild 3 phase AC that is regulated thru diodes to DC. Hydro induction recommended a cheap Chinese inverter made for wild AC from wind or hydro turbines that also has a dump load feature. It works pretty well.
Micro Hydro companies
Intro
Micro Hydro Power - West Coast Green
the one I have:
Hydro induction power LV400 for 48 volt
HI Power Products and Price List
ESD
https://microhydropower.com/our-products/
I have a micro hydro system designed for 400 watts at 48 volts DC.
My water source is a seasonal stream with 47 feet of head. I use 25 to 100 GPM from it. It provided about 10% of my electric needs. Solar provided the rest of my electric needs.
I have a 4” heat fused HDPE penstock 320’ long buried. I found the HDPE surplus at the local university. I purchased it and rented their heat fusing machine. I fabricated my own screened intake.
I had an outback grid tie 48 volt solar system. The output from my turbine was tied directly into the batteries. The solar charge controller I had I used an output from it to drive a relay to a dump load to dump excess power from the turbine in case of a total system failure. I wanted to have a place for the power to always go. Never really needed it with the battery system.
I have upgraded to an AC coupled system using Enphase micro inverters on 15,000 watts of solar to a quad Tesla Powerwall system.
With an AC coupled system I needed AC from the turbine. It puts out wild 3 phase AC that is regulated thru diodes to DC. Hydro induction recommended a cheap Chinese inverter made for wild AC from wind or hydro turbines that also has a dump load feature. It works pretty well.
Micro Hydro companies
Intro
Micro Hydro Power - West Coast Green
the one I have:
Hydro induction power LV400 for 48 volt
HI Power Products and Price List
ESD
https://microhydropower.com/our-products/
