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steve-b

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Joined: 07/09/2011
Location: Canada
Posts: 11

Posted: 11:43pm 28 Oct 2011

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I have built a solar/wind controller.
I hooked it up to a battery that was dead... i mean dead. i then hooked it up to the controller, and let it go. All was well for a bit, and then both the "charge", and the "dump" lights came on... should only ever be one or the other.
It went up in a puff of smoke. The controller is built to spec. I think that my problem was with the battery i used. Because it was so dead. I think that the battery should have a voltage that falls between the parameters set for the charge, and dump???
Any way... does anyone know what components should be changed?
Hopefully some of you out their have built this controller, and have an idea as to what i am trying to say.
I am very new to all this, so please forgive me for the bother.

This is the controller http://www.mdpub.com/555Controller/

The circuit diagram is on this page.Edited by steve-b 2011-10-30

Gizmo

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Joined: 05/06/2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 5078

Posted: 12:11am 29 Oct 2011

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Thats a neat little controller, I like it. I should build one to confirm it's a goer and then link to it.

Here's his circuit.

and link
http://www.mdpub.com/555Controller/

Now to your's. What were your using to charge the battery? One problem I can think of is a flat battery can easily go over voltage, so if you connected up a source, like a windmill, that could supply 30 or more volts, the high voltage could have fried the regulator and then the 555. Also, in his circuit, the high end of the two trimpots R1 and R2 are connected directly to the source. If one or both wipers was set at the high position, you will be feeding the full voltage into the 555, above its supply voltage, and this could also kill it. I would fit a 15k resistor in series with both trimpots, on the high side. That way, with a 12v source, the 555 inputs will never go above 5 volts.

Replace the dead components, turn the trimpots to minium, check the circuit, and then try it with a charged battery.

Glenn

The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now.
JAQ

steve-b

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Joined: 07/09/2011
Location: Canada
Posts: 11

Posted: 01:17am 29 Oct 2011

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I was using a wind turbine, made with a 72v Ametek motor.
I replaced the 555, and the voltage regulator. The green "charge light comes on when i put it to a battery, but it wont switch from charge to dump using the button???
Do you know what component/components this would be?

yahoo2

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Joined: 05/04/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 1166

Posted: 01:42am 29 Oct 2011

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I would check the relay first, out of circuit to eliminate that and take careful note that Diode 2 across the relay coil is correct or the voltage spike when the field collapses may fry the regulator.

check the voltage from the regulator is correct.

the pushbutton directly switches transistor Q2 (I think) have to leave that to someone else, I have two left feet when it comes to circuits. edit( I think it applies a higher voltage to pin 6 on the 555 IC which switches Q1 on which then drives Q2 )

I have seen a similar use for a 555 IC in Silicon chip, its very neat!!Edited by yahoo2 2011-10-30

I'm confused, no wait... maybe I'm not...

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