robmurray
Well-Known Member
Im moored up next to aboat with Duogen water and wind generator. Cant find much on here about them - anyone got any experience? Are they best of both worlds or a poor compromise?
Duogen - any good?
- Thread starter robmurray
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sailorman
Well-Known Member
Ludd of the Parrish has one
Ludd
Well-Known Member
They are expensive,but they do what it says on the tin. However, you need to consider whether you would use the water-power option enough to make it worthwhile . I haven't used it much in that mode but I did crossing Biscay(Milford Haven--A Coruna) it produced a little over 1 amp per knot of boat speed. It comes into its own on long passages.T he design keeps the majority of the weight at deck level.
In wind mode its good and quiet,but if wind mode is going to be your norm,better get Eclectic's D400.
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
A friend who used one trans-Atlantic and subsequently in the Caribbean and Venezuela reported it to be excellent.
zefender
Well-Known Member
I've got one and agree on long passages it's very reliable and produces about 7amps at 6kts, maybe 10 @ 7kts in water mode. I've never actually used the wind bit though!. Whether to get one depends a bit on the kind of sailing you do. For example, for 2/3 day hops between mains power supply or involving the occasional use of engine, it might be better value to buy some more batteries instead. I did forget it was down once when reversing into a berth, which meant I needed a new prop shaft and universal joint - oops. Good aftersales back up from them too. Another advantage of the dual mode is that when sailing within the wind up the transom, the water mode is still effective whereas wind production becomes less productive due to true/apparent differentials. They look a bit ugly but on for example a transat, IMO blimmin great.
D
Deleted member 478
Guest
Had one when I still had a monomaran and it was brilliant. I did fit it to my catamaran, but the shaft was not quite long enough to reach over the sugar scoop, so it got replaced. The customer support is also outstanding. Very highly recommend, despite the price.
sailinglegend420
Well-Known Member
Very good in water mode - we use it all the time because it is very quick and easy to change to modes.
In wind mode the head has an automatic "feathering" or rotation so it should turn away from high wind to avoid too much stress on the system. This happens because there is a 90 degree angle change from the blades to the shaft that drives the large alternator which is mounted at the base of the shaft. This sometimes means that at relatively low wind speeds it turns off the wind slightly and doesn't give maximum output - the only bad feature of the system. If at anchor you can lock it in position - but be prepared to watch the wind speed. I think we hold the record for highest output of 40 amps in a force 8 that blew up unexpectedly. The 35 amp fuse blew as I was watching the amps going up and up. Also keep it clean and oiled so it doesn't clog up with salt and stop feathering.
If you live aboard you don't need a regulator - just tie off the blades if you ever get to the situation where you really are fully charged!
You have to be sure that you can mount it in a suitable place on the transom - not too high and not more than 900mm from the centreline of the boat. We have ours at 1100mm and it still works fine if we don't heal over too much on a port tack. The support from Eclectic Energy is very good and they will send you all the details.
In wind mode the head has an automatic "feathering" or rotation so it should turn away from high wind to avoid too much stress on the system. This happens because there is a 90 degree angle change from the blades to the shaft that drives the large alternator which is mounted at the base of the shaft. This sometimes means that at relatively low wind speeds it turns off the wind slightly and doesn't give maximum output - the only bad feature of the system. If at anchor you can lock it in position - but be prepared to watch the wind speed. I think we hold the record for highest output of 40 amps in a force 8 that blew up unexpectedly. The 35 amp fuse blew as I was watching the amps going up and up. Also keep it clean and oiled so it doesn't clog up with salt and stop feathering.
If you live aboard you don't need a regulator - just tie off the blades if you ever get to the situation where you really are fully charged!
You have to be sure that you can mount it in a suitable place on the transom - not too high and not more than 900mm from the centreline of the boat. We have ours at 1100mm and it still works fine if we don't heal over too much on a port tack. The support from Eclectic Energy is very good and they will send you all the details.