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Home Power Systems

Electricity from the Sun, Wind and Water

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On this page: Working projects --- DC Systems Overview --- Other Pictures

Working DC battery to AC inverter projects we have built:

Home Powe r Syste m # 0

Statistics:
T urbine: ES&D 30 amp Stream Engine
Generator: 30 amp permanent magnet
Operating Head:124 feet, 38 meters
Output: Up to 30 amps at 24 volts
Inverter: Magnum MS 4024 PAE, 4,000 watt
Voltage controller: Xantrex C 60

T his power house is built in a brick bunker buried into

Night in power house a hill side. One side has the inverter and battery, the
other side has the hydro equipment. T his inverter is
built onto a Magnum Mini Panel, providing all AC
and DC breakers as well as AC bypass switching.
Using this panel makes installation easier as much of
the wiring can be done in the shop before
installation. the use of this panel also adds two years
to the inverter warranty.

T he two nozzle turbine can be turned down to

produce less power when the residents are not on the
property. T his is good practice as it uses less water if
that is an issue. T he power line connects to the
home through under ground conduit, a distance of
35 meters. Battery metering in the home provides
voltage, current, battery capacity, amp hours, and
seven other conditions.

Magnum inverter with DC-AC panel below

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T urbine mounted on steel sump drain
Four Surrette S-550 batteries
T he LH 1000 low head propeller turbine to be
installed.
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Air heater diversion load
Magnum mini panel wiring
Home Powe r Syste m #1
Statistics:
T urbine: ES&D LH 1000 low head propeller
Generator: 30 amp permanent magnet
Operating Head: 8 feet
Output: Up to 30 amps at 24 volts
Inverter: Outback 3500 watt
Voltage controller, Xantrex C 60
An example of a custom made, off grid home power
system for a modest electrical demand. T he four
Surette S-550 batteries have a nominal capacity of
428 amp hours at 24 volts. T hey are charged by a
back up diesel generator, or the LH 1000 low head
hydro turbine, or in the summer by a solar array.
T his is a good example of an off grid home power
electrical package that can operate without any
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hydro or solar charge source. By running a gas or

diesel generator for several hours a day, sufficient
charge is stored to operate from the battery for the
rest of the night and day, thus saving gas, money
and noise pollution.

T he completed electrical panel with FX3524

inverter, AC and DC switches, charge Vented battery box with four Surett S-550 batteries.
controller, solar controller for future, 450 amp hour (20hr) capacity at 24 volts.
and battery box.

An LH1000 showing how water is supplied.T he inlet

An LH1000 operating under 6 feet of head, is always deep under water so air can not enter
producing 500 watts.

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Micro Hydro DC Water Power Systems
T he owner and the new hydro turbine
during construction. T he power house
and penstock was installed by the owner.
T he new electrical panels on the right.
T ransformer box below.
In addition to the hydro, we upgraded a
small 300 watt PV array to 1 kW. An
existing solar hot water panel showing
behind.
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Home Powe r Syste m #2
Statistics:
T urbine: Bronze T urgo runner with four nozzles
Generator: Induction motor, 2 HP at 240 volts
Operating Head: 175 feet gross
Rated flow: 110 gpm
Output: up to 40 amps at 28 volts nominal, or 1120
watts
Inverter: Magnum pure sine wave, 4.0 kW, 24 volts
T his site had been operating on a small 300 watt PV
array and wind turbine for many years. As is often the
case with solar only systems, a gas generator was
frequently used to top up the old battery bank. Later
we did a complete rebuild and added a 1 kW hydro
turbine and 700 watts of additional PV with an MPPT
tracking regulator. In addition, new batteries, a new 24
volt inverter, controls and breakers were added. T he
system had been on 12 volts, and a Magnum 12 volt
inverter had just recently been added, but as is
usually the case, it is necessary to convert over to 24
volts when DC power levels get to the 1 kW range.
See the solar page for the PV upgrades on this site.
Inside the lovely home equipped with all the modern
electrical gadgets.
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Micro Hydro DC Water Power Systems
T his is the new battery box. Towels
prevent disastrous shorts during
assembly.
T he lovely interior of the home powered
by this system.
T he intake consists of a submerged
plastic box. Another filter is on shore.
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T he Intake filter and flume feeds the 1000 foot long,
3 inch polyethylene penstock. Because this stream
dries up in the summer, the system includes the 1 kW
solar. T he existing wind turbine and two 60 watt PV
modules supply charge to the old 12 volt battery
which is used for existing 12 volt lighting.
Home Powe r Syste m #3
Statistics:
T urbine: Bronze T urgo runner on custom base
Generator: Brushless 80 amp heavy duty
alternator
Operating Head: 86 feet gross, 80 net
Rated flow: 250 gpm
Output: 29 amps at 27 volts nominal, or 780 watts
Inverter: T race 3624 provides AC
For several years a 3200 watt gas generator was the
only power source at this unique B&B retreat on the
road to the Whistler - Blackcomb ski area. Every time
an electrical load was needed, the generator had to
run, regardless of whether it was a light bulb, or a
power tool. T he cost of gas was becoming
increasingly hard to justify. We designed a system to
completely replace the gas guzzler, and to work
efficiently with an output of from 100 watts to peaks
of over 3,000 watts.
w w w .TantalusView Retreat.com
Amp meter reading 29 amps at
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Micro Hydro DC Water Power Systems
80 Amp, 24 Volt generator
Home Powe r Syste m # 4
T he inverter, transformer and battery
bank is in a shed near the house.
Under side view of Harris pelton turbine
and manifold in construction.
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27 volts, equaling 780 watts.
T he now unused gas generator
and the plug in point.
Statistics:
T urbine: Four inch horrizontal pelton
Generator: 2 kW induction motor
Operating Head: 160 feet
Rated flow: 150 gpm
Operation voltage: 240 three phase
In order to transmit power the 500 feet to the battery
bank with minimal loss, an induction generator was
used. T his system generates wild AC, meaning it is
unregulated at source, and then stepped down to 30
volts DC for battery charging. At this point it is regulated
to an optimum battery charging voltage, then fed to a 4
kW sine wave inverter which feeds 120 volts AC to the
home and shop. T his system was an upgrade, with the
diesel generator, inverter and AC wiring already
installed. T he micro hydro has nearly made the diesel
unnecessary, and saved a huge amount of diesel fuel.
4 kW inverter, regulator and transformer box on wall. A
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pre-existing 7 kW backup diesel generator in

foreground.

A stainless steel box and screen serves

at the intake.

Home Powe r Syste m #5

Statistics:
T urbine: T urgo turbine in welded steel housing.
Generator: 70 amp Ford alternator
Operating Head: 110 feet
Rated flow: 130 gpm
Output: 20 amps at 12 volts

T his facility provides power to a hiking program base

camp. Water is diverted from a very unstable creek by
means of a wooden flume to a settling tank. A 1000
foot long, 3 inch diameter series 100 polyethylene
penstock dropping 140 feet supplies the water to the
power house.

Ford alternator driven by four inch

turgo runner.

Controls are mounted on a removable plywood backing

and the panel is removed at the end of each camping
season. Regular outlet boxes make it easy.

A small power house

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Two turbines are used to produce a
total of 75 amps at 24 volts DC. Two
generators gives added flexibility and
backup.
A small diesel genset was the only
power source before we installed the
hydro system. It is seldom used now, but
can be used to charge the batteries if
the hydro is off line.
Hauling in the three inch pipeline
following a snow storm, oh joy! T his
pipe was joined with insert fittings. A
propane torch is needed to soften the
pipe.
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Home Powe r Syste m #6
Statistics:
T urbine / generator: Two T urgo turbines with
permanent magnet alternator.
Operating Head: 200 feet
Rated flow: 150 gpm
Output: 75 amps at 24 volts
T his is a privately owned retreat center near Whistler
BC. T he isolated location makes it an ideal setting for
energy independence. Water flows from the steep
mountain immediately above the camp, and is directed
through a 4 inch penstock to a manifold supplying the
two turbines, each with two nozzles.
A T race 4000 watt sine wave inverter has plenty of
capacity to run the facility. An 800 amp hour battery
bank supplies the 24 volt input.
Home Powe r Syste m #7
Statistics:
T urbine: ES&D stream engine
Generator: Permanent magnet wired for 12 volts
Operating Head: 95 feet gross, 90 feet net
Rated flow: 150 gpm
Output: 10 to 25 amps at 12 volts nominal
T his remote Provincial Marine Park relied entirely on
barged in propane for lighting and heat. During the
early spring we built a small system ideally suited to
the needs of the Park Ranger's cabin. Five hundred
feet of penstock powers a twin nozzle turbine which
charges a set of batteries. 1500 watts of AC, as well
as 12 volt DC is available for lighting, radios, and
some heat production.
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Micro Hydro DC Water Power Systems
T he portable, self cleaning intake was
built into a wooden floom.
T he turbine/generator and valves
mounted in a sturdy enclosure.
Home Powe r Syste m # 8
600 feet of two inch pipe ready to
install.
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T he complete electrical system installed in
the rangers cabin. T he cabin was later rebuilt and
during the rebuild, the contractor replaced the
diversion load with what he thought was more
suitable. What was not considered was the voltage
rating and total resistance of the new load. It was
rated for 120 volts, and incapable of absorbing 30
amps at 12 volts. As a result, the inverter kept shutting
off on over voltage, and the battery was destroyed
and had to be replaced. Home power systems are
carefully thought out and any changes by the novice
should be discussed with the system designer.
Statistics:
T urbine: Four inch low flow turgo
Generator:30 amp PM alternator
Operating Head: 95 feet
Rated flow:100 l/pm
Operation voltage:24 VDC
Here are six roles of pipe on my driveway ready to
deliver to the site. It is two inch polyethylene rated tor
100 psi. T he pipe was joined with insert fittings and run
down slope from a simple intake bucket beside a small
stream. T he pipe entered a simple manifold with
several valves. Before I got it powered up, I wanted to
see how far the water shot out of the nozzle with 40
pounds of pressure. It show out across the stream and
had enough force to rip bark off a tree.
Once connected, the wiring box was configured for the
optimum arrangement of the coils in the stator, and the
height of the rotor set. T he output was set for 20 amps
at a miminal 24 volt output. T his fed a set of four, 6 volt
batteries sufficient for the power needs.
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High pressure stream of water from

nozzle.

3 kW Outback Power Systems 24 volt

inverter mounted on DC switch box.

T he wiring box on the stream engine

permits various configurations.

Home Powe r Syste m #9

Statistics:
T urbine / generator: Two nozzle flow flow ES&D
Stream Engine .
Operating Head: 50 meters
Rated flow: 50 120 l/m
Output: 8 amps at 48 volts

T his is a very tidy installation done in 2015, to power a

new off grid home. Since the water supply can get very
low in summer, provision was made to add up to 1500
watts of solar. T he addition of a solar controller was
planned in the layout of the panel board to fit to the
right of the inverter shown. A power line supplies the
120/240 volt output to the house 35 meters away.
Electrician wiring the diversion load
heater. T his will burn up the excess
power from the hydro generator and
keep the battery at the optimum
voltage.

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A 3 kW diesel generator back up sits

next to the hydro turbine.
T he turbine had to fit in a very tight space,
inside a 3 foot diameter concrete culvert on end.

Top

Wate r to wire :
A typical installation might consist of the following components.

A small intake in the water source to catch and filter the required flow. T his can be as
simple as having the submerged pipe end covered with a bit of wire screen, or fastening a
plastic bucket with many small holes cut into it to the pipe end, or building a small dam
and settling tank. In any case, there are many ways to make an intake, and this is one
aspect of micro hydro that allows for imagination and originality.

Since power is the product of vertical drop times the weight of the water, output will
depend on the drop, (or head), and flow volume available. Heads of around 100 feet with
a flow in the range of 1 gallon per second are easily achieved producing an output in the
range of 400 watts. T he penstock, or pipe line to carry the water is often made of plastic,
either PVC or polyethylene. Pipe diameters in the range of 2 to 4 inches are typical
depending on the flow requirement and distance the water must be moved. Pictured here
is the fusion welder used to join polyethylene pipe lengths.

T he turbine generator units used in these small systems are based on either standard
automotive alternators, newly introduced permanent magnet alternators, or industrial 3
phase motors used as generators. T he choice depends on a number of factors such as
power line distance, desired equipment reliability, and cost. In a typical situation where
periodic inspection and minor maintenance is possible, the alternator system is most
common. Power is generated at 12 volts and fed directly to the battery bank. T he user is
free to make changes to the turbine nozzle size to suit power requirements and or flow
conditions.

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Deep cycle batteries are at the heart of any DC power system and store a tremendous
amount of energy for the periodic surges and long term draw imposed by the various
electrical loads. T he size of the battery bank is determined by the anticipated loads, the

available charging power and the budget. T he smallest size might consist of one deep
cycle battery with a capacity in the range of 200 amp hours providing sufficient power for a
small weekend cabin, while a large installation may be comprised of up to 12 six volt cells
wired to produce 12 or 24 volts with a capacity of over 1000 amp hours.

Control and monitoring of battery voltage is important to prevent damage from over
charging, or from accidental discharge. T he monitoring equipment consists of indicator
meters or lights to inform the user of system status, and the control unit maintains an
optimum voltage on the battery by either regulating the generator output or by shunting
power to alternate loads such as heating domestic hot water.

Powerful DC to AC inverters are used to produce high quality 117 volt AC directly from the
battery bank. T hese units are available in sizes from 125 watts up to 5000 watts and
operate at over 90 percent efficiency. T hey are fully protected against any abnormal
operating conditions and take virtually no power when in an idle mode. Pictured is a
Schneider (formally Xantrex) XW 4024.

Top

Additional photos of typical installations.

Bottom view of Stream Engine showing

Top view of the Stream Engine turbine.
bronze turbine runner. Virtually Installing a plastic union on the intake
Two nozzles and electrical junction box
indestructible, these units can run for nozzles of a stream engine.
visible.
years with no maintenance.

A 3600 watt inverter and switch gear. We love our generators!

Peter assembling stream engine!

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Six 245 Ah batteries wired for 735 Ah at

T he small sloping panel beside the large
12 volts powers a Statpower sine wave
box represents the ultimate in self
inverter which runs a satellite phone and
cleaning intakes for small projects.
An AC induction generator used with internet connection.
transformer and rectifiers in a DC
battery charging application.

T he complete electrical system installed

Welding and hauling 4 inch poly pipe.
in the rangers cabin.
T he installation we did for Parks.
Pipes are connected quick connects so
the system can be disassembled at the
end of the season.

Automotive alternators make an

Some times the weather is against you.
inexpensive power source, but lacks the Pure sine wave output from an 1800 watt
Here we are hauling in a pipe line
long life and efficiency of the newer Statpower inverter.
following a snow storm!
stream engines.

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(Top)

Contact Information:
Phone: 604-465-0927
Email: inf o@homepow er.ca

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