amrad
New member
help! any one has experiance with duogen? what will be the best to recharge my battery 3x65 (34.2 jeannue) to run autohelm/computer/lights/fregider
thanks
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thanks
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duogen/solar or wind
- Thread starter amrad
- Start date
Talbot
Active member
I have looked very carefully at the duogen and will be purchasing one myself. The alternative is to fit twin ampair or rutland, but that still does not really answer as on long distance work it is planned for the wind to be from astern, and a normal wind genny doesnt like this much!
You will need a solar panel as well to keep everything up even if you plan to use the engine to charge. I have a 180w panel fitted on a regulator that charges the engine/bowthruster/windlass bank first and then charges the domestic bank, and the duogen will be fitted to a dedicated regulator working the domestic bank only. However I can cross connect so that all systems are working simultaneously on all the batteries.
You need to do an energy budget to work out exactly how much charge you need. I plan to convert my nav lights to LEDs, and then will be about neutral in power terms (incoming = outgoing) with some slight surplus depending on use of SSB.
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You will need a solar panel as well to keep everything up even if you plan to use the engine to charge. I have a 180w panel fitted on a regulator that charges the engine/bowthruster/windlass bank first and then charges the domestic bank, and the duogen will be fitted to a dedicated regulator working the domestic bank only. However I can cross connect so that all systems are working simultaneously on all the batteries.
You need to do an energy budget to work out exactly how much charge you need. I plan to convert my nav lights to LEDs, and then will be about neutral in power terms (incoming = outgoing) with some slight surplus depending on use of SSB.
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William_H
Well-known member
You will find the refridgerator is the real thirst for battery power. I had a small Engel which draws 4.5 amps when running at about 33% on time so needing about 1.5 amps continuous. That means you need about 4.5 amps from a solar panel in daylight. That means about 100 watt panel needed for fridge alone and that is big and expensive. Pewrhaps running the engine would be a better option if you can charge a large battery bank at high current for a short period each day.
I don't know how much your autopilot draws and how much you intend to use it each day and how many days in a row. If it is only for up to 40 hours continuous with a long break then a solar panel may be able to recover. Similarly with nav lights one overnight is easy to accomodate from the battery if there is some days to recover the battery. Solar is good for keeping a battery charged when you are away from the boat and for occasional nav light and cabin light use even short term computer use but I can't help thinking your engine generator will be the best for heavy loads. Unless you have huge solar panel arrays which get in the way and arer easily damaged.
regards will
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I don't know how much your autopilot draws and how much you intend to use it each day and how many days in a row. If it is only for up to 40 hours continuous with a long break then a solar panel may be able to recover. Similarly with nav lights one overnight is easy to accomodate from the battery if there is some days to recover the battery. Solar is good for keeping a battery charged when you are away from the boat and for occasional nav light and cabin light use even short term computer use but I can't help thinking your engine generator will be the best for heavy loads. Unless you have huge solar panel arrays which get in the way and arer easily damaged.
regards will
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JerryHawkins
Member
I have a DuoGen
... and am very pleased with it. Providing that you can achieve 4 or 5 knots then it'll give you plenty of power in water mode. Wind mode is good above 10knots wind speed or so and its sooooooo much quieter than the AirMarine units !!!!
Cheers,
Jerry
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... and am very pleased with it. Providing that you can achieve 4 or 5 knots then it'll give you plenty of power in water mode. Wind mode is good above 10knots wind speed or so and its sooooooo much quieter than the AirMarine units !!!!
Cheers,
Jerry
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dulcibella
Active member
I fitted a Duogen on my Rustler 36 this season. The wind turbine works fine but the water turbine is astonishing. On a trip back from Cherbourg this weekend it was running all normal electrics and the fridge (2A setting) and still dumping surplus power through the resistors. Ideal for longer passages to avoid having to burn diesel in order to charge batteries. Not to mention keeping the beer cold. Very easy to change from wind to water mode. A fantastic piece of kit.
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dulcibella
Active member
I fitted a Duogen on my Rustler 36 this season. The wind turbine works fine but the water turbine is astonishing. On a trip back from Cherbourg this weekend it was running all normal electrics and the fridge (2A setting) and still dumping surplus power through the resistors. Ideal for longer passages to avoid having to burn diesel in order to charge batteries. Not to mention keeping the beer cold. Very easy to change from wind to water mode. A fantastic piece of kit.
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