Performance And Expectation - ECLECTIC ENERGY D400 User Manual

Performance and expectations
The D400 is extremely efficient by design, making it the most powerful and productive
wind generator of its rotor size currently available.
The D400 should perform in line with, or exceed, the values given in the output graph.
When verifying system performance, it is important that wind speed measurements are
taken at the same height as the turbine - do not rely on the wind speed reading of a mast
head anenometer, it can be TWICE the speed of the wind at the turbine.
Note that the batteries should be at least 40% discharged.
Note also that if a regulator is installed as part of the system, dumped output will not be
seen by shunt-sensed battery monitors.
Should outputs be well below expectations, first suspect turbulence in the wind stream.
Turbulence at a given site can be specific to a particular wind direction where it is caused
by an obstruction either up or downwind of the turbine. When the wind direction changes,
and the obstruction is no longer in line with the turbine, outputs may return to expected
levels. If the turbulent wind stream is not from the prevailing wind direction, this may not
be important. Alternatively, the D400 could be re-sited or raised in height.
If poor output cannot be attributed to site conditions, re-check the whole installation
against the wiring diagram and also look for poor or loose connections.
Check that the relevant connection from your D400 to the batteries is made to the non-
battery side of the battery monitor shunt. If the connections are made direct to the battery
terminals, bypassing the shunt, the ship's battery monitor will not be able to read the
D400's output.
Note, where batteries are in a good state of charge, power diverted by the regulator to
the dump resistors will not be seen by the battery monitor.
Finally, ensure that the battery bank is in good condition. Check individual battery
terminal voltages within the bank. Defective cells within a battery bank are a common
cause of poor charging performance.
Note that there is a short period of 'running in' with a new wind turbine. The bearings and
shaft seals of a new machine take 40 – 50 hours of operation before mechanical friction
falls to its design level. As a result, your D400 may seem a little slow to respond in light
winds until this 'running in' period has passed.
Before deciding that your D400 is faulty, please work through the troubleshooting
guide on page 16. In our experience the vast majority of problems reported prove to be
faults in the installation rather than a problem with the turbine itself.
Please feel free to contact your dealer or Eclectic Energy Ltd. if you require additional
advice or guidance.
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