HSE please note: I took the welder case off to install a cooling fan and a proper 32 amp plug. Now it works for more than 5 minutes without cutting out.Anyway it belongs to my neighbour, so there.
The paint on the controller is Hammerite. As I said it wasnt expected to last particularly (the original paint had pretty much gone and only after hours of use) but just to keep it clean for re-assembly. And I had a pot on the shelf.
Possibly I should have thought about trying for a tougher coating, certainly wouldnt do any harm.
I think I may have to change the bearings (I dont mean v soon, maybe in a year) because there was some slight evidence of pitting, in which case I may well give it a new coating.
Miles Fursdon in Devon has a similar CINK turbine and his has been running on the same bearings for 10 years plus.
With all the electricity the need for controls is even more apparent:
Guy has your detector thingy:
http://www.navitron.org.uk/forum/index.php/topic,9072.15.htmlbeen made?
I`m looking also for a comparator circuit that will switch the output of the turbine from the house to the workshop when it is worthwhile to do so:
On the basis that turbine power is worth 3p/unit if not used and mains costs around 9p then if the workshop is using more than 1/3 of the power available from the turbine then it is worth switching connection to the workshop.
So it needs two detectors, one checking the current used in the workshop (iW) and one the output of the Turbine(iT). A comparator looks at the two values and if iW>iT/3 it switches a relay which transfers the connection. Check once a minute or so.
Does any have expertise with comparators?
