CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML+RDFa 1.0//EN" "http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/DTD/xhtml-rdfa-1.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:fb="http://ogp.me/ns/fb#" xml:lang="en" version="XHTML+RDFa 1.0" dir="ltr"> <head profile="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml/vocab"><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.homepower.com/articles/microhydro-power/design-installation/electric-side-hydro-power/page/0/1","20150924031201","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1443064321"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"/> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201im_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/default/files/favicon.ico" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon"/> <meta name="description" content="When people dive into developing hydro-electric systems, a lot of thought goes into diverting debris-free water from the creek and sizing the pipeline"/> <link rel="next" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/microhydro-power/design-installation/electric-side-hydro-power/page/0/2"/> <link rel="prev" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/microhydro-power/design-installation/electric-side-hydro-power"/> <meta name="Generator" content="Drupal 7 (http://drupal.org)"/> <link rel="shortlink" href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/node/637"/> <meta name="viewport" content="width=990"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201im_/http://homepower.dev.cfdv.net/sites/all/themes/hpower/images/hp-meta-logo.jpg"/> <link rel="image_src" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201im_/http://homepower.dev.cfdv.net/sites/all/themes/hpower/images/hp-meta-logo.jpg"> <title>The Electric Side of Hydro Power: Page 2 of 3 | Home Power Magazine</title> <style type="text/css" media="all">@import url("https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201cs_/http://www.homepower.com/modules/system/system.base.css?nf7cvm"); @import url("https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201cs_/http://www.homepower.com/modules/system/system.menus.css?nf7cvm"); @import url("https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201cs_/http://www.homepower.com/modules/system/system.messages.css?nf7cvm"); @import url("https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201cs_/http://www.homepower.com/modules/system/system.theme.css?nf7cvm");</style> <style type="text/css" media="all">@import url("https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201cs_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/modules/comment_notify/comment_notify.css?nf7cvm"); @import url("https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201cs_/http://www.homepower.com/modules/comment/comment.css?nf7cvm"); @import url("https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201cs_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/modules/date/date_api/date.css?nf7cvm"); @import url("https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201cs_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/modules/date/date_popup/themes/datepicker.1.7.css?nf7cvm"); @import url("https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201cs_/http://www.homepower.com/modules/field/theme/field.css?nf7cvm"); @import url("https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201cs_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/modules/logintoboggan/logintoboggan.css?nf7cvm"); @import url("https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201cs_/http://www.homepower.com/modules/node/node.css?nf7cvm"); @import url("https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201cs_/http://www.homepower.com/modules/search/search.css?nf7cvm"); @import url("https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201cs_/http://www.homepower.com/modules/user/user.css?nf7cvm"); @import url("https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201cs_/http://www.homepower.com/modules/forum/forum.css?nf7cvm"); @import url("https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201cs_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/modules/views/css/views.css?nf7cvm");</style> <style type="text/css" media="all">@import url("https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201cs_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/modules/colorbox/styles/default/colorbox_default_style.css?nf7cvm"); @import url("https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201cs_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/modules/ctools/css/ctools.css?nf7cvm"); @import url("https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201cs_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/modules/fancy_login/css/fancy_login.css?nf7cvm"); @import url("https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201cs_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/libraries/cluetip/jquery.cluetip.css?nf7cvm"); @import url("https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201cs_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/modules/views_slideshow/views_slideshow.css?nf7cvm"); @import url("https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201cs_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/modules/views_slideshow/contrib/views_slideshow_cycle/views_slideshow_cycle.css?nf7cvm");</style> <style type="text/css" media="all">@import url("https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201cs_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/themes/hpower/css/layout.css?nf7cvm"); @import url("https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201cs_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/themes/hpower/css/style.css?nf7cvm"); @import url("https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201cs_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/themes/hpower/css/components.css?nf7cvm"); @import url("https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201cs_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/themes/hpower/css/section-colors.css?nf7cvm");</style> <style type="text/css" media="print">@import url("https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201cs_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/themes/hpower/css/print.css?nf7cvm");</style>     <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/misc/jquery.js?v=1.4.4"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/misc/jquery.once.js?v=1.2"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/misc/drupal.js?nf7cvm"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/libraries/cluetip/jquery.cluetip.js?v=1.0.7"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/libraries/cluetip/lib/jquery.hoverIntent.js?v=1.0.7"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/libraries/cluetip/lib/jquery.bgiframe.min.js?v=1.0.7"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/misc/jquery.cookie.js?v=1.0"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/misc/jquery.form.js?v=2.52"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/libraries/curvycorners/jquery.curvycorners.min.js?v=2.1.1"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/misc/ajax.js?v=7.23"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/modules/hpower_glossary/hp_gloss.js?nf7cvm"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/https://partner.googleadservices.com/gampad/google_service.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/libraries/colorbox/colorbox/jquery.colorbox.js?nf7cvm"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/modules/colorbox/js/colorbox.js?nf7cvm"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/modules/colorbox/styles/default/colorbox_default_style.js?nf7cvm"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/modules/colorbox/js/colorbox_load.js?nf7cvm"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/modules/fancy_login/scripts/fancy_login.js?nf7cvm"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/modules/views_slideshow/js/views_slideshow.js?nf7cvm"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/modules/views/js/base.js?nf7cvm"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/misc/progress.js?v=7.23"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/modules/views/js/ajax_view.js?nf7cvm"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/modules/google_analytics/googleanalytics.js?nf7cvm"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> <![CDATA[//><!]]> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/modules/views_slideshow/contrib/views_slideshow_cycle/js/views_slideshow_cycle.js?nf7cvm"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/libraries/jquery.cycle/jquery.cycle.all.min.js?nf7cvm"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/themes/hpower/js/jquery.cycle.min.js?nf7cvm"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/themes/hpower/js/jquery.waitforimages.js?nf7cvm"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/themes/hpower/js/jquery.hp-gallery.js?nf7cvm"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/themes/hpower/js/jquery.mousewheel.js?nf7cvm"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/themes/hpower/js/jquery.jscrollpane.min.js?nf7cvm"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/themes/hpower/js/jquery.validate.min.js?nf7cvm"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/themes/hpower/js/jquery.replacetext.js?nf7cvm"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/themes/hpower/js/script.js?nf7cvm"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/themes/hpower/js/google-ad.js?nf7cvm"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/themes/hpower/js/google-ad-2.js?nf7cvm"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/themes/hpower/js/google-ad-3.js?nf7cvm"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> <![CDATA[//><!]]> </script> </head> <body class="html not-front not-logged-in one-sidebar sidebar-first page-node page-node- page-node-637 node-type-article section-vocab-subject section-taxonomy-term-3"> <div id="skip-link"> <a href="#main-menu" class="element-invisible element-focusable">Jump to Navigation</a> </div> <div id="page-wrapper"><div id="page"> <div id="header"><div class="section clearfix"> <div id="name-and-slogan"> <div id="site-name"> <a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/" title="Home" rel="home"><span>Home Power Magazine</span></a> </div> </div>  <div class="region region-header"> <div id="block-hpower-admin-loginlogout" class="block block-hpower-admin loginlogout-block"> <h2 class="element-invisible"><none></h2> <div class="content"> <div class="loginlogout-links clearfix"><span class="loginlogout-link login-link"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/user/login">Sign In</a></span><span class="loginlogout-link register-link"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/user/register">Register</a></span></div> </div> </div> <div id="block-search-form" class="block block-search"> <div class="content"> <form action="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/microhydro-power/design-installation/electric-side-hydro-power/page/0/1" method="post" id="search-block-form" accept-charset="UTF-8"><div><div class="container-inline"> <h2 class="element-invisible">Search form</h2> <div class="form-item form-type-textfield form-item-search-block-form"> <label class="element-invisible" for="edit-search-block-form--2">Article Search </label> <input title="Enter the terms you wish to search for." onblur="if (this.value == '') {this.value = 'Article Search';}" onfocus="if (this.value == 'Article Search') {this.value = '';}" type="text" id="edit-search-block-form--2" name="search_block_form" value="Article Search" size="40" maxlength="128" class="form-text"/> </div> <div class="form-actions form-wrapper" id="edit-actions"><input type="submit" id="edit-submit" name="op" value="Search" class="form-submit"/></div><input type="hidden" name="form_build_id" value="form-M69ve74JTtU0BZbxpRjiwasPYDHq99Jo1sJi1_jzVnY"/> <input type="hidden" name="form_id" value="search_block_form"/> </div> </div></form> </div> </div> <div id="block-block-16" class="block block-block directories-menu-block-top"> <div class="content"> <ul id="nav-directories"><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/https://www.homepower.com/" class="top-level">Directories</a> <ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/https://www.homepower.com/contractors">Contractors</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/https://www.homepower.com/events">Events & Training</a></li> <li class="last"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/https://www.homepower.com/experts-directory">Experts</a></li> </ul></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="block-views-print-cover-block-block" class="block block-views print-cover-block"> <div class="content"> <div class="view view-print-cover-block view-id-print_cover_block view-display-id-block view-dom-id-80318b89215fbcf9c480ba96195e0f51"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-print-issue-coverart"> <div class="field-content"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/subscribe-and-save?template=subscribe" target="_blank"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201im_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/default/files/styles/print_cover_block/public/HomePower_169_Cover.jpg?itok=Oo-vUXrM" width="194" height="260" alt=""/></a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="block-menu-menu-header-menu" class="block block-menu"> <h2 class="element-invisible">Header Menu</h2> <div class="content"> <ul class="menu clearfix"><li class="first leaf"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/" title="">Home</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/about" title="">About Us</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/contact-us" title="">Contact Us</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/https://www.facebook.com/HomePower" title="Like Us">Facebook</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/https://twitter.com/HomePowerMag" title="Follow Us">Twitter</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="block-block-2" class="block block-block header-banner-block ad-block"> <div class="content"> <p><script type="text/javascript"> <![CDATA[// ><!]]> </script></p> <p>Advertisement</p> </div> </div> </div> <div id="main-menu" class="navigation"> <h2 class="element-invisible">Main menu</h2><ul id="main-menu-links" class="links clearfix"><li class="menu-1799 first"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/solar-electricity" title="Solar Electricity">Solar Electricity</a></li> <li class="menu-1804"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/solar-water-heating" title="Solar Water Heating">Solar Water Heating</a></li> <li class="menu-1810"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/wind-power" title="Wind Power">Wind Power</a></li> <li class="menu-1815 active-trail"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/microhydro-power" title="Microhydro Power" class="active-trail">Microhydro Power</a></li> <li class="menu-1820"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/home-efficiency" title="Home Efficiency">Home Efficiency</a></li> <li class="menu-1826 last"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/vehicles" title="Vehicles">Vehicles</a></li> </ul> </div>  </div></div>  <div id="main-wrapper" class="clearfix"><div id="main" class="clearfix"> <div id="content-area" class="column"><div class="content-area-section section"> <div id="highlighted"> <div class="region region-highlighted"> <div id="block-menu-block-1" class="block block-menu-block"> <div class="content"> <div class="menu-block-wrapper menu-block-1 menu-name-main-menu parent-mlid-0 menu-level-2"> <ul class="menu clearfix"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-1816"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/microhydro-power/basics" title="Basics">Basics</a></li> <li class="leaf active-trail menu-mlid-1817"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/microhydro-power/design-installation" title="Design & Installation" class="active-trail">Design & Installation</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1818"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/microhydro-power/equipment-products" title="Equipment & Products">Equipment & Products</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-1819"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/microhydro-power/project-profiles" title="Project Profiles">Project Profiles</a></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="content" class="column"><div class="content-section section"> <a id="main-content"></a> <h1 class="title" id="page-title"> The Electric Side of Hydro Power: Page 2 of 3 </h1> <div class="region region-content"> <div id="block-system-main" class="block block-system"> <div class="content"> <div class="social social-top"> <div class="one"> <g:plusone size="small" annotation="inline" width="140"></g:plusone> <fb:like layout="button_count" width="140" send="true"></fb:like> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/https://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-via="HomePowerMag">Tweet</a> </div> <div class="two"> <div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style "><a class="addthis_button_compact">Share</a></div> <a class="email" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/mailto:/?subject=HomePower.com Article: The Electric Side of Hydro Power&body=Hey! Check out this article link from HomePower.com, the website of renewable energy and home efficiency technologies. http://www.homepower.com/articles/microhydro-power/design-installation/electric-side-hydro-power">Email</a> <a href="?v=print&print=true" class="print">Print</a> </div> </div> <div id="node-637" class="node node-article node-full Intermediate Intermediate clearfix"> <div class="content clearfix"> <div class="article-head"> <div class="field field-name-field-subtitle field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Power Transmission & Regulation Considerations</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-node-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">By: </div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/profiles/jerry-ostermeier">Jerry Ostermeier</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/profiles/joe-schwartz">Joe Schwartz</a></div></div></div> <div class="article-date"> <div class="field field-name-field-print-issue field-type-node-reference field-label-inline clearfix"> <div class="field-label"><strong>Published In:</strong></div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Issue #126, August / September 2008</div></div> </div> </div> <div class="skill Intermediate" title="Skill level: Intermediate">Intermediate</div> </div> <div class="above-article-body full"> <div id="block-views-article-components-block-1" class="block block-views inside-article-block"> <h2>Inside this Article</h2> <div class="content"> <div class="view view-article-components view-id-article_components view-display-id-block_1 inside-article view-dom-id-f2c12bc6d2a738524e36f607d839ce56"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last"> </div> </div> <div class="attachment attachment-after"> <div class="view view-article-components view-id-article_components view-display-id-attachment_2"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="item-list"> <ul> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first icon-text"> <div class="views-field views-field-nothing"> <span class="field-content"><div class="icon"></div><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/hydro-wiring-tips?iframe=true&template=colorbox&width=600&height=600" class="colorbox-load" rel="sidebars">Hydro Wiring Tips</a></span> </div></li> <li class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even views-row-last icon-text"> <div class="views-field views-field-nothing"> <span class="field-content"><div class="icon"></div><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/conductors-conduit-connections?iframe=true&template=colorbox&width=600&height=600" class="colorbox-load" rel="sidebars">Conductors, Conduit & Connections</a></span> </div></li> </ul></div> </div> </div><div class="view view-article-components view-id-article_components view-display-id-attachment_3"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="item-list"> <ul> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first icon-table"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-document"> <div class="field-content"><div class="icon"></div><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/sites/default/files/articles/ajax/docs/7_HP126_pg68_Ostermeier-3.jpg" class="colorbox-load" rel="sidebars">Conductor Sizing for 500-Watt Turbine</a></div> </div></li> <li class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even icon-schem"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-document"> <div class="field-content"><div class="icon"></div><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/sites/default/files/articles/ajax/docs/8_HP126_pg68_Ostermeier-4.jpg" class="colorbox-load" rel="sidebars">Low-Voltage DC Transmission</a></div> </div></li> <li class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd views-row-last icon-schem"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-document"> <div class="field-content"><div class="icon"></div><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/sites/default/files/articles/ajax/docs/9_HP126_pg68_Ostermeier-4.jpg" class="colorbox-load" rel="sidebars">High-Voltage AC Transmission</a></div> </div></li> </ul></div> </div> </div><div class="view view-article-components view-id-article_components view-display-id-attachment_4"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="block-views-article-gallery-block" class="block block-views article-gallery-block"> <div class="content"> <div class="view view-article-gallery view-id-article_gallery view-display-id-block article-gallery view-dom-id-e892bfa627ed977d290100710696a905"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="skin-default"> <div id="views_slideshow_cycle_main_article_gallery-block_2" class="views_slideshow_cycle_main views_slideshow_main"><div id="views_slideshow_cycle_teaser_section_article_gallery-block_2" class="views-slideshow-cycle-main-frame views_slideshow_cycle_teaser_section"> <div id="views_slideshow_cycle_div_article_gallery-block_2_0" class="views-slideshow-cycle-main-frame-row views_slideshow_cycle_slide views_slideshow_slide views-row-1 views-row-odd"> <div class="views-slideshow-cycle-main-frame-row-item views-row views-row-0 views-row-first views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-image-1"> <div class="field-content"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/image/637/1752?width=750&height=600&iframe=true&template=colorbox" class="colorbox-load" rel="gallery"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201im_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery_active/public/articles/images/1_eden-valley-ranch-assembly.jpg?itok=XAvotRB5" alt="Turbine from Canyon Industries"/></a></div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-img-cap"> <div class="field-content">One of the smaller turbines from Canyon Industries, this 16 KW Pelton unit powers 120 and 240 VAC loads directly without batteries or inverters.</div> </div></div> </div> <div id="views_slideshow_cycle_div_article_gallery-block_2_1" class="views-slideshow-cycle-main-frame-row views_slideshow_cycle_slide views_slideshow_slide views-row-2 views_slideshow_cycle_hidden views-row-even"> <div class="views-slideshow-cycle-main-frame-row-item views-row views-row-0 views-row-first views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-image-1"> <div class="field-content"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/image/637/1753?width=750&height=600&iframe=true&template=colorbox" class="colorbox-load" rel="gallery"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201im_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery_active/public/articles/images/2_apmhydroturbine.jpg?itok=dQyd_I-5" alt="Turbine from Alternative Power & Machine"/></a></div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-img-cap"> <div class="field-content">Alternative Power & Machine manufactures a variety of turbines that produce up to 3.3 KW and transmit up to 480 volts AC or DC.</div> </div></div> </div> <div id="views_slideshow_cycle_div_article_gallery-block_2_2" class="views-slideshow-cycle-main-frame-row views_slideshow_cycle_slide views_slideshow_slide views-row-3 views_slideshow_cycle_hidden views-row-odd"> <div class="views-slideshow-cycle-main-frame-row-item views-row views-row-0 views-row-first views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-image-1"> <div class="field-content"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/image/637/1754?width=750&height=600&iframe=true&template=colorbox" class="colorbox-load" rel="gallery"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201im_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery_active/public/articles/images/3_PM-Rotor84.jpg?itok=1ETN8hXW" alt="Harris Hydro Pelton Turbine"/></a></div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-img-cap"> <div class="field-content">The Harris Hydro Pelton turbine uses a permanent-magnet alternator to produce up to 2.5 KW and transmits at 12, 24, or 48 VDC.</div> </div></div> </div> <div id="views_slideshow_cycle_div_article_gallery-block_2_3" class="views-slideshow-cycle-main-frame-row views_slideshow_cycle_slide views_slideshow_slide views-row-4 views_slideshow_cycle_hidden views-row-even"> <div class="views-slideshow-cycle-main-frame-row-item views-row views-row-0 views-row-first views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-image-1"> <div class="field-content"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/image/637/1755?width=750&height=600&iframe=true&template=colorbox" class="colorbox-load" rel="gallery"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201im_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery_active/public/articles/images/4_david-tanfield-2.jpg?itok=9i8KwJB4" alt="Nautilus Francis-style Turbine"/></a></div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-img-cap"> <div class="field-content">The Nautilus Francis-style turbine is designed for low-head applications and produces up to 3.4 KW. It can be used with a variety of generators and voltages.</div> </div></div> </div> <div id="views_slideshow_cycle_div_article_gallery-block_2_4" class="views-slideshow-cycle-main-frame-row views_slideshow_cycle_slide views_slideshow_slide views-row-5 views_slideshow_cycle_hidden views-row-odd"> <div class="views-slideshow-cycle-main-frame-row-item views-row views-row-0 views-row-first views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-image-1"> <div class="field-content"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/image/637/1756?width=750&height=600&iframe=true&template=colorbox" class="colorbox-load" rel="gallery"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201im_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery_active/public/articles/images/5_Hydro-2.jpg?itok=ngOa7bVv" alt="Hi Power Hydro Unit"/></a></div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-img-cap"> <div class="field-content">The Hi Power hydro unit matches a Harris Pelton turbine to an induction motor to generate wild three-phase AC at up to 480 V, and 3.6 KW.</div> </div></div> </div> <div id="views_slideshow_cycle_div_article_gallery-block_2_5" class="views-slideshow-cycle-main-frame-row views_slideshow_cycle_slide views_slideshow_slide views-row-6 views_slideshow_cycle_hidden views-row-even"> <div class="views-slideshow-cycle-main-frame-row-item views-row views-row-0 views-row-first views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-image-1"> <div class="field-content"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/image/637/1757?width=750&height=600&iframe=true&template=colorbox" class="colorbox-load" rel="gallery"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201im_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery_active/public/articles/images/6_se-4-nozzle-front-2.jpg?itok=Sl_ptHEe" alt="Energy Systems & Design Turgo Turbine"/></a></div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-img-cap"> <div class="field-content">Energy Systems & Design turgo turbines use permanent-magnet alternators to produce up to 1 KW at 12 to 240 VDC.</div> </div></div> </div> <div id="views_slideshow_cycle_div_article_gallery-block_2_6" class="views-slideshow-cycle-main-frame-row views_slideshow_cycle_slide views_slideshow_slide views-row-7 views_slideshow_cycle_hidden views-row-odd"> <div class="views-slideshow-cycle-main-frame-row-item views-row views-row-0 views-row-first views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-image-1"> <div class="field-content"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/image/637/1759?width=750&height=600&iframe=true&template=colorbox" class="colorbox-load" rel="gallery"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201im_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery_active/public/articles/images/10_FLEXmax-80.outline.jpg?itok=wyl-7BEz" alt="OutBack’s Flexmax MPPT Controller"/></a></div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-img-cap"> <div class="field-content">MPPT controllers, like OutBack’s Flexmax, can step down high-transmission voltage to match the nominal battery voltage.</div> </div></div> </div> <div id="views_slideshow_cycle_div_article_gallery-block_2_7" class="views-slideshow-cycle-main-frame-row views_slideshow_cycle_slide views_slideshow_slide views-row-8 views_slideshow_cycle_hidden views-row-even"> <div class="views-slideshow-cycle-main-frame-row-item views-row views-row-0 views-row-first views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-image-1"> <div class="field-content"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/image/637/1760?width=750&height=600&iframe=true&template=colorbox" class="colorbox-load" rel="gallery"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201im_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery_active/public/articles/images/11_sTriStar.jpg?itok=Ia7XTwLj" alt="Morningstar’s TriStar Diversion Controller"/></a></div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-img-cap"> <div class="field-content">Diversion controllers, like Morningstar’s TriStar, divert excess energy to a dump load when batteries are at full charge.</div> </div></div> </div> <div id="views_slideshow_cycle_div_article_gallery-block_2_8" class="views-slideshow-cycle-main-frame-row views_slideshow_cycle_slide views_slideshow_slide views-row-9 views_slideshow_cycle_hidden views-row-odd"> <div class="views-slideshow-cycle-main-frame-row-item views-row views-row-0 views-row-first views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-image-1"> <div class="field-content"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/image/637/1761?width=750&height=600&iframe=true&template=colorbox" class="colorbox-load" rel="gallery"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201im_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery_active/public/articles/images/12_apmhydro-diversionloads.jpg?itok=xMWL8ue8" alt="Diversion Loads"/></a></div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-img-cap"> <div class="field-content">Diversion loads are usually electric heating elements to dump excess energy in the form of heat to air (left) or water (right).</div> </div></div> </div> <div id="views_slideshow_cycle_div_article_gallery-block_2_9" class="views-slideshow-cycle-main-frame-row views_slideshow_cycle_slide views_slideshow_slide views-row-10 views_slideshow_cycle_hidden views-row-even"> <div class="views-slideshow-cycle-main-frame-row-item views-row views-row-0 views-row-first views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-image-1"> <div class="field-content"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/image/637/1762?width=750&height=600&iframe=true&template=colorbox" class="colorbox-load" rel="gallery"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201im_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery_active/public/articles/images/13_T-R-Box-2.jpg?itok=clN_Ufb6" alt="Transformer/Rectifier Unit"/></a></div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-img-cap"> <div class="field-content">Transformer/rectifier units convert high-voltage, wild three-phase AC hydro turbine output to lower-voltage DC for battery charging. This package, manufactured by Hi Power, includes overcurrent protection, an amp meter, and terminal strips for system wiring.</div> </div></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-slideshow-controls-bottom clearfix"> <div id="widget_pager_bottom_article_gallery-block_2" class="views-slideshow-pager-fields widget_pager widget_pager_bottom views_slideshow_pager_field"> <div id="views_slideshow_pager_field_item_bottom_article_gallery-block_2_0" class="views-slideshow-pager-field-item views_slideshow_pager_field_item views_slideshow_active_pager_field_item views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field-field-article-image"> <div class="views-content-field-article-image"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201im_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery_thumb/public/articles/images/1_eden-valley-ranch-assembly.jpg?itok=26a9Oqqn" width="72" height="54" alt="Turbine from Canyon Industries"/> </div> </div> </div> <div id="views_slideshow_pager_field_item_bottom_article_gallery-block_2_1" class="views-slideshow-pager-field-item views_slideshow_pager_field_item views-row-even"> <div class="views-field-field-article-image"> <div class="views-content-field-article-image"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201im_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery_thumb/public/articles/images/2_apmhydroturbine.jpg?itok=-7xxfYfZ" width="85" height="54" alt="Turbine from Alternative Power & Machine"/> </div> </div> </div> <div id="views_slideshow_pager_field_item_bottom_article_gallery-block_2_2" class="views-slideshow-pager-field-item views_slideshow_pager_field_item views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field-field-article-image"> <div class="views-content-field-article-image"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201im_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery_thumb/public/articles/images/3_PM-Rotor84.jpg?itok=l_oElRRM" width="60" height="54" alt="Harris Hydro Pelton Turbine"/> </div> </div> </div> <div id="views_slideshow_pager_field_item_bottom_article_gallery-block_2_3" class="views-slideshow-pager-field-item views_slideshow_pager_field_item views-row-even"> <div class="views-field-field-article-image"> <div class="views-content-field-article-image"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201im_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery_thumb/public/articles/images/4_david-tanfield-2.jpg?itok=uCTRh3rq" width="72" height="54" alt="Nautilus Francis-style Turbine"/> </div> </div> </div> <div id="views_slideshow_pager_field_item_bottom_article_gallery-block_2_4" class="views-slideshow-pager-field-item views_slideshow_pager_field_item views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field-field-article-image"> <div class="views-content-field-article-image"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201im_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery_thumb/public/articles/images/5_Hydro-2.jpg?itok=--e0T61D" width="53" height="54" alt="Hi Power Hydro Unit"/> </div> </div> </div> <div id="views_slideshow_pager_field_item_bottom_article_gallery-block_2_5" class="views-slideshow-pager-field-item views_slideshow_pager_field_item views-row-even"> <div class="views-field-field-article-image"> <div class="views-content-field-article-image"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201im_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery_thumb/public/articles/images/6_se-4-nozzle-front-2.jpg?itok=vfKDi5ik" width="81" height="54" alt="Energy Systems & Design Turgo Turbine"/> </div> </div> </div> <div id="views_slideshow_pager_field_item_bottom_article_gallery-block_2_6" class="views-slideshow-pager-field-item views_slideshow_pager_field_item views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field-field-article-image"> <div class="views-content-field-article-image"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201im_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery_thumb/public/articles/images/10_FLEXmax-80.outline.jpg?itok=T_f6VIRz" width="22" height="54" alt="OutBack’s Flexmax MPPT Controller"/> </div> </div> </div> <div id="views_slideshow_pager_field_item_bottom_article_gallery-block_2_7" class="views-slideshow-pager-field-item views_slideshow_pager_field_item views-row-even"> <div class="views-field-field-article-image"> <div class="views-content-field-article-image"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201im_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery_thumb/public/articles/images/11_sTriStar.jpg?itok=OHP_tXLv" width="73" height="54" alt="Morningstar’s TriStar Diversion Controller"/> </div> </div> </div> <div id="views_slideshow_pager_field_item_bottom_article_gallery-block_2_8" class="views-slideshow-pager-field-item views_slideshow_pager_field_item views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field-field-article-image"> <div class="views-content-field-article-image"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201im_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery_thumb/public/articles/images/12_apmhydro-diversionloads.jpg?itok=2dGI_8B9" width="75" height="54" alt="Diversion Loads"/> </div> </div> </div> <div id="views_slideshow_pager_field_item_bottom_article_gallery-block_2_9" class="views-slideshow-pager-field-item views_slideshow_pager_field_item views-row-even"> <div class="views-field-field-article-image"> <div class="views-content-field-article-image"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201im_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_gallery_thumb/public/articles/images/13_T-R-Box-2.jpg?itok=q5-jPqdy" width="72" height="54" alt="Transformer/Rectifier Unit"/> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-skill-level field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden clearfix"><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0">Intermediate</li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h2>Turbine-Specific Strategies</h2> <p>Before you get to work installing your hydro system, make sure you’re up to speed on all of the available turbine and transmission options. The most common approaches are listed below, and the specific characteristics of your site—primarily how far you need to move the energy generated—will be the main driver in your transmission design.</p><p><strong>Low-voltage DC.</strong> If your turbine will be located within a few hundred feet of your home, choosing a hydro plant with output at the nominal voltage of the battery bank (12 to 48 VDC) is the simplest approach. Some home-scale hydro plants use generators that produce low-voltage DC directly. But most modern turbines have brushless permanent-magnet alternators that produce wild three-phase AC, which is rectified to DC at the turbine. The output of both turbine types can be routed right to the battery bank without further processing or conversion.</p><p><strong>High-voltage DC.</strong> Some manufacturers offer turbines with DC output voltages above the standard battery voltage in most modern residential systems (48 V). The higher the transmission voltage, the smaller the wire size required. At the battery bank, a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller with voltage step-down functionality can convert the higher transmission voltage down to the nominal voltage at the battery, just like it’s done in many battery-based PV systems. UL-listed controllers manufactured by Apollo, OutBack Power Systems, and Xantrex all have this functionality.</p><p>While high-voltage DC transmission is an option to consider, the controllers needed to step down the voltage are sophisticated and relatively expensive electronic devices. Most importantly, they will be damaged if they’re subjected to voltages that are higher than they are designed to handle. Most of these controllers max out at 140 to 150 VDC open circuit. If the hydro turbine ever generated a greater voltage, or a breaker was inadvertently shut off, allowing the turbine to overspeed, the controllers will be damaged. Because of this, the simplicity of using a high-voltage alternator with a step-down transformer at the battery may be preferable—reliability is better, net efficiency is about the same, and the cost is less.</p><p><strong>Wild three-phase.</strong> If you’re facing a long wire run between the turbine and the batteries, one option is to purchase a turbine with a high-voltage alternator and transmit the three-phase AC output over the wire run. At the battery bank, a transformer drops the AC voltage down to the battery voltage, and it is rectified to DC for battery charging. A transformer/rectifier used in this application will typically have a conversion efficiency of about 90%. This approach will require a third power conductor for the third-phase, but is almost always cost-effective compared to DC transmission due to the smaller wire size required. Turbines with AC output voltages between 120 and 480 V are available.</p><p><strong>AC-coupled systems.</strong> The vast majority of off-grid systems are DC coupled—PV arrays, and wind and hydro turbines ultimately feed DC to the battery bank. In contrast, AC coupling uses one or more batteryless inverters to parallel charging sources on the <em>AC</em> side of the system. An additional battery-based inverter sets a baseline voltage and frequency to which the batteryless inverters synchronize. In an AC coupled hydro application, a dedicated batteryless inverter can be located at the turbine. The inverter’s 120 or 240 VAC output will in turn be synchronized with the AC waveform of the battery-based inverter. While this approach is still uncommon in single-household off-grid applications, it does offer some potential advantages in village-scale applications, or when a single battery-based system is charged by multiple power sources that are not located close to one another. Because multiple inverters are required, AC-coupled systems are usually more expensive. The main advantage is that, in some cases, this type of system can overcome design hurdles that a DC-coupled system can’t.</p><h2>Voltage Control</h2> <p>Because hydro turbines run 24 hours a day, most systems produce a lot of energy. As a result, the battery bank spends much of the time completely charged and in float mode. To keep the batteries from being overcharged, voltage control is required. Unlike PV arrays, hydro plants must remain electrically loaded at all times to keep both the turbine’s rpm and the peak output voltage in check. That means that series-type voltage regulators, like the one in your car, cannot be used because they simply open the circuit when they hit their voltage set point. In a car, this isn’t an issue because the alternator speed is limited by engine speed—but hydro plants have no such limitation.</p><p>Electrically unloaded, a hydro turbine’s rpm will almost double, and output voltage may triple. Most turbines can handle the increased rpm, but the extremely high output voltage will destroy system controls. To avoid this scenario, hydro systems rely on diversion controllers that shunt (route) the turbine’s output to a diversion load when the battery bank is fully charged. The TriStar controller manufactured by Morningstar is a very popular diversion controller, as are the C-series controllers manufactured by Xantrex. MPPT controllers manufactured by Apollo, OutBack, and Xantrex all have an auxiliary output-control feature that’s capable of driving a separate high-current relay to shunt excess power to the diversion loads. In addition, several battery-based inverter models feature auxiliary control functionality.</p><p>In off-grid hydro systems, resistive loads like water- or air-heating elements are used to dissipate excess energy. These diversion loads are usually sized to handle the turbine’s full power output. The <em>National Electrical Code (NEC)</em> requires a second independent diversion setup to protect the battery bank from overcharging if one controller fails. One common approach is to use a dedicated controller and water- or air-heating element as the primary diversion system. The secondary diversion setup can utilize the inverter’s auxiliary output and a relay to dump AC power to a standard 120-volt space heater.</p><p>In battery-based grid-tie applications, the grid functions as the primary diversion load, with excess hydro-generated energy fed back via a utility-interactive inverter. But even grid-tied systems require a separate, dedicated diversion controller and load as a backup. Without it, in the event of a utility outage, the system’s battery bank would still be vulnerable to overcharging since the primary diversion load (the grid) is no longer available.</p></div></div></div><div class="smart-paging-pager"><h2 class="element-invisible">Pages</h2><div class="item-list"><ul class="pager"><li class="pager-first first"><a title="Go to first page" href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/microhydro-power/design-installation/electric-side-hydro-power">« first</a></li> <li class="pager-previous"><a title="Go to previous page" href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/microhydro-power/design-installation/electric-side-hydro-power">‹ previous</a></li> <li class="pager-item"><a title="Go to page 1" href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/microhydro-power/design-installation/electric-side-hydro-power">1</a></li> <li class="pager-current">2</li> <li class="pager-item"><a title="Go to page 3" href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/microhydro-power/design-installation/electric-side-hydro-power/page/0/2">3</a></li> <li class="pager-next"><a title="Go to next page" href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/microhydro-power/design-installation/electric-side-hydro-power/page/0/2">next ›</a></li> <li class="pager-last last"><a title="Go to last page" href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/microhydro-power/design-installation/electric-side-hydro-power/page/0/2">last »</a></li> </ul></div></div> <div class="pager-button"><a href="?v=print" class="single-page button">View article as a single page  ▾</a></div> </div> <div id="above-comments"><div class="section clearfix"> <div id="block-fancy-login-fancy-login-login-block" class="block block-fancy-login"> <div class="content"> <a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/user/login">Login</a> </div> </div> <div id="block-block-10" class="block block-block login-comments"> <div class="content"> or <a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/user/register">Register</a> to post a comment: </div> </div> <div id="block-views-similar-entries-block-1" class="block block-views related-block"> <h2>Related Articles</h2> <div class="content"> <div class="view view-similar-entries view-id-similar_entries view-display-id-block_1 view-dom-id-31b11808c02d57abdca83b665272fa22"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="item-list"> <ul> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first"> <div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/microhydro-power/design-installation/mailbox-hydro-system-upgrades">MAILBOX: Hydro System Upgrades</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-blurb"> <div class="field-content">The authors respond to the Hydro Concerns letter with some hydro system updates and info.</div> </div></li> <li class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even"> <div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/microhydro-power/design-installation/microhydro-measure-first-reap-bounty">Microhydro: Measure First to Reap the Bounty</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-blurb"> <div class="field-content">If you have it, hydro can be a cost-effective and reliable renewable electricity source with a modest investment.</div> </div></li> <li class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/microhydro-power/design-installation/ask-experts-hydro-grounding">ASK THE EXPERTS: Hydro Grounding</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-blurb"> <div class="field-content">While it is true that there is much less shock potential from a low-voltage system, that is only one reason why systems require grounding. </div> </div></li> <li class="views-row views-row-4 views-row-even"> <div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/microhydro-power/design-installation/ask-experts-variable-hydro">ASK THE EXPERTS: Variable Hydro</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-blurb"> <div class="field-content">How do microhydro system designs account for wide variations in flow rate?</div> </div></li> <li class="views-row views-row-5 views-row-odd views-row-last"> <div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/microhydro-power/design-installation/ask-experts-hydro-pipe-expansion">ASK THE EXPERTS: Hydro Pipe Expansion</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-article-blurb"> <div class="field-content">What are the best approaches for dealing with pipe expansion and contraction to avoid joint blowouts?</div> </div></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="social social-bottom"> <div class="one"> <g:plusone size="small" annotation="inline" width="140"></g:plusone> <fb:like layout="button_count" width="140" send="true"></fb:like> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/https://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-via="HomePowerMag">Tweet</a> </div> <div class="two"> <div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style "><a class="addthis_button_compact">Share</a></div> <a class="email" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/mailto:/?subject=HomePower.com Article: The Electric Side of Hydro Power&body=Hey! Check out this article link from HomePower.com, the website of renewable energy and home efficiency technologies. http://www.homepower.com/articles/microhydro-power/design-installation/electric-side-hydro-power">Email</a> <a href="?v=print&print=true" class="print">Print</a> </div> </div> </div></div>  <h2 class="comments-title">Comments (0)</h2> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div></div>  <div id="aside-last" class="aside-last"><div class="section"> <div class="region region-aside-last"> <div id="block-block-13" class="block block-block ad-block"> <div class="content"> <p> <script type="text/javascript"> <![CDATA[// ><!]]> </script></p> <p>Advertisement</p> </div> </div> </div> </div></div>  </div></div> <div id="sidebar-first" class="column sidebar"><div class="section"> <div class="region region-sidebar-first"> <div id="block-block-1" class="block block-block subscribe-block"> <div class="content"> <h2><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/subscribe-and-save?template=subscribe" target="_blank">Subscribe</a></h2> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/subscribe-and-save?template=subscribe" target="_blank">Subscribe</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/subscribe-and-save?template=subscribe&type=renew" target="_blank">Renew</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/subscribe-and-save?template=subscribe&gift=true" target="_blank">Give a Gift</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/issue-gallery">Issue Downloads</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="block-block-5" class="block block-block basics-block"> <h2>Home Power Basics</h2> <div class="content"> <ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/what-solar-electricity">Solar Electricity</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/what-solar-water-heating">Solar Water Heating</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/what-wind-electricity">Wind Power</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/microhydro-power/basics">Microhydro Power</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/getting-started-home-efficiency">Home Efficiency</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/articles/what-types-vehicles">Vehicles</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="block-block-4" class="block block-block tower-block ad-block"> <div class="content"> <p><script type="text/javascript"> <![CDATA[// ><!]]> </script></p> <p>Advertisement</p> </div> </div> <div id="block-views-events-menu-block" class="block block-views events-menu"> <h2>Upcoming Events & Training</h2> <div class="content"> <div class="view view-events-menu view-id-events_menu view-display-id-block view-dom-id-3f9f33e9a1a9e71c1eb674d0e785d613"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first"> <div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/events/climate-change-sustainability-and-arctic-alpine-research">Climate Change, Sust...</a></span> </div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even"> <div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/events/power-week">POWER WEEK</a></span> </div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd views-row-last"> <div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/events/env-181-solar-thermal-systems-1">ENV 181-Solar Therma...</a></span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="view-footer"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/events">All Events & Training</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div></div>  </div></div>  <div id="footer" class="clearfix"> <div class="region region-footer"> <div id="block-menu-block-2" class="block block-menu-block footer-main-menu-block"> <div class="content"> <div class="menu-block-wrapper menu-block-2 menu-name-main-menu parent-mlid-0 menu-level-1"> <ul class="menu clearfix"><li class="first expanded menu-mlid-1799"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/solar-electricity" title="Solar Electricity">Solar Electricity</a><ul class="menu clearfix"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-1800"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/solar-electricity/basics" title="Basics">Basics</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1801"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/solar-electricity/design-installation" title="Design & Installation">Design & Installation</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1802"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/solar-electricity/equipment-products" title="Equipment & Products">Equipment & Products</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-1803"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/solar-electricity/project-profiles" title="Project Profiles">Project Profiles</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-1804"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/solar-water-heating" title="Solar Water Heating">Solar Water Heating</a><ul class="menu clearfix"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-1805"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/solar-water-heating/basics" title="Basics">Basics</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1806"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/solar-water-heating/domestic-hot-water" title="Domestic Hot Water">Domestic Hot Water</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1807"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/solar-water-heating/space-heating" title="Space Heating">Space Heating</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1808"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/solar-water-heating/equipment-products" title="Equipment & Products">Equipment & Products</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-1809"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/solar-water-heating/project-profiles" title="Project Profiles">Project Profiles</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-1810"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/wind-power" title="Wind Power">Wind Power</a><ul class="menu clearfix"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-1811"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/wind-power/basics" title="Basics">Basics</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1812"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/wind-power/design-installation" title="Design & Installation">Design & Installation</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1813"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/wind-power/equipment-products" title="Equipment & Products">Equipment & Products</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-1814"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/wind-power/project-profiles" title="Project Profiles">Project Profiles</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded active-trail menu-mlid-1815"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/microhydro-power" title="Microhydro Power" class="active-trail">Microhydro Power</a><ul class="menu clearfix"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-1816"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/microhydro-power/basics" title="Basics">Basics</a></li> <li class="leaf active-trail menu-mlid-1817"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/microhydro-power/design-installation" title="Design & Installation" class="active-trail">Design & Installation</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1818"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/microhydro-power/equipment-products" title="Equipment & Products">Equipment & Products</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-1819"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/microhydro-power/project-profiles" title="Project Profiles">Project Profiles</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-1820"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/home-efficiency" title="Home Efficiency">Home Efficiency</a><ul class="menu clearfix"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-1821"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/home-efficiency/basics" title="Basics">Basics</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1822"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/home-efficiency/electricity" title="Electricity">Electricity</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1823"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/home-efficiency/design-construction" title="Design & Construction">Design & Construction</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1824"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/home-efficiency/equipment-products" title="Equipment & Products">Equipment & Products</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-1825"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/home-efficiency/project-profiles" title="Project Profiles">Project Profiles</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="last expanded menu-mlid-1826"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/vehicles" title="Vehicles">Vehicles</a><ul class="menu clearfix"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-1827"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/vehicles/basics" title="Basics">Basics</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1828"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/vehicles/all-electric" title="All-Electric">All-Electric</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1829"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/vehicles/hybrids" title="Hybrids">Hybrids</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1830"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/vehicles/biofuels" title="Biofuels">Biofuels</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-1831"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/vehicles/project-profiles" title="Project Profiles">Project Profiles</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> <div id="block-block-8" class="block block-block other-links-block"> <div class="content"> <ul class="other-links-top"><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/https://www.homepower.com/subscribe-and-save?template=subscribe" target="_blank">Subscribe / Renew</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/https://www.homepower.com/subscribe-and-save?template=subscribe&gift=true" target="_blank">Give a Gift</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/https://www.homepower.com/subscribe-and-save?template=subscribe&format=digital" target="_blank">Digital Edition</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/https://www.homepower.com/issue-gallery">Issue Downloads</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/https://www.homepower.com/glossary">Glossary</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/https://www.homepower.com/web-extras">Web Xtras</a></li> </ul><ul class="other-links-bottom"><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/https://www.homepower.com/about">About Us</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/https://www.homepower.com/contact-us">Contact Us</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/https://www.homepower.com/sitemap">Site Map</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="block-menu-menu-secondary-menu" class="block block-menu directories-menu-block"> <h2>Directories:</h2> <div class="content"> <ul class="menu clearfix"><li class="first leaf"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/contractors" title="">Contractors</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/events" title="">Events & Training</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/experts-directory" title="">Experts</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="block-block-7" class="block block-block copyright-links-block"> <div class="content"> <p class="copyright">Copyright © 1987-2015 Home Power Inc. All Rights Reserved</p> <p class="legal-links"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/terms-of-use">Terms of Use</a> <a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a> <a class="last" href="terms">Community Terms of Use</a></p> <p class="office-links"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/advertising">Advertise</a> <a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/authorguidelines">Author Guidelines</a> <a class="last" href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/subscriber-services">Subscriber Services</a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="footer-cf-credit"> <p>HomePower.com powered by <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/http://www.culturefoundry.com/" target="_new">Culture Foundry: digital media strategy, design and development</a></p> </div> </div>  </div></div>  <div class="region region-page-bottom"> <div id="fancy_login_dim_screen"></div><div id="fancy_login_login_box"><div id="fancy_login_form_contents"><a href="#" id="fancy_login_close_button">X</a><form action="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/https://www.homepower.com/articles/microhydro-power/design-installation/electric-side-hydro-power/page/0/1" method="post" id="user-login" accept-charset="UTF-8"><div><div class="form-item form-type-textfield form-item-name"> <label for="edit-name">Username or e-mail address <span class="form-required" title="This field is required.">*</span></label> <input type="text" id="edit-name" name="name" value="" size="60" maxlength="60" class="form-text required"/> <div class="description">You may login with either your assigned username or your e-mail address.</div> </div> <div class="form-item form-type-password form-item-pass"> <label for="edit-pass">Password <span class="form-required" title="This field is required.">*</span></label> <input type="password" id="edit-pass" name="pass" size="60" maxlength="128" class="form-text required"/> <div class="description">The password field is case sensitive.</div> </div> <input type="hidden" name="form_build_id" value="form-tdJyp_MQXCd8bRljzwJenxRNl-lYH-0cPno1NVVVhbk"/> <input type="hidden" name="form_id" value="user_login"/> <div class="form-actions form-wrapper" id="edit-actions--2"><input type="submit" id="edit-submit--2" name="op" value="Log in" class="form-submit"/></div></div></form><div class="item-list"><ul><li class="first"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/user/register" title="Create a new user account.">Create new account</a></li> <li class="last"><a href="/web/20150924031201/http://www.homepower.com/user/password" title="Request new password via e-mail.">Reset my password</a></li> </ul></div></div><div id="fancy_login_ajax_loader"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201im_/http://www.homepower.com/sites/all/modules/fancy_login/images/ajax-loader.gif" alt="Loading"/></div></div> </div> <div id="fb-root"></div> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201js_/https://s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=xa-4efd4c665a5c616a"></script> <script> // TGF (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); (function() { var po = document.createElement('script'); po.type = 'text/javascript'; po.async = true; po.src = 'https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031201/https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(po, s); })(); </script> </body> </html>