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MNChinook 200M Instructions
Turbine Operation
The
Chinook 200M
is based on a simple design for ease of installation and reliable operation. You may no-
tice the following behavior during normal operation:
Cut-in -
The turbine will not begin to charge the batteries until the rotor is spinning at approximately
350 RPM. When operating below this speed, the turbine will be ‘Un-Loaded’ and will be
freewheeling. Once the turbine output voltage becomes equal to the nominal battery voltage (at
around 350 RPM), the turbine will become ‘loaded’ and begin to deliver current to the batteries.
During the Un-Loaded stages of rotation, the rotor blades rotate very freely. This allows the rotor to
build up speed and allows aerodynamic lift to be generated by the blades.
Normal Operation -
Once the rotor is spinning at 350 RPM, current will be delivered to the bat-
teries. As the rotor speed increases, so too, will the current and voltage. Excessive wind speed may
increase the battery voltage to a high level. Once this happens, the
Chinook 200M
CDL
diversion
charge controller will recognize that the battery voltage is becoming too high, and begin to divert
turbine output.
Charge Regulation -
Once the diversion controller (CDL) has engaged, the turbine will no longer
be charging the batteries. Instead, the power from the turbine will be delivered to the dump load
(The built in resistive heater element) and the turbine rotor may seem to rotate more slowly. The
battery voltage will begin to drop to normal levels during the regulation period. Once the battery
voltage is back within acceptable limits, the CDL will stop diverting current to the dump load. Refer
to the CDL controller user manual for specific operating instructions.
Shut Down -
By activating the optional stop switch (if you have installed one), the output from the
wires of the turbine are ‘shorted’ together. This effectively puts a near infinite load on the generator
causing the turbine to stall. When the stop switch is activated, the turbine may still rotate slowly
during high winds, but the rotor blades will not be able to build up any significant speed. It is
not
recommended
that the stop switch be activated while the rotor is spinning at high speed. This
sudden braking action will stress the blades and other components. Activate the stop switch during
a ‘lull’ when the rotor is not spinning excessively fast (not following this warning may violate your
warranty).
High Winds -
Every effort has been taken to ensure that the
Chinook 200M
will withstand the
forces exerted by strong winds. However, the raw power in high winds is immense, and the
stresses placed upon the turbine are magnified by gusty and turbulent conditions. Where possible,
the turbine should be shut down in advance of particularly strong winds (60+ MPH) and storm
conditions. This will decrease the wear and tear on the machine and will help to avoid a failure. The
rotor blades may rotate slowly during the shutdown period, but the forces exerted will be greatly
reduced during strong winds. Protect the turbine from extreme winds as you would protect other
items of your property.
Note: Never allow the turbine to run un-loaded with no connection to a battery bank or dump load.
Doing so will allow high open circuit voltages to be generated by the turbine. These voltages may
be dangerous and will damage the stator coils within the turbine.
