Energy from the Ground - Self powered generator by Barbosa and Leal

[Void]

Hi Clarence. Thanks for the detailed update. Ok on your new ground rod system results.
I wasn't quite clear how you had things hooked up when you ran for 2 1/2 hours. Were you
completely disconnected from the AC mains, and were you using the small battery charger to charge the
batteries in the loop?

It appears from some of your previous replies that you don't like it much when people offer suggestions,
so just ignore the following suggestions if you like.
IMO, it is quite sufficient in the beginning for your testing to just have no load other than the battery charger
charging the batteries. If you can have an ammeter continually measuring the current drawn from the batteries by the
inverter, and also have another ammeter measuring the current being supplied by the battery charger to the batteries,
I think that can help give a clearer picture how the system is behaving. If the battery charger is maintaining a charge current
to the batteries at close to what the inverter is pulling from the batteries, over several hours, I think that would be a good
achievement already. As mentioned before, a smart battery charger should work well for this application because it is specifically
designed to regulate its output based on the existing charge level on the batteries. I don't know if there would be an advantage of going
to the extra expense of a UPS, since a smart battery charger and some batteries is a similar arrangement. What are you thinking the
UPS might be able to do that a smart battery charger won't provide you?

All the best...

[Clarence]

Hi Clarence. Thanks for the detailed update. Ok on your new ground rod system results.
I wasn't quite clear how you had things hooked up when you ran for 2 1/2 hours. Were you
completely disconnected from the AC mains, and were you using the small battery charger to charge the
batteries in the loop?

It appears from some of your previous replies that you don't like it much when people offer suggestions,
so just ignore the following suggestions if you like.
IMO, it is quite sufficient in the beginning for your testing to just have no load other than the battery charger
charging the batteries. If you can have an ammeter continually measuring the current drawn from the batteries by the
inverter, and also have another ammeter measuring the current being supplied by the battery charger to the batteries,
I think that can help give a clearer picture how the system is behaving. If the battery charger is maintaining a charge current
to the batteries at close to what the inverter is pulling from the batteries, over several hours, I think that would be a good
achievement already. As mentioned before, a smart battery charger should work well for this application because it is specifically
designed to regulate its output based on the existing charge level on the batteries. I don't know if there would be an advantage of going
to the extra expense of a UPS, since a smart battery charger and some batteries is a similar arrangement. What are you thinking the
UPS might be able to do that a smart battery charger won't provide you?

All the best...

Clarence:

Hello Void,

I was only using the small battery charger as a kind of varied load group to see what the circuit voltage drop might or might
not be and not for any other purpose. I just figured while it was running I would put it to good use during the testing period- no
other special reason. I chose the CFL for a  light device and then chose a motor type device also just at random things.
after I included the dremmel motor I saw the total watt load was getting upwards towards the 250 mark so I stopped adding any other loads
and just let things run for a while to see if there were any great ups or downs - there wasn't so I shut it down.

my main purpose was to just see how loads would affect the circuit voltage! no drop would mean I had sufficient rods in the ground return
and a drop would mean I had not enough yet. this was the first time there was not a really drastic drop so I could tell I was getting close to the
amount of return rods I should have.

About the IMO thing -- bring em on! Its a free world last I heard. I guess age has made me a BLUNT person but I NEVER mean
to be disrespectful to anyone. most of the time when I say I wont talk about something simply means I just don't have the time
available to discuss a particular matter. my ass stays so busy its like one cat scratching dirt to take a poo and nine others searching for new ground.

IMO my power supply is similar to your smart charger they both have to be fed AC to make them operate to power the inverter and make the majic happen.
its just that my power supply doesn't like batteries AT ALL. a UPS system instantly switches the battery into a charge mode and powers the rectifier
in milli seconds-no fighting at all! Im serious, IF you have the time (and i'm not being ridiculous) enlighten me!
either by PM or open on the forum (probably better for others).

Lovin this forum gentlemen - it just keeps getting better!

thanks again and cheers

Clarence

[Void]

Hi Clarence. Thanks for the reply. Maybe I am misunderstanding how you have things
connected when you are running your tests. I was thinking that you are always leaving your
battery pack inline, with the battery pack running the inverter. The battery charger is constantly
charging the batteries to close the loop. This way the battery pack acts as a regulator to give the
inverter a fairly steady input voltage. By a smart battery charger, I mean just a battery charger that
automatically regulates its output current based on the battery's charge level. If the battery is fully charged,
the smart battery charger's output current is very low or zero. Is this what you were doing? See the
attached diagram for how I was thinking you are connecting in your circuit components.
All the best...

[Clarence]

Hi Clarence. Thanks for the reply. Maybe I am misunderstanding how you have things
connected when you are running your tests. I was thinking that you are always leaving your
battery pack inline, with the battery pack running the inverter. The battery charger is constantly
charging the batteries to close the loop. This way the battery pack acts as a regulator to give the
inverter a fairly steady input voltage. By a smart battery charger, I mean just a battery charger that
automatically regulates its output current based on the battery's charge level. If the battery is fully charged,
the smart battery charger's output current is very low or zero. Is this what you were doing? See the
attached diagram for how I was thinking you are connecting in your circuit components.
All the best...

Clarence:

Hello Void,

the circuit you show is good! the problem is that my Tripp Lite PR15 is NOT a charger-it is a constant POWER SUPPLY
bench type that is SUPPOSED to be able to be used with a battery to help charge it so the company stated. but that is
not the case! it actually delivers a CONSTANT 13.8 volt supply as output. that's why I tried to use it as a constant 13.8 volt
supply is ideal for a 12 volt inverter.
however when I switch it on being powered by the inverter output it senses the battery voltage and wont put out
anything as it thinks it is over volting. at the same time the battery voltage stats fluctuating from 0 to all points
between 12 volts and that drops out the inverter! a UPS  system eliminates any system chaos by switching every
thing apart from each other in milli seconds. I have searched in the past but I havent found any FAST smart charger
that has impressed me. I don't want to kick the system off with the batts fully charged and not have them kept that way.
no slow go charge wont get it!

Ill have to think about it awhile and see what to do. In the meanwhile FOR TESTING PURPOSES ONLY I will continue
to use mains supply to power the Tripp PR15. sometimes you cant stress things enough! ( OH MY GOD - hes using mains!)

If you have any view points - jump on in! the waters fine!
thanks again VOID.
cheers.

Clarence

[Void]

Hi Clarence. Ok, I see. I am sure you will figure something out.
You are doing a great job.
All the best...