REGULATOR FOR WIND GENERATOR

[alisdair4]

As mentioned in an earlier post, I am looking to fit a Wind Generator to the boat. It already has a fairly substantial battery charging system which automatically directs the current from the alternator or shore power to the weaker (of 2 x110 AH) batteries. If I fit a generator (either Rutland 503 or 903) do I need to fit a regulator - or does the existing box of tricks (I think by Adverc) prevent the batteries overcharging? The Regulator reccomended by Rutland is the best part of £150, which I am loth to part with if it is unecessary!

 

[William_H]

I think that the Adverc regulator you refer to is to control the charge of the engine generator. These work by controlling the field current of the alternator. So no it will not suit.

The regulator for a wind generator is usually more akin to a solar regulator. The generator has a permanent magnet field so the only way to regulate is to put resistance in series with the gen or bypass/ waste power of the gen through a resistor or sometimes a combination of both.

I imagine you could run the gen without a regulator but the current supplied could in time overcharge the batteries unless you have very large batteries or leave a load (fridge) permanently on. (or disconnect (remove) the wind gen when you leave the boat.

The post I put up earlier for an electronics junk shop do a kit for their wind generators but there is no guarantee it would suit the Rutland .

So I am sorry I have no exact answers. good ;luck olewill

 

[alisdair4]

Thanks, Olewill. I'll have a look at the manual for the Adverc next week when I (finally!) get posession of the boat!
Looks like the definition of a boat which I saw on here (a hole in the water into which you throw money) is bang-on!
Alisdair

 

[Marmalade]

The trick is two fold - one - to stop you cooking your batteries (I suspect the Adverc may do this - don't know for sure) two - to brake the wind gen and stop it generating more power. The dedicated shunt will achieve this. We use an Air-X which has a built in regulator / brake but previously used the Rutland 913 on our last boat with their regulator which worked fine.

Simon

 

[Jonny_H]

You need a regulator, as an Aero4gen or rutland 913 can produce upto 20 amps in gales force winds (so I've heard).

You need to be aware that a solar regulator will not work with a wind generator, and vice verse. You can buy a HRDX controller from Marlec which will do both solar and wind - £150 ish. If not Marlec do a regulator for wind only for around £35.

Jonny

 

[orizaba]

marlecs basic heatsink version will run a solar panel as well but don't forget the diode and it must be mounted on a pc of asbestos but not if you get my drift as it can produce a large amount of heat,
i found it was better than the electronic version which i could never get to work properly but it may have had a fault,
i have a 60 w solar panel and a 913 running on the heatsink version since 2002 no problems