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All DIY’ers are different, some are motivated by the challenge and learning experience, and some by the perceived financial benefit. If you are a DIY’er we admire you, we have done what we can to provide you with a free comprehensive documentation resource, and we can provide you with professional advice for a fee. Good advice based on 1st class engineering and 20 years’ renewable energy experience is never free, unless you are prepared to do some reading and learning yourself. Our Smart Drive BLDC Motor Applications for DIY projects guide is a great place to start.

If you need design advice on breaker/fuse sizes required for your ELV off-grid renewable energy installation please refer to our consultation page where we will be happy to assist you.

Read our published guide on charge controllers

Read our published guide on surplus power diversion

We only list premium brand charge controllers which have a proven track record and have been tested with our hydro turbines. If you wish to source your own controller online for use with one of our hydro turbines please check with us first.

If you are after quality controllers with an NZ warranty and compliant in NZ then we can assist you.

MPPT regulators

The world is awash with low cost solar MPPT regulators. Not all will work with our hydro turbines. The MPPT regulators we offer below are high quality regulators for both solar PV or hydro use with long NZ warranties. If you are looking for a lower cost solution then try your luck on aliexpress at your own risk.

Fangpusun also offer Victron and Outback MPPT copies at a lower cost which should also work fine on our hydro turbines (as the genuine products worked fine). Buy direct off Fangpusun at your own risk. This guide may help you.

We can only assist you (via your dealer), if you purchase an MPPT regulator (purchased from us or via our dealer) that we have tested and it has been approved for hydro use by the manufacturer and has manufactures support & warranty. If you have not purchased such a regulator you are doing R&D work and we cannot help you.

For Solar PV homes, we advise the Midnite Classic 150, Outback FM80 or the Victron SSV 150/100A-TR. All these regulators are large and can be installed with ELV PV arrays (<120 VDC). For larger homes with PV arrays >5-6kW several regulators may be needed (normally 1 per 21 x 270W 5.67kW 7-string ELV array). All these regulators are capable of diverting surplus solar PV power to your homes hot water tank.

In general we advise these products with our hydro turbines:

Operating voltage up to 40V (PLT40, TRG40 and LH150 turbines)

• Midnite Kid (in O&P mode up to 750W applications on 24v battery) 
• Midnite Classic 150 (in hydro mode up to 2400W on a 24V battery)          
• Outback FM60 or FM80 (in solar mode 1450W or 1950W respectively)
• Victron 150V MPPT (in many options up to 2400W on a 24V battery)

 Operating voltage up to 80V (PLT80, TRG80 and LH250 turbines)

• Midnite Classic 250 (in hydro mode up to 3100W on a 48V battery)  
• Victron 250V MPPT (in several options up to 4800W on a 48V battery)

 Operating with PowerClamps

PowerClamps can be used to limit voltages so that lower voltage MPPT regulators can be used. In general you should avoid using a PowerClamp (buy a higher voltage MPPT) where possible. PowerClamps are often used to fix issues on sites, for example where very long and thin cables have been put in and the site is being upgraded for more power down the same cable. Seek gold dealer advice before buying a PowerClamp.

For SSR applications above 100 VDC and for 120/240 VAC phase angle SSR applications Hugh Piggott (via a consultation) can assist/advise you.  

We recommend that you read our "PS MPPT Diversion Loads Guide".

We do sell direct to customers who are keen D.I.Y.er's but you need to pay for system design/installation support and only dealers qualify for flat rate shipping on turbine bundle deals. It is often cheaper to buy through a dealer and they are invaluable in helping you create a successful system. 

To have an efficient and productive conversation with a dealer please ensure you have collected your site data and assessed your energy needs. What site data is required is detailed in section 8 of our Getting Started Guide which also explains how to measure and asses your site and lifestyle. Ideally also complete a calculation. 

You can filter dealers by language spoken. As most dealers provide support by email this is much more important than geographical location.

Gold dealers are our most experienced dealers and have proven themselves experts in renewable energy installations

Silver dealers are experienced and knowledgeable dealers

Insurance has to be purchased on all orders >2kg or the goods freight at your own risk. Orders below 2kg freight by NZ Post and this service includes insurance up to $250NZD ($180USD approx). For a detailed explanation please see our terms and conditions and freight tips.

Warranty terms vary and are fully detailed in the warranty documents and the terms and conditions.

PowerSpout turbines have 1-3 warranty depending on model and output power.

Warranty upgrades add 1, 2 or 3 years to our standard product warranty and can only be purchased at the time of the PowerSpout turbine sale to be valid.

Service and installation conditions apply, so please carefully read all documentation relating to our turbines prior to purchase.

There are a number of off-grid inverter/systems you should consider depending on your requirements, budget, support, compliance and warranty needs. For our guide on how to build a powershed click here.

If you are after a stand alone inverter above 3kW please contact us as we can source many brands available in NZ.

One often overlooked cost of an installation is the installer/electrician's time. It is worth considering a pre-wired solution as it will normally have a lower overall cost. We have detailed some of the pre-wired solutions available below:

Premium prewired and 5-year warranty

• Outback FP1, FP2, FP3, FP4 – USA design made in India (highest cost)
• Victron EasySolar 5kW – European design made in Malaysia (medium cost)

You can read our Easysolar guide here.  

Good quality economy Steca 5kW 2-year warranty

• Steca Solarix PLI 5000-48 – German company made in Bulgaria/China (low cost)

This is a Steca branded 5kW product (likely made in China). There is no doubt that Steca have added some features and are selling a quality product  that is compliant with accepted international standards.

Chinese direct economy 5kW 1-year warranty in China (very low cost)

• 5kVA inverter (4.2kW) with 150V 3kW MPPT (low cost import yourself direct from China (at your risk) as we cannot match these prices.
• 5kW inverter with 500V 4kW MPPT (low cost import yourself direct from China (at your risk) as we cannot match these prices.

We do not sell these Chinese units but they are becoming popular with financially constrained clients. If you want to buy one try Malik in China at this email malik@sunrayups.com 

We have tested some, and some have worked very well, some have not. Many sell in range $350-450US + freight. Freight accounts for about 1/3 of the cost, as any warranty offered (normally 1-year) is return to base in China at buyers expense both ways, the warranty is in effect worthless, so you may want to consider the Steca Solarix PLI5000-48 from a distributor in your own country. Yes is will cost more than Chinese direct equivalent but you will have a warranty that is worth something, you may even get some free support from a local agent.

This is a case of buyer beware. For financially constrained DIY clients globally  these could be a very good solution, but we cannot help you if you have an issue. We cannot sell you one as not all compliance certificates from China are genuine and product variations change constantly which makes retailing them in the small NZ market not practical. Most clients who want one are already buying them online at the lowest possible cost so the remaining market is minuscule. We spend many hours every month talking to clients who are interested in these low cost inverters. We do not sell them. We can help if you are in the market for a quality 5-year warranty (NZ supported) inverter or pre-wired system. 

Solis and Soltaro (grid-tied inverter) GTI

Ginlong inverters are sold under a number of brand names, the main two are Solis and Soltaro. These 600V inverters work well with PowerSpout hydro turbines (such as the PLT200, TRG200 and LH450 turbine) in grid-tied or AC coupled off-grid systems.

Ginlong inverters are available in most global markets and are good quality and cost effective. Ginlong make inverters from the small 700W Solis mini to large 125kW 3-phase models. We can offer a limited range of sizes for NZ clients.

The homeowner can often work on the DC side of the system if it is ELV (<120VDC). AC coupled systems are normally LV (>120VDC) on the DC side which in NZ requires the work to be done by an electrician, COC documentation, it is also classed as high risk needing an ROI documentation.

It is our view that for domestic scale solar/hydro jobs of moderate size that DC coupled systems are preferable with these advantages:

• Homes use most power outside sunlight hours, so DC coupled can be more efficient.
• You can do some or all of the DC work yourself if ELV in NZ – we have some guides to help you
• Lower and safer DC voltages.
• In remote locations where most off-grid jobs are installed, electricians skilled in such systems may be rare and have to travel long distances which can be costly.

Yes there are also some disadvantages like more cables and fuses needed etc. For more discussion on this topic read these links: Victron, Clean Energy, Solar Builder Mag

Pre-wired systems have been common for well over 10 years with the Outback FP-1 being the benchmark. Times have moved on and the FP-1 is on the small side for a typical NZ home and rather costly compared to the competition. The larger Outback FP-2 (without FM80s or FPA22 with FM80s) is a good size but rather costly.

Outback have recently launched a lower cost (up to 500V) hybrid inverter and MPPT called the SPC III. It appears to be a branded Chinese (or Indian) unit very similar to this one but with a few improvements such a logging and monitoring and with a 2 year warranty.

Steca have recently launched a lower cost (up to 150V) hybrid inverter and MPPT called Solarix PLI that appears to be a branded Chinese unit very similar to this one.

Victron recently launched the 5KVA EasySolar which has a 25% larger inverter and MPPT than the FP-1. They have just launched the 3KVA Easysolar-II GX and will in due course release the 5KVA Easysolar-II GX. The main differences on the more recent version are:

• AC breakers and the RCD have been removed
• Colour display has been removed
• Smaller form factor
• MPPT has been upgraded from 150V to 250v version, so can be LV or ELV on the DC side
• Price is the same

The main difference between that Outback FP-1 and EasySolar 5KVA range is that the FP-1 has a single interface for both the installer and the customer called the Mate 3s, settings can be adjusted remotely via cloud based monitoring. The Victron EasySolar has a nice colour display option (mainly for the customer) that can also be connected to the internet. EasySolar settings cannot be changed remotely and the installer requires a laptop, software and several special cables to set the system up correctly. You can read our Victron Easysolar guide here.

My experience with cloud based monitoring at remote sites in NZ has not been great, often due to unreliable internet connections. The setting up of cloud based monitoring is never as easy as the supporting documentation often implies. So you may need to engage an IT professional to help you with this aspect of the installation.

For those clients who cannot afford these quality pre-wired solutions then consider these low cost hybrid options that you can import yourself direct from China:

• 5KVA (4.2kW) inverter with 150V MPPT
• 5kW inverter with 500W MPPT

We only offer for sale quality DC coupled options - all have a 5-year (return to dealer in Auckland) warranty:

• Victron Easysolar 24V 3KVA with colour display (70A Blue solar 150V MPPT fitted)
• Victron Easysolar II 48V 3KVA with display (70A Blue solar 250V MPPT fitted)
• Victron Easysolar 48V 5KVA with colour display (100A Smart solar 150V MPPT fitted)
• Outback FP-1 (with Mate 3S and 80A-150V amp MPPT)

We also offer a range of inverters sized from 3-15 KVA. There are too many options to list them all, so contact us with the size you need and we can price a few options/makes for you. At the moment the Victron 3, 5, 8, 10 and 15 KVA 48V inverters are a very good & cost effective option for small, medium and large off-grid homes. Be warned that although Victron PCE’s are very good, the documentation supplied if often light if you need help with more advanced features.

Chances are if you have a question the answer can be found for free here. Yes, there is a lot of information so it may take some reading to find the answer you seek, but each renewable system is different and there are so many variables that no one else has even attempted to provide such documentation.

However, if you require advice on system design, an existing renewable energy system or a DIY project then we have advisers who can help. All our advisers are Gold PowerSpout dealers with a proven track record in solar PV, wind and hydro systems. A consultation with an expert can put you on the right track quickly and help to avoid costly mistakes.

If you are considering a Renewable Energy System it is important that you get off to a good start. We highly recommend that you engage one of our experienced dealers as they have the knowledge to save you time and money and can guide you through this complex process. 

For DIY clients we do publish a free guide that you can read here.

Our advises are:

• Hugh Piggott (40 years living off-grid)
• Michael Lawley (30 years living off-grid, BEng Mechanical)
• Derek Jackson (15 years Aurora Power & Design Inc)
• Florin Fleseriu (over 20 years renewable energy experience)

Refer to PowerSpout Document Index Links for a complete index of documents.

The PowerSpout SHP-TX has been rebranded the React pump. For more information about the pump please visit reactpump.com

Our NZ dealers can provide complete solutions including solar panels. Their experience and support are valuable tools in a successful installation.

Refer to PowerSpout Document Index Links for a complete index of documents.

All DIY’ers are different, some are motivated by the challenge and learning experience, and some by the perceived financial benefit. If you are a DIY’er we admire you, we have done what we can to provide you with a free comprehensive documentation resource, and we can provide you with professional advice for a fee. Good advice based on 1st class engineering and 20 years’ renewable energy experience is never free, unless you are prepared to do some reading and learning yourself. Our DIY guide is a great place to start.

Smart Drive Applications for DIY projects

Smart Drive BLDC Motor Applications for DIY projects

All DIY’ers are different, some are motivated by the challenge and learning experience, and some by the perceived financial benefit. If you are a DIY’er we admire you, we have done what we can to provide you with a free comprehensive documentation resource, and we can provide you with professional advice for a fee. Good advice based on 1st class engineering and 20 years’ renewable energy experience is never free, unless you are prepared to do some reading and learning yourself. The guides listed above are a great place to start.

Shafts, bearing holders and seals can be found here.

A complete PMA  includes all the parts you need to get your DIY project off to a good start:

• Stator
• Magnetic rotor
• Shaft and retaining nut
• Bearing block, bearings and fixings

The voltage of a PMA is critical for efficient operation. The Smart Drive PMA can be reconfigured to alter the voltage output. We offer over 90 configurations which range from 1.1 to 0.011 V/rpm output.

Please note not all PMA’s are the same price. Generally the lower the voltage and the higher the power, the more costly it will be. Higher power depends on having higher motive power at low rpm, or there will be no benefit to buying a higher power unit. Consider the working Watts/rpm of your specific application. 36 pole units are suitable for wind turbines. 42 pole units are generally lower cost.

All DIY’ers are different, some are motivated by the challenge and learning experience, and some by the perceived financial benefit. If you are a DIY’er we admire you, we have done what we can to provide you with a free comprehensive documentation resource, and we can provide you with professional advice for a fee. Good advice based on 1st class engineering and 20 years’ renewable energy experience is never free, unless you are prepared to do some reading and learning yourself. Our DIY guide is a great place to start.