SOUTHWEST WINDPOWER
Whisper 500 Battery Charging Manual
Document #0023 Rev C
April 2006
Potentiometer Position
Regulation On Voltage
Full Turn CCW
12.0V 24.0v 36.0v 48.0v
13.0V 26.0v 39.0v 52.0v
4 Turns CCW
13.0V 26.0v 39.0v 52.0v
14.0V 28.0v 42.0v 56.0v
Factory Preset
13.4V 26.8v 40.2v 53.6v
14.4V 28.8v 43.2v 57.6v
9 Turns CW
14.0V 28.0v 42.0v 56.0v
15.0V 30.0v 45.0v 60.0v
13 Turns CW
14.0V 28.0v 42.0v 56.0v
16.0V 32.0v 48.0v 64.0v
Full Turn CW
14.0V 28.0v 42.0v 56.0v
17.0V 34.0v 51.0v 68.0v
Regulation Off Voltage
LED Operation
Steady illumination of the Green LED indicates that batteries are being charged by the wind generator.
Steady illumination of the Red LED indicates that all available power produced by the wind generator is being
diverted to the Diversion Load as a result of operator request. The operator may select this mode by setting the
Diversion Switch to “OFF” or through the LCD Display.
A blinking Red LED indicates power is being diverted to the diversion load in order to regulate the battery volt-
age. The table below summarizes the operational state of the controller indicated by the LED’s.
Setting Regulation Voltage (without Display)
The battery voltage at which the Whisper Controller determines the batteries are fully charged and begins to
divert power to the Diversion Load is called the Regulation-On Voltage. This point may be altered by adjusting
the potentiometer on the controller’s circuit board. See Section 5 on the Whisper Controller PCB. The table
below presents approximate information regarding the potentiometer position and Regulation Set Points. If
changing the potentiometer position count the number and direction of turns so it is possible to return to the
original position.
When the controller measures battery voltage above the Regulation-On Voltage it does not immediately divert
power to the Diversion Load. There is a delay of approximately 30-40 seconds, refer to the section on
configuring the controller printer circuit board for additional information.
The voltage at which the controller resumes charging the batteries is refer to at the Regulation-Off voltage. If
the controller senses battery voltage below the Regulation-Off Voltage for approximately 30-40 second will
stop diverting power and start charging the battery again.
Before adjusting the Voltage Regulation-On set-point
understand that increasing the voltage will not
increase the turbine’s output voltage or current
. This set-point only adjusts the “shut down” voltage for bat-
tery charging. Overcharging will significantly reduce a battery’s life expectancy.
RED LED
GREEN LED
INTERPRETATION
OFF ON
BATTERY
CHARGING
BLINKING OFF
POWER TO DIVERSION LOAD TO REGULATE
BATTERY VOLTAGE
ON OFF
POWER TO DIVERSION LOAD BY OPERATOR
REQUEST— DIVESION SWITCH OR DISPLAY
LED INDICATORS
27
