>Like Nick, I was hoping for a charge controller that could accepted
>a variety of AC or DC inputs to charge and manage a battery bank.
>
>Searching, none the less, I don't think such a device exists.
>
>I'd be fascinated to know others thoughts and opinions.
---
I've been wanting to create such devices - I don't see them as a
single unit but as separate modules.
If the power sources supply quite similar voltages, or if they're
operaing at different times, diode isolation into a DC to DC step
down converter with a flexible voltage input may be sufficient. For
example I have 4 solar collectors, simply diode isolated from each
other, all feeding one DC to DC converter that puts out 14 volts.
Sources with nominally different ratings might work together if their
voltage changes with load. For example, a wind plant might spin
faster until its voltage rises up to that coming from a solar
collector, then it'll start contributing.
If however two power sources with definitely different voltages are
attempting to feed the converter through diodes at the same time, the
one with the lower voltage probably won't contribute anything, or see
any load connected. It'll go to waste. In this case, probably two
separate DC to DC converters with the same output voltage, diode
isolated from each other, would be useful.
So if I have a woodstove thermoelectric generator (TEG) hooked up and
it's putting out 20 volts, while the solar collectors are putting out
28, the woodstove unit won't be doing much. Of course, even then a
heavy load or a cloudy day might drag the collector voltage down
under 20 and the TEG will contribute. At night only the TEG will be
contributing.
Then if a constant voltage from the converters isn't what you want,
either the converters should specifically be battery charge
controllers, or a charger should run off the converter output.
The dump load presents a separate challenge, and I see it as a
separate, microcontroller controlled device. It's the sort of thing
that should turn on if the source input is above its maximum power
point, but it may need to be modulated or staged with more than one
load that can be turned on or off. That all depends on both the power
source and on what the load is. To be a useful individual/general
product I think it would need to be highly programmable.
But I haven't got to these things even as prototypes for my own solar
collectors. I might not get to them at all. Too many things to do.
Craig
http://www.TurquoiseEnergy.com/
http://www.saers.com/recorder/craig/TENewsV2/
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