Skystream 3.7

[Arthurs]

I have a Skystream 3.7 mounted on an 80 foot tower. When I first installed it I could not get anything form the generator and a friend with experience said it was because of my grid connection which was a "Y" from the utility which is the typical three phase configuration. I was planning a solar and they said when I got the inverter running that the generator would run. I had to get a single phase grid from the utility to get the Xantrex to lock onto the grid but then the generator started working.

My problem now is that the generator ran about ten days then stopped with a good wind. It had been producing well during those ten days. My location has a steady wind most days.

When I look at the remote it says normal but zero Kwh since it is not turning. I climbed the tower and the blade can be turned easily by hand.

Does anyone have any ideas of what my problem could be. I have written to Skystream customer service by email three times and get no response. From reading the book it appears that the latching relay may need to be reset. Does anyone know what voltage needs to be applied to activate the coil on the latching relay.

Dave

[guerrillasolarguy]

Originally Posted by Arthurs

I have a Skystream 3.7 mounted on an 80 foot tower. When I first installed it I could not get anything form the generator and a friend with experience said it was because of my grid connection which was a "Y" from the utility which is the typical three phase configuration. I was planning a solar and they said when I got the inverter running that the generator would run. I had to get a single phase grid from the utility to get the Xantrex to lock onto the grid but then the generator started working.

Dave

The skystream can be converted to support two legs of a 208 3phase system with a simple click of a computer program by a servicing dealer (you cannot do it yourself). I would not hook up a turbine to power when you are not sure what kind of power you are hooking to (take a meter and measure line-line voltages). You need to call SWWP technical support and walk your problem through with them.

Joel

[BillF]

If the rotor is turning freely then the latching relay is not tripped. Perhaps the turbine is not quite oriented to catch the wind at lower wind speeds. Check the plumb of the tower and the level of the mounting flange. It has to be perfect for the downwind design of the turbine.

Bill

Originally Posted by Arthurs

I have a Skystream 3.7 mounted on an 80 foot tower. When I first installed it I could not get anything form the generator and a friend with experience said it was because of my grid connection which was a "Y" from the utility which is the typical three phase configuration. I was planning a solar and they said when I got the inverter running that the generator would run. I had to get a single phase grid from the utility to get the Xantrex to lock onto the grid but then the generator started working.

My problem now is that the generator ran about ten days then stopped with a good wind. It had been producing well during those ten days. My location has a steady wind most days.

When I look at the remote it says normal but zero Kwh since it is not turning. I climbed the tower and the blade can be turned easily by hand.

Does anyone have any ideas of what my problem could be. I have written to Skystream customer service by email three times and get no response. From reading the book it appears that the latching relay may need to be reset. Does anyone know what voltage needs to be applied to activate the coil on the latching relay.

Dave

[niel]

what in the world do you consider perfect? a tower sitting perfectly level as you term it will have some small degree of sway in the wind. there is no perfect and if it is that difficult to turn the thing into the wind, i wouldn't want it.
why is it always the fault of the guy that owns it and not the fact that it is a poorly functioning albatross? what will the next excuse be for it, because it was a tuesday?

[BB.]

From what I have read elsewhere (if I recall correctly), the towers can change level at the top plate enough to cause problems just from differential heating/expansion cause by sunlight on the monopole towers.

Sort of the problem with a "down wind design" and no aerodynamic "tail"/vane.

-Bill

[blackswan555]

When I look at the remote it says normal but zero Kwh since it is not turning. I climbed the tower and the blade can be turned easily by hand.

The blade can be turned easily by hand, But the wind is not turning it ?

Tim

[russ]

Not to mention about the only organization that ever tries to come close to perfect is NASA.

Any structural code has tolerances.

[halfcrazy]

That is a common problem with down wind turbine's If the tower top isn't perfectly level the turbine will tend to spin to the low spot. SWWP actually makes a rig you put on the top of the tower and make sure it is level.

[Watt]

Originally Posted by niel

what in the world do you consider perfect? a tower sitting perfectly level as you term it will have some small degree of sway in the wind. there is no perfect and if it is that difficult to turn the thing into the wind, i wouldn't want it.
why is it always the fault of the guy that owns it and not the fact that it is a poorly functioning albatross? what will the next excuse be for it, because it was a tuesday?

AMEN to the man who describes it best.

[BillF]

Originally Posted by BB.

From what I have read elsewhere (if I recall correctly), the towers can change level at the top plate enough to cause problems just from differential heating/expansion cause by sunlight on the monopole towers.

Sort of the problem with a "down wind design" and no aerodynamic "tail"/vane.

-Bill

You're right. Monopole towers have a probelm with this although I'm not sure how far a tower would deviate. Probably related to color/thickness of steel etc.

Any downwind turbine regardless of make will have to have a plumb tower and level mounting flange. SWWP is providing the "Skylevel" to assist with this. Proven has added a vane of sorts to overcome directionality problems. The Illinois Northwind doesn't have anything to help guide it although that may come later with product developement.

Even traditional tailed turbines can be affected by less than plumb towers as the weight of the tail assembly will swing the turbine to the weighted side thus affecting low wind orientation.

It's just good practice to carefully align/plumb/level the tower that has a turbine regardless of brand or make mounted on it and regularly check for deviation.