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Electricity - is what we want to get from the wind   through the projects that we build or the units we purchase. The thing we don't want is to be electrocuted by our project. The discussion here won't make you an electrician but it will help you stay safe.

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It is important to understand the difference between AC (Alternating Current) and DC (Direct Current). The most common form  of AC that is the electricity coming out of the electrical outlets in your home. That electricity is alternating its direction of flow at a rate of 60 cycles per second..

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Terminology

The AC cyclic waveform is called a Sinusoidal wave form. The voltage in an AC circuit reverses direction through the resistance. This constant reversal makes it deadly even at low voltages. DC voltage goes only in one direction through a wire or resistance and generally is not as dangerous.

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Miss Matched Plug Do Not Buy an Adaptor !!

Generally in the United States the voltage coming from a wall plug is 110 - 120 volts. This is not true in other countries the cyclic rate may be 50 Hz while in the US it is 60 cycles per minute. A electrical appliance made for Europe may run slow if at all in the US. While most areas of the world have differing plug in shapes to avoid plugging in an appliance not meant for their system.

The AC voltage which comes from the wall plug in your home is attached to a meter and on to the main power grid. To use the power from a DC generator, wind turbine or solar panels you will be required to have some expensive equipment along with an electrician to get hooked to the  Power Grid. You may be better off to just power some local equipment without trying to get on the grid.

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Rectifier / Converter

It is important to understand that you can not just connect your generated AC to your home directly. One of the many reasons for this is that it creates two power sources for firemen and others who would have reason to cut  the electricity to your home.  Such connections must be done by an electrician who has training in duel source systems and mark all required locations as duel source.

Generally the electricity coming from solar panels or wind turbine will be DC 12 or 24 volts. It will be sent to a rectifier (shown on left). The DC voltage is converted to AC and sent on to the cut over transfer switch (shown to the right). All of these connections must be performed to meet building codes. Little thing such as not attaching a small gage wire to a larger larger gage wire down stream. The wiring implies specific current and breaker switches.

The transfer switch will cut out the main utility  grid circuit and replace the energy with the voltage coming from you panels or wind generator. The converter shown on the left is much to small to support a home and only cost in the range of $100.00 US.  Such unit would be appropriate for a couple solar panels or small wind turbine. A rectifier large enough for the home would cost upwards of $1000.00. (US) or more. A transfer switch as seen to the right would handle a normal home and cost approximately $500.00 US. The electrician to install the equipment would cost from $2000.00 to $4000.00 depending on unions and other factors.

Transfer Switch

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By this time you should understand that all electricity is to be respected.

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Generator Battery

Small Transfer Switch

There is one component missing from the description above, the battery rack. Depending on the size of the system you build and how you want it to operate you may be able to use a single battery or as many as 20 to assure power.

Our largest turbine with 16 foot blades

set on a 200 foot  pole tower.

Diagram of small scale system components.

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The battery shown in the diagram above is an excellent battery for solar or wind projects. Unlike a car battery which is made to deliver  high current for a short period to start a vehicle, the batteries for solar panels or wind turbines must be able to maintain a level constant current and voltage.

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To get the best, most complete information about hooking up you system you should purchase the appropriate manual from Total Tech Corp. We offer manuals for solar panels as well as wind turbines.

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Copyright 2009 Total Technology Corp