Whisper 500 Battery Charging Manual
Document #0023 Rev C
SOUTHWEST WINDPOWER
April 2006
4
1. Introduction
System Voltage
All system components, Wind Generator, Whisper Controller, diversion load, transformer and inverter ( if
applicable), must be configured to the correct system voltage.
The Whisper 500 Low Voltage (LV) Wind Generator is factory set at 48 volts, and the Whisper 500 High
Voltage (HV) Wind Generator is factory set at 240volts. The Whisper 500 Controller is also factory set at
48 volts. for the See TROUBLE SHOOTING AND REPAIR section to change the Whisper 500 voltage
from the standard voltage. Refer to the appropriate sections in this manual to configure the Wind Gen-
erator or Controller to different voltages.
Battery Bank Size
Southwest Windpower recommends a 48 volt Whisper 500 have a battery bank with a minimum of 400
amp-hours of capacity, and a 24 volt Whisper 500 should have a battery bank with a minimum of 800
amp-hours of capacity.
Tower
The Whisper 500 Wind Generator is designed to fit on a 5-inch schedule 40 steel pipe. The minimum
recommended tower height is 7 meters (20 feet) above trees or obstacles within 100m (300ft).
The lateral thrust load produced by the Whisper 500 at a wind speed of 45 m/s (100 mph) is 3.6 kN (800
lbs).
The highest point on your property is generally best location to site the wind generator but the distance
to the batteries and the system voltage will figure in the determining the correct installation location.
Wiring and Wire Sizes
The Battery Charging schematic on the following page depicts the wire runs and connections required to
install a typical Battery Charging system. Note not all systems require the voltage transformer or optional
external brake switch.
Wire sizes depend largely on the length of wire, system voltage and power transmitted. Wire is expen-
sive. Site your wind generator accordingly.
