Caladh
Well-Known Member
Is there anyone out there that can give me some feedback as to the efficiency (or not) of the Eclectic Energy's D400 wind generator please ?
D400 wind genny
- Thread starter Caladh
- Start date
Minerva
Well-Known Member
ask them for the devices power curves - that should give an idea of the expected output st given wind speeds
tjbrace
Well-Known Member
Mine works just fine. Be careful with the braking switch, strong winds can over power it which can damage the alternator. Use the braking switch to slow the rotor then tether it.
Caladh
Well-Known Member
I can see their specs but wanted some real life feedback. I used to have an Aerogen6 which has similar characteristics as the D400 incl an electrical brake and heat sinks.
coopec
N/A
For a while there I was quite excited because people were discussing wind generators in positive terms for a change. But then I saw the price of an Eclectic Energy's D400 - $A3500+ 
Surely there are cheaper and equally high performance wind turbines available? Are the turbines you see on eBay (for instance) all duds?
wind turbine 12v 24v | eBay
Surely there are cheaper and equally high performance wind turbines available? Are the turbines you see on eBay (for instance) all duds?
wind turbine 12v 24v | eBay
Caladh
Well-Known Member
Different league I believe.For a while there I was quite excited because people were discussing wind generators in positive terms for a change. But then I saw the price of an Eclectic Energy's D400 - $A3500+
Surely there are cheaper and equally high performance wind turbines available? Are the turbines you see on eBay (for instance) all duds?
wind turbine 12v 24v | eBay
Ric
Well-Known Member
My advice for anybody wanting to buy a wind generator - don't look at the power curves - look at the noise output.
A wind generator that is fairly quiet may not have the highest peak output per wind speed unit - but you will get more power out of it on a cruise because you will not need to turn it off as often. If you get a noisy one you will end up leaving it tethered most of the time..
Also, check that it has a brake that can be used to turn it off in any wind speed. If you get into windspeeds where you can no longer brake it electromagnetically, it is usually too dangerous to try to tether it. Then they get quite scary and very distracting as they go into screaming banshee mode, which is inevitably when you have a high work load doing other stuff.
From what I have heard the D400 is quite good for the above reasons, though it is a little heavy.
A wind generator that is fairly quiet may not have the highest peak output per wind speed unit - but you will get more power out of it on a cruise because you will not need to turn it off as often. If you get a noisy one you will end up leaving it tethered most of the time..
Also, check that it has a brake that can be used to turn it off in any wind speed. If you get into windspeeds where you can no longer brake it electromagnetically, it is usually too dangerous to try to tether it. Then they get quite scary and very distracting as they go into screaming banshee mode, which is inevitably when you have a high work load doing other stuff.
From what I have heard the D400 is quite good for the above reasons, though it is a little heavy.
tjbrace
Well-Known Member
The reason I bought the D400 was because I saw an active one on the boat next to me in Dover Marina but couldn’t hear it. The manual warns of the brake switch issue.
Neeves
Well-Known Member
We have an Aero/Aqua/gen 4 (so much smaller) and wish we had bought the Aerogen 6. It, the 4, is effectively silent.
At sea you are unlikely to be worried by noise of a windgen - as you are unlikely to be sailing in those conditions and are also unlikely to be sailing to windward. You will also have other worries (and noise) far in excess of the noise from a windgen. You will also have a decent forecast and part of your battening down, before the wind gets up, will be to tether the windgen. Equally most people choose an anchorage for its shelter not its capacity to be the windiest location for miles.
The Aerogen 4 has no brake - but a tether line hanging off the bottom rear of the tail fin. Just grab the rope, ours has a loop in it, with a boat hook - pull so that the prop lies across the wind (prop stops) - tether prop. Not automatic but has worked for us for 20 years.
The noisy windgens all seem to have longer, narrower and 'more pointed' blades.
Most people seem to think all windgens are the same - they are not.
Our windgen is much better in Aqua mode - so on passage we tend to convert to water mode and use wind mode at anchor (and would not be without it - in any mode).
Jonathan
At sea you are unlikely to be worried by noise of a windgen - as you are unlikely to be sailing in those conditions and are also unlikely to be sailing to windward. You will also have other worries (and noise) far in excess of the noise from a windgen. You will also have a decent forecast and part of your battening down, before the wind gets up, will be to tether the windgen. Equally most people choose an anchorage for its shelter not its capacity to be the windiest location for miles.
The Aerogen 4 has no brake - but a tether line hanging off the bottom rear of the tail fin. Just grab the rope, ours has a loop in it, with a boat hook - pull so that the prop lies across the wind (prop stops) - tether prop. Not automatic but has worked for us for 20 years.
The noisy windgens all seem to have longer, narrower and 'more pointed' blades.
Most people seem to think all windgens are the same - they are not.
Our windgen is much better in Aqua mode - so on passage we tend to convert to water mode and use wind mode at anchor (and would not be without it - in any mode).
Jonathan
roaringgirl
Well-Known Member
There was a D400 behind us with knackered bearings in Shelter Bay, it sounded like someone grinding a metal bin lid over gravel covered concrete - it didn't seem to bother the owner though.
For what it's worth, we have a Rutland 1200 which has performed exactly as its power curve said it should, is barely audible and is self-braking. The highest winds we have been in were in a mid-Atlantic storm, the forecast for which we recieved after the event. I had plenty else to worry about and I'm glad I wasn't pissing about with the windgen as we got pinned down and the whisker pole snapped in half.
For what it's worth, we have a Rutland 1200 which has performed exactly as its power curve said it should, is barely audible and is self-braking. The highest winds we have been in were in a mid-Atlantic storm, the forecast for which we recieved after the event. I had plenty else to worry about and I'm glad I wasn't pissing about with the windgen as we got pinned down and the whisker pole snapped in half.
Neeves
Well-Known Member
I have no experience of the D400 - but the bearing failure is not necessarily a reflection on the D400, simply an inability of the owner (for whatever reason), to replace the bearing. Any bearing failure will make a noise and do no good for the efficiency of the unit.
After 20 years of use of our Aero4Aqua gen 24/365 - we are still on the original bearings - just a pity it is mo longer available. ITT after buying the business transferred the manufacture to China. I might assume the Chinese manufacturer is still around, even if ITT dropped the ball. The units were characteristically different - maybe one day someone will recognise one and the manfacturer identified.
We would like the Aero6aquagen.
Jonathan
