Hydro power effeciency over distance.

Help needed!
So, I'm close to buying a plot with an old watermill on site. Problem is, it's a distance of 60 metres from the house. I know you lose electrical output over distance due to the resistance in wires, so if the hydro produces 1kilowatt  - according the seller - will it produce enough for a household of 2 people if covering that distance?

Thanks in advance

You can use AC current to minimize the loses and increase safety at the cost of an inverter or an AC motor. You might in luck if the mill is already using an AC motor. The inverters run at more than 95% efficiency so you compared to the power loss on a DC line.
The loses with distance are more significant with DC current but you try to offset them by using a voltage stepper (eff>95%) and thicker wire, however higher DC voltage is more dangerous.
If you need help comparing the two methods you will need to know the gauge of the wire and the output mode (AC/DC), current or voltage of the motor. From that info you can calculate the power loss

Welcome to permies!

Hubby is into electricity and he says you really need to give us a bunch more information.

For starters:

1. Where are you located? Different countries have different systems and standards.

2. Does this power plant deliver standard residential alternating current or low voltage direct current?

3. Is there electrical grid service to your location? There are dangers if you hook up a home system to an existing National Electical Grid.

4. What sort of things do you want to power? Fridge, freezer?  The big issue is that the energy will be distributed evenly but the load will not be if you're using high demand equipment at times. Water heaters and electric cookers will pose bigger problems.

You can use a thinner wire if you use a transformer on both sides of the run.          Electric companies up the voltage to thousands of volts to carry the electricity over thousands of  miles.



Another approach is to use thicker wire, but with the cost of copper that may not be the way you want to go...


But I have seen DIY people  build their own transformers to move the electricity.


There are web sites that will show you the loss you will have over distance with guage of wire.      

This site will give you an idea... ->

https://www.solar-electric.com/learning-center/wire-loss-tables.html/

Power = 1KW
Daily Production = 24KWHr per day
Daily Usuage = ??? (can you let us know what it is)
Safe Voltage Drop =  5%

So a 12guage wire can easily carry 120V at 10amp over 180ft without exceeding the 5% voltage drop.
https://www.rapidtables.com/calc/wire/voltage-drop-calculator.html

Consider hiring an electrician if needed.  What is the voltage output?  If it is say 12 volts, then yes, pushing 80 amps over that distance would have losses or expense.

I think the most obvious idea would be to use an inverter to get standard line voltage for your location, 120v?, 240v?  

Check that the generator has a ground rod and a ground wire. I imagine you’d want a breaker with GFCI.

You might be able to run an extension cord temporarily.

Consider whether you’d want to install an overhead wire or bury it underground.

Power = 1/5 * Efficiency * Head * Flow
1000W = 1/5 * 50% * Head * Flow
1000W = 1/10 * 10ft * 1000gpm (I am just making up the head and flow rate number can you supply the actual numbers)
1000W = 1/10 * 10,000
1000W = 1000W

Daily Production = Power * Hours/Day
Daily Production = 1000W * 24hrs
Daily Production = 24KWHr per day
Daily Usuage = ? can you let us konw what the number is for you currently, the average for usa is 28KWHr/day

I have a few questions?
Is the house elctrical system grid tied?
What is your backup electric supply, a propane generator?
What is your estimated peak load, when you have all/most your devices on? 15KW
Is your battery bank 3x peak load for a LFP or 20x for a lead-acid battery or is it 2x your daily usuage?
Is your house wired for 120V or 240V split-phase?
What type of inverter does the system currently have? 15KWH? 240V-AC? 48V-DC?
What type of dump load is currently being used? Is it a 2000W resistive load or just 1000W?
What type of generator is it, AC vs DC, voltage, etc?
What is the maintance cost of the wheel+generator+penstock+etc?
What is the replacement cost of the wheel+generator+penstock+etc?
When is it due for the next major overall? (similar to how I would ask when does the furnace/hotwater tank need to replaced)

Sol-Ark All in one Inverter = 15KWH, 240V split-phase
Battery Bank = 40KWHr (aka 3x the inverter load and 2x the daily usage, if it is lead acid instead of LFP it would have to be 100KWHr)
Dump Load = 1200W ( https://windandsolar.com/1200-watt-diversion-dump-load-resistor-bank/ )
Dump Load Relay Switch = 48V ( https://windandsolar.com/mws440-series-relay-switch/ )
Turbine Rectifier = 2500W ( https://windandsolar.com/3-phase-brake-switch-and-50-amp-rectifier-combo-for-48-volt-systems/ )
Generator = 48V

Rembrandt Hall wrote:Help needed!
if the hydro produces 1kilowatt  - according the seller - will it produce enough for a household of 2 people if covering that distance?

Distance is no issue except for the costs of a thick copper cables and their installation/maintenance.

If - and that is a big IF - the unit outputs 1 kw under ideal conditions, and IF you can provide those conditions, your peak useages in a typical household
will be manyfold higher. Think of running a hair dryer while the washing machine heats water, each usually have several kw.

You will have to buffer that.

The cheapest way to do so, is to be hooked up to the public power grid, and - if your local regalations allow it - even sell them your surplus energy.

If "on grid" is not possible, then you have to go "off grid", and this is more expensive than you think and also a long term liability(replacing batteries every few years etc.).

It could pay to get a professional to make an estimate of how big of an generator you can actually run in your situation,
and then decide what to do.