EZ Wire II charge controller

Daox · 03-17-12, 06:31 PM

My father in law pulled one out of someone's house (hes and electrician) and asked me if I wanted it. It appears to be a 3 phase voltage regulator like an alternator would have since there are three inputs from the wind turbine. It has a knob that goes from 27 to 37 volts. So, I'm guessing it can be used on a 24/36V setup, although 37V is too low a charge voltage for a 36V system. The top vented part is filled with a few very large resistors. It also has a switch that reads "brake on" / "brake off". It appears to be made by Southwest Windpower.

Other than that, I haven't been able to find much info online about it. Is anyone familiar with this charge controller?

Here is a googled image:

Daox · 03-19-12, 01:00 PM

I found a bit more info on the charge controller. I'm not certain what I'll do with it... From additional information it looks like I have a 24V controller. Oddly, this allows me to crank the voltage all the way up to 37V though! Thats incredibly high for a 24V system.

So, I guess my question to the others is how else do you think I can use this thing? It seems as though the 3 phase input is just going through a bridge rectifier to turn it into DC power. So, I should be able to bypass that and use this thing as a normal charge controller with a DC input if I wanted (not that I have an application, just thinking out loud). Sound right?

Piwoslaw · 03-19-12, 01:20 PM

Maybe it can be used with other power generators (not just wind gennies) like micro-hydro, exercise bike, or an alternator coupled to an IC engine?

Daox · 03-19-12, 03:48 PM

Yeah thats kind of what I was thinking.

I believe it was paired with a 1000W wind turbine, so it should be able to handle some decent amps.

herlichka · 03-19-12, 06:54 PM

I'm just guessing, but is it possible that the 37V upper limit is open circuit voltage, and maybe high to allow for line losses?

Daox · 03-19-12, 08:18 PM

Eh, I don't think so. It specifically says "When the battery bank voltage increases to a level set by the user, regulation occurs." There doesn't appear to be any other way to adjust any voltage level besides the big dial on it.

Nellie44Militello · 05-28-13, 02:51 PM

As per details, I understand that it converts wind energy to electricity. The generated electricity is used to charge the battery bank. EZ-Wire accepts AC input from wind turbine and gives DC output. This DC output can be used for various applications.

nexsuperne · 05-29-13, 07:55 AM

On a 24 volt system, I wouldn't let it go higher than 30 volts maximum, 29V would be better. My 48 volt system dumps the excess power at 58.0 volts, reconnects at 56.0 volts, and disconnects the load at 42 volts (or 10.5 volt minimum and 14.5 volt maximum per 12 volt battery).

Daox · 05-31-13, 12:36 PM

Yeah, I agree with you. Thats why the really huge adjustment range was weird to see. You could really do some damage to your batteries if you don't set that up right.

doogie48084 · 01-22-14, 08:10 PM

thanks for posting, I am eating up all this info.
Doug

03-17-12, 06:31 PM	#1
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	EZ Wire II charge controller My father in law pulled one out of someone's house (hes and electrician) and asked me if I wanted it. It appears to be a 3 phase voltage regulator like an alternator would have since there are three inputs from the wind turbine. It has a knob that goes from 27 to 37 volts. So, I'm guessing it can be used on a 24/36V setup, although 37V is too low a charge voltage for a 36V system. The top vented part is filled with a few very large resistors. It also has a switch that reads "brake on" / "brake off". It appears to be made by Southwest Windpower. Other than that, I haven't been able to find much info online about it. Is anyone familiar with this charge controller? Here is a googled image: __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

03-19-12, 01:00 PM	#2
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	I found a bit more info on the charge controller. I'm not certain what I'll do with it... From additional information it looks like I have a 24V controller. Oddly, this allows me to crank the voltage all the way up to 37V though! Thats incredibly high for a 24V system. So, I guess my question to the others is how else do you think I can use this thing? It seems as though the 3 phase input is just going through a bridge rectifier to turn it into DC power. So, I should be able to bypass that and use this thing as a normal charge controller with a DC input if I wanted (not that I have an application, just thinking out loud). Sound right? __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Last edited by Daox; 03-19-12 at 01:02 PM..

03-19-12, 01:20 PM	#3
Piwoslaw Super Moderator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Warsaw, Poland Posts: 964 Thanks: 189 Thanked 111 Times in 87 Posts	Maybe it can be used with other power generators (not just wind gennies) like micro-hydro, exercise bike, or an alternator coupled to an IC engine? __________________ Ecorenovation - the bottomless piggy bank that tries to tame the energy hog.

03-19-12, 03:48 PM	#4
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Yeah thats kind of what I was thinking. I believe it was paired with a 1000W wind turbine, so it should be able to handle some decent amps. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Last edited by Daox; 03-19-12 at 04:04 PM..

03-19-12, 08:18 PM	#6
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Eh, I don't think so. It specifically says "When the battery bank voltage increases to a level set by the user, regulation occurs." There doesn't appear to be any other way to adjust any voltage level besides the big dial on it. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

03-19-12, 06:54 PM	#5
herlichka Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada Posts: 102 Thanks: 11 Thanked 15 Times in 10 Posts	I'm just guessing, but is it possible that the 37V upper limit is open circuit voltage, and maybe high to allow for line losses?

05-28-13, 02:51 PM	#7
Nellie44Militello Lurking Renovator Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: usa Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	As per details, I understand that it converts wind energy to electricity. The generated electricity is used to charge the battery bank. EZ-Wire accepts AC input from wind turbine and gives DC output. This DC output can be used for various applications.

05-29-13, 07:55 AM	#8
nexsuperne Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: 30 miles east of London, UK Posts: 88 Thanks: 12 Thanked 19 Times in 18 Posts	On a 24 volt system, I wouldn't let it go higher than 30 volts maximum, 29V would be better. My 48 volt system dumps the excess power at 58.0 volts, reconnects at 56.0 volts, and disconnects the load at 42 volts (or 10.5 volt minimum and 14.5 volt maximum per 12 volt battery).

05-31-13, 12:36 PM	#9
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Yeah, I agree with you. Thats why the really huge adjustment range was weird to see. You could really do some damage to your batteries if you don't set that up right. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-22-14, 08:10 PM	#10
doogie48084 Lurking Renovator Join Date: May 2011 Location: mi Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	thanks for posting, I am eating up all this info. Doug