Mark Macleod

This sytem would be completely offgrid no grid tie in.
My head is appropriately 80 feet . I have not measured the actual flow rate but it is appropriately
5 gps or 300 gpm . The stream is fairly wide and roughly a foot to a foot and a half deep. I can't really figure out how to determine the actual flow rate without creating a dam and directing all the water through a short piece of 4 inch pipe that flows in to a bucket.  So my flow rate is really just an estimate.  I really don't know the best way of determining an accurate flow rate. If anyone can offer ways of determining the flow rate, it would be great. I would love to combine solar and hydro together,  but I'm not familiar how this would work  . Does any company make a charge controller that can handle two  different voltages from two sources. Other issues I'm not very clear on , are what type of turbine to buy example:  12v 3 phase ac , 24 volt 3 phase ac or 48 volt 3 phase ac. I know with higher voltage thus lower amps would mean I can get away with a smaller gauge wire from turbine to battery shed. Which is apprx 200 feet from propused turbine location. Plus I'm a bit unclear as to the size of inverter to buy. Is bigger better ? Or is a bigger inverter going to consume more power. Does an inverter place a strain on the batteries if there is no load on the inverter. I'm really just at the beginning of this offgrid journey and I'm just trying to gather as much information as I can ,in hopes of preventing major mistakes. So I welcome any and all info. I really appreciate all the helpful suggestions that I have received from this community thus far. Thanks again and I look forward to all new incoming info.
Thanks everyone..

Cool thanks for the response.  It's all in the beginning stages. I'm really just trying to gather as much info as I can before we begin. I really just don't want to spend a bundle of money on something that ends up not working or being more of a headache.  I think you are right and not have any joints or as few as possible would definitely be beneficial.  We will probably  have to suck it up and purchase the large roles of 4inch poly in 100 foot lengths unless it comes in longer lengths. With that being said it's a bit tough to find any supplier that has enough of it at a reasonable price that isn't far away from us. I will keep looking and hopefully come across a good deal. In the mean time I will definitely talk to the wind and solar company that you suggested.  Thanks again for the helpful suggestions.  

A floating turbine . I don't think I have seen something like that.  I will look around . Do you know the name of any manufacturers or is this something I would need to build myself ? I will definitely look into it .
Thank you.

Sorry if this wasn't clear I'm directing my last two post to B Beeson.  I honestly do appreciate  everyone s comments.  MR. Beeson seems to think that I don't have enough elevation at 80 feet and if this truly case then I certainly don't want to spend 4 or 5 thousand in pipe to find out that we can't generate 250 watts to 500 watts . Half a kw an hour is more then enough to satisfy our electrical needs .  250 watts would suffice but I think anything less and it just wouldn't be worth it.  So, just to reiterate I have approx. 80 feet in elevation over approximately 800 foot run. I have not calculated the flow rate but it's very strong, easily 5gps or 300 gpm . With those numbers can anyone give me an estimated watts per hour. I also realize that when battery's get charge I will have to dump the excess load .  Using a programmable out on my charge controller to a solid state relay. I'm an electrician with knowledge of PLC's and diversion loads etc. I just don't really know anything about micro hydro .  We are considering doing solar . I would like to have both solar and hydro. The problem is where I'm located in Canada , we don't get a lot f sun during the winter months . This stream flows quite well all year long . Unless we get weeks of minus 30 it may slow down . We haven't been getting that cold the past few years . I suspect from global warming but who knows.

I'm also curious what it is that you have running at your offgrid property.  Head, flow rate ,type of turbine and voltage plus apps created. I'm curious to hear what someone like yourself with so much knowledge has working for him currently.  Perhaps I can learn more with a direct comparison of your system.
Thanks again I do really appreciate the information.  Clearly this is pretty new to us , that why I'm on this forum so I can learn as much as I can before moving forward .  It may turn out that micro hydro is not the best solution.  I also have a fast flowing river about 150 feet away from the cabin .  But there is no elevation. Look forward to hearing any suggestions.  
Thanks .

OK then. We'll thanks for your information.  Perhaps we just won't move forward at all. I was really just asking if anyone has used this type of pipe and if anyone new what the psi of this pipe . Clearly it's not the best solution.  We are working on a budget.  With that said I did ask for any suggestions that could be helpful.  It sounds like you are a bit of an expert in this area . What would you suggest for an ideal solution.  Let's say hypothetically, money was not an issue.  What would you do.
I was also under the impression that 80 feet of head would be more then enough to generate at least 250 to 500 watts an hour. By the sounds of it , I was wrong.

I also forgot to say thank you for the great information you guys have provided  already. Thank you very much it is much appreciated.

Hi sorry this forum stuff is very new to me. I will try to provide more information.  The green pvc pipe that I'm referring to is green in color . Sells at homedepot for about $27.00 dollars per 10 foot length. It is described as sewer pipe . It just seems like an affordable option. I just don't know if it will hold up. I have not done the math as of .yet . But I have a very robust stream about 800 feet away from the area I want the outlet of the micro hydro. It is appropriately 80 feet in elevation and I'm not exactly sure how I can calculate the flow rate. For example if I were to dam up the stream and have the water flowing through say a 4 foot pipe at 4 inch dia. It would probably  fill a 5 gallon bucket up in less then a sec . But I'm not ready to create a dam and I'm not really sure how to measure the flow without having all the water coming out of one source. If anyone has suggestions on how I can measure the flow  I would be grateful. I'm pretty sure I will have enough flow and head to create pretty decent power. My biggest concern is the cost of 4 inch pipe and what pipe I can use. I ran 1.5 inch poly pipe that comes in 100 foot roles for the first 300 feet then I reduced it to 3/4 inch pipe for the remaining 500 hundred feet to get some pressurized water to the garden and sink at the side of the cabin. . That cost me around $900 . So I can only assume that 4 inch pipe from the source to the turbine is going to cost around 4 times that. Plus I think unrolling and lugging that style up to the creek would be a bit tuff compared to 10 foot lengths . So if there is anyone out there that is using some sort of 4 inch pipe that doesn't cost an arm and a leg I'm very open to suggestions.  

Hello. I'm going to build a micro hydro system for my offgrid property in northern Ontario. I need to run 4 inch pipe from the mountain stream 800 feet to where the turbine will be located. Has anyone used the green pvc in 10 foot lengths for there system. This seems to be one of the least expensive pipes I can find . As I say I need about 800 feet and I'm trying to keep costs to a minimum.  I'm concerned that it may not be quite strong enough to withstand the psi's as well as  the harsh  ontario winters. Does anyone know what the pressure rating is for the green pvc sewage pipe that is sold at homedepot Rona, etc. ? Has anyone ever used that type of pipe or does anyone have any low cost suggestions/ solutions ?
Thanks very much .