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When I turn on the water supply to my pelton wheel (smart drive motor, configured to run at 205 V AC with no load) my MPPT load slows the revs way down, and lowers the voltage to 70 V. This then makes my 110m cable run with higher amps, and less efficiently. Instead of the expected 900 to 1000 Watts, I'm only getting 350 W.
Is there a way to choose a minimum voltage on the MPPT, say 150 V and lower current, letting the turbine spin at the best revs?
Hi @stokie77
Presuming rectified ac and independent from any solar panels. And the dynamics of mpp tracking a pelton wheel way too slow for something designed for pv.
There's no way to limit input V, but the mppt can be limited in output Amps. Try that.
And if you've Youtubed your setup, would love a link.. :)
I discovered the maximum amps setting with the bluetooth VE Connect app on my phone not long before you answered, previously assuming that I was looking at a system-wide amps setting for my Easy Solar unit.
I adjusted the amps limit from the default 40 A down to 7 A, hoping that this will be about right when my replacement pipe fittings arrive - 96 PSI water pressure was a bit much for the glued joints in my updated turbine setup. Looking forward to having a stop valve closer than half a km too.
I guess I'll do a basic YT video of my system once it's all operational, and I'd be glad to send you a link.
???
Is that motor connected to the PV side of the MPPT together with the PV panels?
If yes, there is nothing that you can change at the MPPT. It is the PV array that can't deliver higher voltage with that load connected.
The voltage/power at the PV side is coming from the PV array, not from the MPPT.
Hi Matthias,
My PV panels are connected to my Easy Solar system.
My hydro generator is connected to my Victron 250/60 charge controller.
Both charge controller outputs are connected to the same battery connectors.
My MPPT sees the power coming from the generator as soon as it starts to spin, and it either loads it up with too many amps to let it spin up to an efficient speed, or drops the amps so low that it spins past the 261V cutout level.
Why can't it remember that its limit is 250V, and adjust the amps load accordingly?
Again, you're going to have trouble in absorption mode. When the MPPT starts reducing current to hold absorption voltage, it's going to unload the turbine, and it will spin faster.
