Iv had enough of this rubbish Air Breeze genny ..........

clyst

clyst

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 Aug 2002
Messages
3,233
Visit site
....... The bloody thing is utterly useless and always has been ask any owner and they will say the same . It appears to be the sliprings and brushes which wear at an alarming rate . Iv just stripped mine and the brushes appear to have been arcing and are in an awful condition and the slip rings heavily scored after minimal usage . Anyway stuff it I propose to get new sliprings ,or have them skimmed and a new set of brushes and throw away the internal Regulator gubbins altogether and connect the three wires from the stator/rotor direct to a separate controller . Any of you leccy wizzkids know how I can identify which wire is which as they are all the same colour ?.........how difficult can it be ?. :)
 
I'm probably wrong but I'll have a go anyway. Is it an AC generator? If it is I'm not sure it matters. We have Kiss with external rectifier and regulator and I was reliably informed that the wires an be connected in any order. Seems to work o.k.
 
clyst said:
....... The bloody thing is utterly useless and always has been ask any owner and they will say the same . It appears to be the sliprings and brushes which wear at an alarming rate . Iv just stripped mine and the brushes appear to have been arcing and are in an awful condition and the slip rings heavily scored after minimal usage . Anyway stuff it I propose to get new sliprings ,or have them skimmed and a new set of brushes and throw away the internal Regulator gubbins altogether and connect the three wires from the stator/rotor direct to a separate controller . Any of you leccy wizzkids know how I can identify which wire is which as they are all the same colour ?.........how difficult can it be ?. :)
Click to expand...

Love your post :) :) OK. Your wind genny produces AC. Its then converted to DC by a Rectifier ( what I am assuming you refer to as the (internal Regulator gubbins :) ) You cannot just connect the three wires to a Controller (Voltage Regulator) it has to be rectified first.
If you are connecting the three wires to an external rectifier it makes no difference which way round they go.
 
Last edited:
Right now ! Being a complete numpty when it comes to leccy generation is a rectifier just a rectifier or does it have to be a specific voltage, ampage etc ? .......I will be proficient at leccy generation by the time I have this sorted ! ;)
 
clyst said:
Right now ! Being a complete numpty when it comes to leccy generation is a rectifier just a rectifier or does it have to be a specific voltage, ampage etc ? .......I will be proficient at leccy generation by the time I have this sorted ! ;)
Click to expand...

The output from the genny is in fact 3 phase AC , That is why there are three ( identical) wires.

You will need a 3 phase rectifier, similar to a car alternator rectifier. It will have to have a current rating to suit the max output current and an adequately high peak inverse voltage rating. You could make one with 6 suitably rated diodes.

You will need a regulator which is the same type as the original as well.


But is there really a problem with the internal electronics Or is problem with the sliprings and brushes on the mounting /
 
Last edited:
Sandyman said:
You will need one the same voltage/ampage as your original. Do you have the manuel for this beast?
Click to expand...
According to the blurb that came with the unit, Christ knows why I kept it ,normally I just bin stuff like that ,anyway....voltage regulator adjustment range.... 13.6 to 17.0 V 25 amps . Would I get a regulator from somewhere like maplins or an anto factors ?
 
VicS said:
The output from the genny is in fact 3 phase AC , That is why there are three ( identical) wires.

You will needa 3 phase rectifier, similar to a car alternator rectifier. But you could make one with 6 suitably rated diodes.

You will need a regulator which is the same type as the original as well.


But is there really a problem with the internal electronics Or is problem with the sliprings and brushes on the mounting /
Click to expand...

Is it a slipring problem or internal electronics ......I really have no,idea and bardens are next to useless ,so I thought I'd do away with their magic electronic board and use standard parts like a bog standard rectifier and a regulator similar to that fitted to my solar panels . These air breeze gennys really are the pits !! Best part of £1000 (by the time I bought the "special" mounting pole and brackets ) wasted !!! :(.
:(
 
Last edited:
clyst said:
Is it a slipring problem or internal electronics ......I really have no,idea and bardens are next to useless ,so I thought I'd do away with their magic electronic board and use standard parts like a bog standard rectifier and a regulator similar to that fitted to my solar panels . These air breeze gennys really are the pits !! Best part of £1000 (by the time I bought the "special" mounting pole and brackets ) wasted !!! :(.
:(
Click to expand...

A solar panel regulator will not be suitable
 
Len Ingalls said:
Here is a diagram of a 3phase rectifier. There is one in any auto alternator mounted to the rear housing.
The rear housing provides a heat sink to cool the rectifier-a requirement.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/r3ane09qo8gnx5r/delco1.jpg?dl=0

Here is a video of same in a common Delco 10SI alternator.
delco 10si rebuild https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWMANjkgtFw

Probably the cheapest way to aquire the reqd components is to find a used alternator that still has good diodes.
Click to expand...

Thanks Len .
 
pessimist said:
Try searching eBay for 'wind generator regulator's (sorry working from a tablet which doesn't want to cut and paste). Bought my combined rectifier/regulator there. Seems to work as it should.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that ,will do . Seems that's the way to go ...cheers .
 
AIr breeze generators come in 12v, 24v or 48 volt versions. Assuming it is 12v we had an Ampair 12v wind generator and it fed directly into the 2 Trojan house batteries with an in line fuse. There was also a voltmeter attached the the battery and an on/off switch, we checked the voltmeter regularly an when it reached 13.4 volt we turned the switch off. We sailed 10,000nms with out any problems and the previous owner who fitted it sailed over that and also had no problems. If it isn't 12v you will need a step down regulator.
 
Last edited:
clyst said:
Right now ! Being a complete numpty when it comes to leccy generation is a rectifier just a rectifier or does it have to be a specific voltage, ampage etc ? .......I will be proficient at leccy generation by the time I have this sorted ! ;)
Click to expand...

Old Pop Silverwood devoted his life to educating you in electrical theory in the old labs in Charlotte Street, guess it all fell on barren ground!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top