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Forum Index : Electronics : Back to electronic school for me
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| M Del Senior Member  Joined: 09/04/2012 Location: AustraliaPosts: 155 |
I have been following the inverter build threads or a long time and may even have made a few comments/suggestions somewhere along the line. I thought I was ready to start a small build of my own, but had occasion to pull a small control unit apart last week that stopped working for some reason. I got lost inside it, so feel I need a lot of refreshing before I take on anything big again. Starting in the 70s I have built, rebuilt & changed all sort of automotive stuff including CD ignitions, alarms, computer control boards in earthmoving/fire trucks etc etc. I have also worked on large KVas, regulators, chargers, power systems and other stuff over the years. I have not seriously been on tools for a while, so any ideas on where to go to get back up to speed. Any suggestions welcome, including seriously reconsidering not doing an inverter. Mark |
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Madness Guru  Joined: 08/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2498 |
Just jump in the deep end like I did, you will learn as you go. There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't. |
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Tinker Guru Joined: 07/11/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1904 |
As Mad says plus start collecting junked inverters for parts. Those with the toroid cores especially. Klaus |
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| Georgen Guru Joined: 13/09/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 462 |
I am interested to see your decision Mark. There are some U-tube and Internet Electronic tutorials, so maybe there is something related to what you want to do. I do not have much knowledge, so nothing to refresh. You might be fine, as you have good experience that only has to be dusted off plus few new things. George |
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| joebog1 Senior Member Joined: 07/11/2015 Location: AustraliaPosts: 114 |
Its not really a silly suggestion, BUT  For about $60 aussie I joined http://www.instructables.com. It has whole heaps of information available on all aspects of "electronics". Including heaps of stuff on solar, wind, batteries controllers etc etc. Probably more of a general nature than what you will learn here, BUT it doesnt hurt as much to fall over when walking. There is also a free version, but you cant print or save the articles. There is a lot of stuff that I cant really use as it involves SMD components, and as I already have flagon bottle glasses ( as opposed to coke bottles) I dont do any SMD stuff. An alternative is to read up old electronics magazines, after all, unless I have missed something ALL electrons are second hand and STILL travel about the same speed,i.e. about 3 feet per hour. Electronics magazines going right back to about 1910 http://www.americanradiohistory.com/index.htm Then of course there is all the peeps here with all the knowledge you could ever wish for, BUT I would think apart from some pointers, a one on one education would be a little unfair. There are also all sorts of links posted here that are worth following. Best wishes on your "re-education" Joe |
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| joebog1 Senior Member Joined: 07/11/2015 Location: AustraliaPosts: 114 |
A quick look showed up these "schools" 1. http://www.instructables.com/class/Arduino-Class/ 2. http://www.instructables.com/class/Electronics-Class/ 3. http://www.instructables.com/class/Raspberry-Pi-Class/ 4. http://www.instructables.com/class/Robots-Class/ They all pretty much go from rank beginner to "expert" ( their words NOT mine ) There is also heaps on various operating systems for the multitude of micro controllers available today. j.b. |
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| Madness Guru Joined: 08/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2498 |
Mark your best option would be to by Clockmans blank PCB's and instructions. Then all you need to do is follow the instructions, a bit like painting by numbers. You can find details here. There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't. |
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oztules Guru Joined: 26/07/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1686 |
I agree with mad... it is simple to paint by numbers with clockmans help. The new gerbers on that thread of Mads, are working well. There will be three changes to the control card mentioned in mads thead, but just two resistor value changes to the silk screen and an additional capacitor in the CT circuit. Tested today using 5hp induction motor as load ( >80 amps@ 230v start surges ), and driving the big Mig at an average 5kw,.... feeling pretty good about it at the moment. It is refined down to a point where total destruction is only about $20aud to fix completely. It is very hard to cause a fault now the CT works so well. Will do a full write up after it has done 100kwh ( fair burn in I think) of running the house in normal operation.... about 14kwh/day, including the hot water unit.... will include full gerbers. It is worth doing, and I hope clockmans will incorporate the newer control card in his board inventory.... or anyone can get them made in china by pcbcart or similar... It will be the smaller power card that I am useing now with 16 x HY4008.... remember it is double copper thickness.... so if etching your own then get thicker copper for that board. Still marvel at how well these things actually work in the real world. When the wife dumped the 3kw bbq on tonight... I could not discern any flicker from the led lights, so recovery must be very very fast ( or my old eyes are not up to it any more), same with the fridges and freezers and water pumps... the things just work so well... that $1.50 chinese chip ( 8010 )is just amazing.  Your call, but take your time with the transformer and general layout, don't deviate too much from the topology, and your virtually guaranteed success from what I have seen. Second one with the new boards will be built in a few days, and if it just works out of the box again, then I am figuring this is about the end of the journey for me. ..........oztules Village idiot...or... just another hack out of his depth |
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Clockmanfr Guru Joined: 23/10/2015 Location: FrancePosts: 429 |
Hi M Del, Many years ago I used to make electronic Kits, Heathkit, Maplin etc, and fiddle a bit with breadboards. Nearly 2 years ago I purchased a Commercially manufactured Inverter, but it 'would not cut the Mustard' so to speak on my DC & AC mixed system. 'Oztules' and folk on these forums held my hand a bit and brought me up to speed with todays electronics and the PCB software, (which in my opinion hasn't change much since the early 1980's.) Anyways, I documented 'Oztules' work and his relevant 100,000 words that he jots down, and did a simple How To Book as I constructed my own OzInverters. At first all seems daunting, but I have tried to explain things and show the construction in a simple manner. The book has the toroid making stuff, along with 'oztules' magic formula for core cross section and the equation that gives the numbers of turns, one of 'oztules' real world calculations, and yes it works brilliantly. I also do a supplement with the new PCB's masks and the actual PCB's, and I list all components and where to get the awkward ones from. I will study oztules latest CT modifications, listen to his remarks carefully, and will incorporate changes in the Control board when I next re-order PCB's. Oztules, just to let you know that the OzInverter and its book and the 3 boards have gone out all over the World, with some very nice feedback. One guy in Africa, Limpopo valley, has made quite a few, so with a few PV panels, a few batts, AC mains is getting every where at a very cost effective price. Thanks Guys. Everything is possible, just give me time. 3 HughP's 3.7m Wind T's (14 years). 5kW PV on 3 Trackers, (10 yrs). 21kW PV AC coupled SH GTI's. OzInverter created Grid. 1300ah 48v. |
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| M Del Senior Member Joined: 09/04/2012 Location: AustraliaPosts: 155 |
Convinced Be prepared for a new thread in about six months where I go through a build and end up with a noice little inverter hooked up to some batteries running part of my house. Also be ready for some WTH happened here questions thanks all mmmmmmmnnnnnn parts lists, extra tools (??yay), clear shed space & bench. Mark |
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| Madness Guru Joined: 08/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2498 |
Keep an eye out for grid tie inverters with the toroids in them such as the Aero-sharp 3KW, Inspire and SMA are some that have what you need. They seem to be disappearing, people who install grid tie systems are worth having a chat to. A slab of beer might be a good reward to offer for them to keep you in mind. There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't. |
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| oztules Guru Joined: 26/07/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1686 |
Thanks for the heads up clockman... I always wanted to influence what happens in the Limpopo river area.... made my day really. Built three control cards up yesterday, and all work fine on the bench, just have to push them on the battery system to be a true believer..... but so far so good. Power cards are todays task... hate the heat sink part of this though. Mark, the biggest part of this will be procuring the transformers.... but you can use welding transformers from old style welders too.... so all is not lost. The efficiency will be less by about twice in the iron loss from my initial tests some years ago... but that is not a killer by any means.... maybe 80-100 watt idle loss instead of 30-40 watts. Apart from that it is all cheap and easy if you have the boards. .....oztules Village idiot...or... just another hack out of his depth |
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