12v Ampair tow generator - again

[Independence]

I've now purchased one of these......

The last post I made on the subject was whether people already using them had fitted regulators or not. Most at the time hadn't.

Having contacted Ampair they initially recommended a regulator should not be fitted. When I contacted them again to advise and let them know I would mostly only be using circa 1.5 amps at any one time, they then recommended I fit one.

Having a friend help 'interpret' the fitting instructions from the manual it seems when the batteries are fully charged the generator goes into 'dump' mode causing the generator to slow down with the potential for the log to wind up.

I anticipate only having to use the generator every 2 days or so. With this in mind and the fact that I already have an amp meter fitted and have a battery monitor, do people think I still need to fit a regulator?

The main potential for 'cooking' the batteries as I see is if I forget I have the log out and / or fail to keep an eye on the battery charge, something I'm usually good at not forgetting.

Thanks

 

[Greenheart]

Sorry, I haven't a clue about Independence's particular concern here. But the towed turbine seems to me such an obvious opportunity to make amps from the conditions around us, I'm equal parts glad to read of its use and mystified by how rare that use is.

Won't its inclusion aboard any serious distance cruiser, also justify finding space and allowing for the extra weight of a second, biggish deep-cycle battery, which won't 'cook' easily en route, nor suffer from periods of discharge while moored?

I never heard of any yacht's crew objecting to too many available amps...

 

[Neil_Y]

I fitted a plug and socket on mine and when you disconnect it it spins free, I ran mine without a regulator for a while and managed to blow a 10 amp fuse so they certainly produce the juice but that was at 10-12 knots.

When it's under load it never winds up the rope so even if its under load as you say when charging is stopped the rope won't wind up, there is just too much force and the gen can't give that much resistance.

If you are using electronics and nav lights and fridge? radio etc then at 4-6 knots the gen will just balance your outgoings, we had a surplus which may have gassed the batteries a bit but we kept an eye on electrolite levels.

Great bit of kit.

 

[TQA]

It would help to know the size and type of your battery bank and more precise details of the type of passges you intend to make

But assuming you have a fridge and normal lights then I see no need for a regulator.

 

[Independence]

Thanks for comments.

Definitely no fridge (much to my wife's frustration.....but lets not go there).

Single-handed passage to the Azores this year and Atlantic planned 2014 if all goes well.

I have 2 X 85amp batteries.

Electronics on passage include GPS, wind instrument with repeater, AIS, battery monitor, LED nav lights at night.

Your first note suggests you later fitted a regulator.

Thanks again.

 

[Neil_Y]

Yep I fitted a regulator after the first W to E crossing, but it's quite possible to just plug it in when you need it and leave it spinning when you don't. Just like you would run the engine. We just turned the fridge up and had colder beers and left lights on. We didn't have any led lights and ran a laptop (12v adaptor)ssb receiver, vhf, most of the trip as well as occasional use of printer on inverter to print off weather charts and pilotage charts. We also ran the Autohelm 6000 24 hrs a day. A rope bridle for the generator needs to be very secure and tight, retrieving the impeller you have to stop, streaming it make sure its completely clear to go.

 

[TQA]

Thanks for comments.

Definitely no fridge (much to my wife's frustration.....but lets not go there).

Single-handed passage to the Azores this year and Atlantic planned 2014 if all goes well.

I have 2 X 85amp batteries.

Electronics on passage include GPS, wind instrument with repeater, AIS, battery monitor, LED nav lights at night.

Your first note suggests you later fitted a regulator.

Thanks again.

Nope never had a regulator with mine but had 300 ah of bat. cap. and as I was pre LED and had a prehistoric Neco autopilot I never had to worry about overcharging on passage. Just kept an eye on battery voltage.