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| typical installation with cover off | plastic
Pelton runner |
generator windings |
four setup configurations | installation
instructions (4MB pdf) |
| click thumbnail image above to enlarge | ||||
Page last updated Nov 30, 2022 @ 10:43am
PowerSpout
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| typical installation with cover off | plastic
Pelton runner |
generator windings |
four setup configurations | installation
instructions (4MB pdf) |
| click thumbnail image above to enlarge | ||||
Hydroelectric Turbine Generator
medium & high head
non-adjustable permanent magnet alternator
with Pelton wheel & 2 nozzles
12/24/48/120/380Vdc or 500Vac
You don't need to build the Hoover Dam in your backyard!
Even a small stream can generate consistent, clean, dam free, renewable electricity at a price per Watt lower than solar or wind. The small (18 inches wide), all-weather PowerSpout is one of the most reliable, cost-effective generators around because we have spent a decade making micro-hydro efficient and affordable. The PowerSpout is the latest in a decade-long line of Hydro Generators from EcoInnovation of New Zealand with hundreds of units currently in use all around the world.
Question: How does the PowerSpout compare?
EcoInnovation compared the PowerSpout with the other permanent-magnet, dual-jet micro hydro generators available on the market today. We assumed an average site, input the same values for every turbine, and we found that PowerSpout produced about the same output as the best of our competitors, but PowerSpout does it at about half the RPM. This is because the PowerSpout’s Pelton rotor and the Smart Drive generator are twice the diameter of the competition. Ask any mechanic what that means and they will tell you: PowerSpout will certainly outlast the others. That is just the beginning of the benefits of using a PowerSpout.
Most of our competitors use 6203 bearings (40x17x12mm) front and back. We all know the front bearing will fail first as it "sees" more load. PowerSpout has a larger 6205 (52x25x15mm) front bearing and 6005 (47x25x12) rear bearing, resulting in up to 65% more bearing load capacity.
Answer: PowerSpout is the smart choice.
68% of our parts and packaging are from recycled materials. PowerSpout is manufactured at a facility that is completely powered by renewable means. That means that PowerSpout is the environmentally positive choice, not only for generating clean power, but for being manufactured in a ecologically responsible way. The full Eco Report, which is an independent study of PowerSpout manufacturing, is available upon request. We understand how we impact on the planet, and how we can do even better in the future. How do our competitors compare?
At the heart of the PowerSpout is a Smart Drive: a direct-drive permanent magnet generator. As the world leader of Smart Drive innovation, with over a decade of experience generating power from these units, we have developed sophisticated simulation software for determining the most efficient configuration for your PowerSpout. PowerSpout achieves a similar performance to the best of its competitors at less than half the RPMs. In addition to the PowerSpout -BE we also manufacture the PowerSpout -GE, -ME and -HE versions. We guarantee our PowerSpout and Smart Drive generator for 3 years, but we rarely see them need replacing in that time. The bearing assembly is larger than the competition, easily replaced, inexpensive, and available directly from PowerSpout.com.
Attached to the Smart Drive generator, via a 1 inch (25mm) stainless steel shaft, is a durable Pelton rotor with 20 Pelton spoons. These rotors have been injection molded out of glass-filled nylon. The inexpensive and easily-replaced Pelton spoons are very efficient at harnessing power from water jets. The jets are aimed at the center of the Pelton spoon, where its unique shape splits the water jet and sends it back the way it came. In this process almost all the energy from the water jet is extracted, converting it into rotational shaft energy that drives the Smart Drive generator.
Our weatherproof casing means that a PowerSpout is a real outdoorsman: it needs no shelter. Rotationally molded out of strong 1/4 inch thick (6mm), long lasting UV resistant plastic, this is made to take all weather conditions without letting you down when you need power the most. The color-coded cap makes your PowerSpout -BE, -GE, -ME, or -HE stand out from the others in your system.
Twin opposing jets means that the load on the Pelton rotor is distributed evenly, resulting in a pure couple with no shaft side thrust, this helps the bearings last even longer. The pressure gauge makes it easy to see what is really happening in the pipe so that it is easy to set up and you can give us more accurate feedback about the performance of your system. We may be able to diagnose issues with the installation by comparing the pressure, jet sizes and output Watts against our calculations. We can often diagnose a problem with some good data and a photograph of the installation.
Comparisons excluded pipe friction losses, which can have a dramatic impact on the actual output of a system, and which most competitors’ sites also assume as zero. Please use the table below to get a better picture of your actual results. It is critical that the pipe length and pipe inner diameter are accurately measured, or your results may vary significantly from calculations of installed results.
Maximum achievable power output per unit is approximately 1000-1200 Watts. Pressure and flow combinations resulting in a power higher than this may overheat the alternator and cause the permanent magnets to lose magnetism. Made in New Zealand.
OUTPUT IN WATTS & FLOW IN GPM PER
NOZZLE
EFFICIENCY IN %
versus nozzle size and head pressure
NOTE: The grayed-out numbers below indicate that the manufacturer recommends
multiple units.
| OPERATING
PRESSURE NET DYNAMIC HEAD |
NOZZLE
SIZE (W & GPM shown below is for one nozzle. Multiply by 2 nozzles.) |
||||||||||
| FEET | PSI | 1/8" | 3/16" | 1/4" | 5/16" | 3/8" | 7/16" | 1/2" | 9/16" | 5/8" | 3/4" |
| 12 | 5 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | 15W 25GPM 29% |
24W 36GPM 32% |
| 20 | 8.7 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | 18W 16.8GPM 31% |
25W 22.0GPM 32% |
33W 27.7GPM 34% |
42W 34GPM 35% |
65W 49GPM 38% |
| 30 | 13 | --- | --- | --- | 16W 10.5GPM 29% |
25W 15.1GPM 31% |
37W 20.6GPM 34% |
51W 26.9GPM 36% |
68W 34GPM 38% |
88W 42GPM 40% |
113W 51GPM 42% |
| 40 | 17 | --- | --- | 16W 7.8GPM 29% |
28W 12.1GPM 33% |
43W 17.5GPM 35% |
62W 23.8GPM 37% |
87W 31GPM 40% |
116W 39GPM 42% |
158W 49GPM 46% |
211W 62GPM 48% |
| 46 | 20 | --- | --- | 20W 8.1GPM 31% |
36W 13GPM 34% |
53W 18GPM 36% |
79W 25GPM 39% |
112W 33GPM 42% |
150W 41GPM 45% |
200W 51GPM 49% |
278W 71GPM 49% |
| 69 | 30 | --- | 18W 5GPM 30% |
42W 10GPM 35% |
75W 16GPM 39% |
112W 22GPM 42% |
171W 30GPM 47% |
235W 40GPM 49% |
293W 50GPM 48% |
364W 62GPM 48% |
510W 87GPM 48% |
| 100 | 43 | 15W 3GPM 29% |
41W 6.7GPM 35% |
83W 12GPM 39% |
152W 19GPM 46% |
230W 27GPM 49% |
315W 37GPM 49% |
408W 48GPM 48% |
515W 60GPM 49% |
630W 74GPM 49% |
876W 103GPM 48% |
| 120 | 52 | 22W 3.3GPM 32% |
56W 7.3GPM 36% |
116W 13GPM 42% |
204W 20GPM 48% |
296W 29GPM 48% |
408W 40GPM 48% |
538W 52GPM 49% |
674W 66GPM 49% |
838W 82GPM 49% |
1173W 115GPM 48% |
| 139 | 60 | 28W 3.5GPM 33% |
74W 7.9GPM 38% |
157W 14GPM 46% |
260W 22GPM 48% |
378W 32GPM 48% |
513W 43GPM 49% |
662W 56GPM 48% |
840W 71GPM 49% |
1052W 88GPM 49% |
--- |
| 150 | 65 | 32W 3.6GPM 34% |
86W 8.2GPM 40% |
191W 15GPM 48% |
294W 23GPM 49% |
421W 33GPM 48% |
589W 45GPM 50% |
740W 58GPM 48% |
944W 74GPM 48% |
1192W 91GPM 50% |
--- |
| 162 | 70 | 37W 3.8GPM 34% |
99W 8.5GPM 41% |
207W 15GPM 49% |
331W 24GPM 49% |
469W 34GPM 49% |
660W 46GPM 50% |
840W 61GPM 48% |
1076W 77GPM 49% |
--- | --- |
| 185 | 80 | 47W 4.1GPM 35% |
129W 9.1GPM 44% |
252W 16GPM 49% |
393W 25GPM 48% |
580W 36GPM 50% |
786W 50GPM 48% |
1032W 65GPM 49% |
--- | --- | --- |
| 208 | 87 | 58W 4.3GPM 37% |
165W 9.7GPM 47% |
301W 17GPM 49% |
478W 27GPM 49% |
729W 39GPM 51% |
938W 53GPM 48% |
--- | --- | --- | --- |
| 231 | 100 | 69W 4.5GPM 38% |
196W 10GPM 48% |
354W 18GPM 49% |
561W 28GPM 49% |
806W 41GPM 49% |
1122W 56GPM 49% |
--- | --- | --- | --- |
| 254 | 110 | 85W 4.8GPM 40% |
238W 11GPM 49% |
411W 19GPM 49% |
677W 30GPM 51% |
930W 43GPM 49% |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 300 | 130 | 119W 5.3GPM 43% |
306W 12GPM 48% |
544W 21GPM 49% |
923W 33GPM 53% |
1330W 50GPM 51% |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 400 | 173 | 208W 6.1GPM 49% |
477W 14GPM 49% |
934W 25GPM 53% |
1350W 38GPM 51% |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| FEET | PSI | 1/8" | 3/16" | 1/4" | 5/16" | 3/8" | 7/16" | 1/2" | 9/16" | 5/8" | 5/8" |
|
EFFICIENCY COLOR KEY: |
BEST >60% | GOOD 50-59% | FAIR 40-49% | POOR <40% | |||||||
| NOTE: The grayed-out numbers above indicate that manufacturer recommends multiple units. | |||||||||||
PowerSpout -BE
This is the standard, Battery Enabled version of the PowerSpout. It must be used with external regulation to prevent overcharging of your batteries. This is our most common product line for remote properties not connected to the power grid. The turbine will generate 48 vdc (12 and 24 vdc also available) which is fed into a battery bank, regulator and inverter system. Power is supplied via an inverter usually at 120/240 Vac to meet the needs of the home. Surplus power is diverted via the regulator to your hot water tank or an air heater.
Common regulators used with this product:
* Xantrex C-40 or C-60
PowerSpout -ME (Upgrade)
This is the MPPT Enabled version of the PowerSpout for 120 Vdc operation into a 12/24/48 Vdc battery system. This product is similar to the GE version but it generates a DC voltage up to 120 Vdc to save on cable costs. At the end of the cable an MPPT (maximum power point tracker) controller coverts the incoming voltage to that required to charge the batteries. The main advantage of MPPT is that the turbine will set itself up to the correct speed to extract maximum power from the flow without the need for manual adjustment. When the batteries are full the MPPT controller can then turn on a hot water element or an air heater to divert energy not needed. Inside the hydro turbine is a fast-acting electronic circuit which progressively loads a 120 Vdc water element to prevent the voltage rising rapidly. This prevents the turbine from damaging standard MPPT controllers that typically have an upper withstand limit of 140-150 Vdc input. It can also be used for some grid connect inverters that only require up to 120 Vdc.
Common MPPT controllers that can be used:
* FlexMax 60/80
* Xantrex XW SCC
* Apollo Solar T80
* Iota DLS120-48V-15APowerSpout -GE (Upgrade)
This is the Grid Enabled version of the PowerSpout for direct connection to grid-tied inverters. This product is for existing homes already on the grid that live close to a good hydro resource and want to generate power without the need for battery storage. This product is similar to the ME version but it generates a higher DC voltage up to 380 Vdc to allow connection to standard grid-tie inverters. At the end of the cable a grid-tie inverter converts the incoming voltage to that required to supply the grid. In the event of grid failure the PowerSpout GE diverts its energy to a water heater inside the PowerSpout. Inside the hydro turbine is a fast-acting electronic circuit which progressively connects a water element to prevent the voltage from rising rapidly. This prevents the turbine from damaging standard grid-tie inverters that typically have an upper withstand limit of 400-500 Vdc input. There are many brands of grid-tie inverters available on the market that can work with our PowerSpout GE. Normal operation resumes once grid power is restored.PowerSpout -HE (Upgrade)
This is the High-voltage Enabled version of the PowerSpout. This is similar to our BE version but at a higher voltage and 3-phase ac output. The turbine will generate 300-500 Vac that is fed into a battery bank via a step down transformer pack. A regulator and inverter system is required as per the BE version. The main advantage of this over the BE PowerSpout is that the cable cost can be significantly less at these high voltages. The battery bank is typically 12, 24 or 48 Vdc. Only use a PowerSpout HE if you cannot economically cable your hydro at 100 Vdc using our PowerSpout ME version. At 300-500 Vac extreme care must be taken to ensure a proper installation. This product should be installed only by a qualified electrician.
Please tell us your head, flow, pipe size and length, and battery voltage when ordering using the drop-down menus below.
DC cable length and voltage drop must be evaluated carefully when laying out system. Click here for our simple voltage drop calculator. If the turbine will be located far from the battery bank, voltage drop and wire cost can be reduced by using the 120Vdc generator with a step-down controller (such as the FM60 or FM80) at the battery bank.
Customers who purchased this product also ordered:
(click underlined words to see product pages)
Spare nozzles
Diversion load DLOAD-AIR, DLOAD-WTR
Diversion load controller of proper voltage & current rating such as C-35, C-40, C-60.
Step-down voltage controller (if ordering the 120Vdc version) DLS120-48V-15A.
Inverter for Off-grid MS-SERIES or FX-VFX, or grid-tie GTFX-GVFX operation.
Battery bank.
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