cheap ebay wind turbine, anyone tried one?

[iainbluk]

Wind Generator

Ive got one and am satisfied with its performance for the initial cost. It has a 3 phase ac 28v output so you need to buy a convertor/regulator which cost me £45. In a 7-10kt wind it will produce about 1.5 amps and as it gets really windy it will go up to about 10 amps. It does the job for me, in that it keeps the batteries good for the ultrasonic antifouling (another snake oil product perhaps), but the 25 amp claim is not realistic. I had hoped it would produce enough to power the fridge (4-5 amps) but this is not the case.

PM me if you need details of the regulator.

 

[greenalien]

you clearly approve of China's almost universal ignoring of international patent laws and registered designs

No. I certainly don't approve of such behaviour. I also don't approve of the way the British managed the opium trade with China in the 19th century. Clearly, where profit is concerned, no country has the right to take the moral high ground.

 

[Fire99]

Another cracking thread that starts with the merits (or not) of a cheap wind turbine and within a couple of pages is about how corrupt an entire nation is, if not the world.

 

[Ceirwan]

**
peddle their inferior copies of everything from a hairpin to a liferaft. Even the plastic seats at OUR Olympic Games have been made in china.


Chas

Until you posted this I didn't realise that China had stolen the very latest design specifications for a plastic seat! Your right.... Impose a trade embargo!

 

[maxi77]

I just love the way some people respond to posts that were never actually made.

READ the 'effin post and note the words "a lot"

Chas

Idid and considered the response appropriate. Tough!

 

[maxi77]

Probably IS. That's how they operate we naively give them our designs and permission to manufacture; they then turn out shoddy copies that LOOK as if they can do the job but usually fail early (defective magnets in this case?) resulting in a replacement which creates a demand on the earth's resources not only in the manufacture of the replacement but in the disposal of the scrap - which is usually down to who? Answer me that.

Chas

No we greedily give them designs to be made on the cheap, which many companies then sell on at prices as if they were made in the EU or US. Then we are surprised when they take advantage of our greed and rip us off. By the way I can remember when 'Japonese' meant cheap shoddy goods, but now it stands for top quality. It won't be that long before we see made in China as good not bad.

 

[Fire99]

No we greedily give them designs to be made on the cheap, which many companies then sell on at prices as if they were made in the EU or US. Then we are surprised when they take advantage of our greed and rip us off. By the way I can remember when 'Japonese' meant cheap shoddy goods, but now it stands for top quality. It won't be that long before we see made in China as good not bad.

Very true. 'We' don't complain when we benefit from cheap Eastern manufacturing. It's a bit tough-titties to start selectively having some form of economic conscience.

 

[BrianH]

Globalisation is the name of the game; we are on the brink of a new world order and China will be leading it. It is stupid to huff and puff at the inevitable casualties, we, the consumers, demanded cheaper prices and we are now reaping the whirlwind of just about all manufacturing migrating to low labour cost bases, mainly in Asia.

Not only low cost - they are prepared to work hard. I remember when I could order my bespoke suit in Hong Kong or Singapore in the morning, have a fitting that evening and collect a perfect product the next day - every bit as good as Milan or Saville Row and a minute fraction of the price.

Wake up and smell the coffee folks, it's happening all around you.

 

[pappaecho]

A Cat moored a few boats down from me appears to have one. It does not seem to rotate that fast, as compared to a Rutland 913 in the same wind. That said it may be that it has an electronic reducer when the batteries are at volt voltage. I will speak to the owner when I see him. As the Rutland 913 + controller is over £500, the price on Ebay does eem cheap.

 

[BrianH]

A Cat moored a few boats down from me appears to have one. It does not seem to rotate that fast, as compared to a Rutland 913 in the same wind. That said it may be that it has an electronic reducer when the batteries are at volt voltage. I will speak to the owner when I see him. As the Rutland 913 + controller is over £500, the price on Ebay does eem cheap.

If it is modeled on the Air-X then there may be, as mine has, a shorting ON/OFF switch that inhibits generating and the blades just freely (and slowly) windmill.

I do this in the marina, where there is anyway shore power, to restrain noise for neighbours with high winds and it is only in use when cruising under sail and at anchor.

But from an earlier posting from an owner I doubt if it is an identical Air-X copy, the output seems far too low for a genuine 400W generator. Output depends on regulator and battery state but I have seen 51A on the ammeter with 25 knots of wind and with an old and depleted battery bank.

 

[CharlesSwallow]

A Cat moored a few boats down from me appears to have one. It does not seem to rotate that fast, as compared to a Rutland 913 in the same wind. That said it may be that it has an electronic reducer when the batteries are at volt voltage. I will speak to the owner when I see him. As the Rutland 913 + controller is over £500, the price on Ebay does eem cheap.

You'll end up buying three and having three times the scrap to get rid of. Mark my words.

Chas