Diversion Load Issues

Hi Thomas A.  I am currently doing this.......heating water with a wind turbine and using a water heating element as a diversion load.  I am using the lower element in a conventional water tank where it is side mounted and completely submerged except for the element flange and wiring.  The size of wiring from the turbine controller to the element may be of issue, depending on how much distance it must run.  But, with adequate wire size to minimize voltage drop on the wiring, I experience no problems with this concept.  I am thinking that you would not want to expose any portion of the heating element to air, and risk a burnout.  If the element should burn out though, you know what the danger is to the wind turbine.......A runaway condition of the turbine with possible self destruction?  Best of luck with your project. :-)  Jon C.

Ah, ok, Thomas.  I was not aware that the Bergey would self regulate with no diversion load.  I am accustomed to the old bare bones turbines that require a dump load to avoid self destruction.  Without a load, mine would begin to throw parts, make smoke, followed by running and screaming, etc.  Your calculations on the water heater element stats sound close enough to be doable, and sounds like you are good to go on this project. The appropriate wire size can be found on a table showing wire size and typical current ratings.........I love Google for this.  I settled on a hardware store heating element designed for 120v at high wattage....entirely adequate and a fraction of the cost of the low voltage ones.  The heater element really doesn't care if it is supplied with AC or DC voltage......only that it operates within parameter of wattage. I was not concerned about exposure of the low voltage to water, since water is hardly conductive unless it is contaminated with a conductive chemical, but rather the fact that the heating element must be allowed to dissipate its heat by direct thermal conductivity into the water, or it may overheat......air is not very conductive this way.  Again, best of luck and let us know how it works for you?  Jon C.

Thanks Ben.  Do you have the elements wired in parallel?  How did you mount it to your custom made tank?

So you have them wired in series then?  Doesn't that put the resistance and amperage outside of Bergey's recommended range?

Jon, I'm not disappointed at all.  That's why I'm installing a diversion load.  More often than not, the red diversion load light is lit, but I have nothing to do with that energy currently.  Heating water with it will improve my overall performance from my turbine.  My main limiting factor currently is my battery bank, at about 12 kWh capacity (roughly two days of demand).  But still, I have no complaints. 

My wind (rated 1kW) and solar (rated 0.74kW) components complement each other perfectly.  I tend to get more sunlight than wind during the day and during the summer, but every evening, during storms, and throughout the winter, the wind is strong.  Since I installed the system, I've always had power in my off-grid house.  That includes running well and septic pumps, lights, radio, television, power tools, vacuum cleaners, etc.

I can understand how others might be disappointed though.  It's not because of manufacturers, but due to a complete lack of any research on the part of homeowners.  I keep seeing these Skystream turbines go up on 30 foot towers lower than nearby tree lines.  Of course they're not generating their rated amounts -- there's no wind!  My site is on the top of a hill, and I have an 80 foot tower.  Wind is generally not a problem.  Of course there are still calm periods, but diurnal temperature swings generally ensure at least a few hours of wind per day. 

People down in valleys should look to solar or microhydro, especially if they live in tight suburbs.  On hills or flat plains, towers should be at least 80 feet unless there are literally no obstructions for like a mile.  Turbulence can seriously degrade turbine performance if it's too close to the ground.  It really doesn't cost much more to go from 30 feet to 80 feet.  A grand or two maybe... but without the height, the whole thing is worthless.  And if people bothered to even do a Google search before buying one, they'd know that.

I agree. I have no disappointments with my turbine except that the wind doesn't blow as often or as hard as I'd hoped.  But that's my issue, not the turbines.  My 1.5 kW of solar and the Bergey keep us power up 95% of the time.  I'm limited by battery capacity, not power input.