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I'm planning a solar powered 12V system for an amateur radio propagation beacon project. At some point in the future I'd like to add wind power to the system. I'd like to hear from anyone who has experience with a MPPT controller that includes wind turbine input & dump load output. I don't know...

All good notions and it's apparent you're willing to do the homework. I don't have direct answers but can recommend Paul Gipe's book "Wind Power for Home & Business". I believe it has a chapter on the very issues you're working with.

Shorting the phases on an over sped wind turbine is asking for a meltdown of the windings in the turbine. That's why a dump load is useful.

Oh, and thanks for the tip on expanding foam...good idea worth considering.

Yes, that's a good idea and I'll consider it. Adding wind power would be really cool as far as I'm concerned, and the short tower I'm planning to use would support a small wind genny. I think sizing the battery & PV array with significant overhead for the load is the ticket & then add wind power...

Yes, both of you make valid points; thanks for the response. Perspective/context is important...I'm in middle Tennessee; "mountain" has a different connotation. The peak I'm planning/hoping to utilize is only 1300' ASL. Regardless, we do have lows in the single digits during the winter and can...

I've always had a fascination with renewable energy. In the early 90's I had a small PV array on a Red Rock tracker. I was an avid reader of Home Power Magazine. I used the battery energy to power pumps and the stirrer (trolling motor) in my homemade biodiesel shop. We moved and I lost my shop...