LVM aquagen -older model with ac output??

[contessaman]

cant find an existing thread to help...

I couldn't resist a towed type electricity generator at beaulieu. Just having a play with it. Its a white painted alloy case with LVM cast into it so they are obviously who made it but it doesn't look the same as an aqua4gen or aqua6gen. also the latter have dc output where as this one I have picked up kicks out ac. no hardship for me to knock up a rectifier but I am wondering what model it is - searches on google or this forum dont offer any info on an older model. Looks like somebody has substituted an ampair towed part for the original so I cant use that for identification. any ideas? I think LVM's early stuff was perhaps AC output as I have a box of bits my dad gave me which actually has a black box which says LVM aerogen on it and its basically a bridge rectifier inside.

As a slight aside, my boat jumble purchase did not come with the tow rope. aero4gen manual says 10m to 20m of rope but does not specify the diameter of the rope and indeed what sort of rope is best (multiplait?) that wont be unravelled by its transmission of torque. again greatful for any info...

ta

p.s. I apologise in advance there will doubtless be more questions about other bits as I peruse my purchases!! I didnt get carried away at beaulieu at all - honest!! thank god its payday...

 

[Ric]

The rope supplied with newer Aquagen models is multi-plait, so I suspect that this is what they have found to be best. The rope with mine is 15m long and 10mm diameter.

 

[contessaman]

The rope supplied with newer Aquagen models is multi-plait, so I suspect that this is what they have found to be best. The rope with mine is 15m long and 10mm diameter.

sweet, thanks ric. at least I can get that made up and use the thing even if I dont know which model it is! presume you secure it (the rope) with stainless cable clamps as per the handbook? I'll have a guess and go for 10 amp diodes to make a rectifier. the ampair rotor that came with it seems to have ~115mm blades so I guess performance will be similar to the aqua4gen with large blades. Im really excited to try it but I'd better wait until I can get the boat offshore lest I go trawling with the damn thing. out of interest what boat do you sail and how much does it slow you?

 

[Billjratt]

Have you opened it up? is it single phase (just two wires)? if it's single phase one of those potted bridge rectifiers from RS components should work well. I had an aquagen 100 which only donated 8 amps at full pelt and kept our hands warm on long night passages, a bit disappointing. It was hauled in if boatspeed dropped to below 4kn (39' IOR). It was a bit of a bu@@er to hand the spinner. Some people send a bucket down the line to try and stall the prop - we just lost a few buckets... they best way is to untie the line from the genny and trail it while hauling the spinner in, that way it streams itself straight for coiling.

 

[contessaman]

Have you opened it up? is it single phase (just two wires)? if it's single phase one of those potted bridge rectifiers from RS components should work well. I had an aquagen 100 which only donated 8 amps at full pelt and kept our hands warm on long night passages, a bit disappointing.

I haven't opened it up yet, but as there are only 2 wires out the back it must be single phase. I presumed it was dc at first - stuck my meter on it and gave it a spin not really showing much, then I put an analogue meter on it and all was revealed as it twitched either side of zero. back to the digital meter on AC volts and hey presto, I can get it up to 9v just by spinning it with my hand. I wonder if thats what model mine is then? aquagen 100? no info on google on that one. Id upload a photo if I knew how. but suffice to say this one has a box shaped protrusion from the body that the wire eminates from and also has a stainless mounting gimbal which the aqua4 and 6gen dont have. it looks more like an aquair were it not for LVM being cast into the body.

thanks for that will look at RS componants that will save some soldering. I might make up a little box with the rectifier and an ammeter in it then. to be honest if I can get 2-4 amps out of the thing id be happy. did you not get any worthwhle current below 4 kts then? which blades did you have? I could be in trouble then as 4-6 kts is a typical cruising speed for the long keeled beast im sailing these days.