rutland 504 larger vane ?

[simonfraser]

my turbine swings in the wind whilst sailing and when on a rocky mooring.

it generates 50% more power if steady.

so, i'm gona make a larger vane, anyone done this ?

and . . . .

 

[photodog]

Make sure you tell us how it goes... I have one as well and its next to useless....

 

[rob2]

You could well be right - I've often been amused watching mine spin in circles when the wind is gusty. Remembering vague details of self steering wind vane design, it was suggested in one book that a more stable and sensitive vane should have a 45 deg deflector each side of the trailing edge. It increases drag too, so may help damp the swing.

Good luck and please report back!

Rob.

 

[pampas]

Yes, made a mirror image for the bottom 1/2 out of perspex, certatainly made a difference, but still did its own dance especially when sailing.

I think it made so that when its reaches its max revs gyro forces spin off the wind for mechanical protection, but I never saw any damage done in three years of operation and a lot more output is lighter winds when at moorings.

 

[CPD]

A number of skippers on the Jester 08 took to securing the vane in place using various boy scout methods, all of which led to an increase in output. If a larger vane does it, then that has to be good news.

 

[aslabend]

Is the swinging when the boat is pitching not caused by the gyroscopic effect of the turning blades? A larger tail wouldn't help this.

 

[rob2]

Mine used to swing when the boat was ashore in her cradle! There are likely to be some precession forces in there, though - just looking for somewhere to go.

Rob.

 

[mattnj]

tie some bunge round the pole, then onto the back of the tailfin, through the hole, this introduces some friction and stop it turning quickly, job done, well, its a load better than stock.