This may be a stoopid Wind Gen question, but...

[Simonpk]

On my new, to me, boat I've got a Rutland 504 wind generator. On looking around the marina a number of boats with these type of generators have a line from the tail fin to a loop around the mounting pole. My tail fin has a hole for such a line, I presume.

For what purpose does this serve ?

Simon

 

[V1701]

On my new, to me, boat I've got a Rutland 504 wind generator. On looking around the marina a number of boats with these type of generators have a line from the tail fin to a loop around the mounting pole. My tail fin has a hole for such a line, I presume.

For what purpose does this serve ?

Simon

So you can stop the generator and tie it off. They're best left running though, tying them off can damage the bearings...

 

[webcraft]

On my new, to me, boat I've got a Rutland 504 wind generator. On looking around the marina a number of boats with these type of generators have a line from the tail fin to a loop around the mounting pole. My tail fin has a hole for such a line, I presume.

For what purpose does this serve ?

Simon

It allows you to swing the blades into the wind and thus stop the generator so you can tie it up or do other things to it.

- W

 

[rob2]

I believe the line is intended so that the generator can be pulled around into the wind when stopping it. Actually, if you have the appropriate controller, the gen can be slowed electrically and the blades being set in a protective ring it is then possible to stop it by hand - but I guess it depends how high it is mounted and how tall you are! Having stopped it, you can always tie a sack over it preventing airflow and therefore roatation.

Rob.

 

[Simonpk]

Ahhh, OK thanks for that.

Simon

 

[RobF]

So you can stop the generator and tie it off. They're best left running though, tying them off can damage the bearings...

Could you elucidate, please?

I keep my 504 tied off as the HRDi controller has a battery drain which was not being replaced by the charge of the generator (admittedly, I'm in a quiet spot).

 

[dancrane]

In case that wedding bores you, too...

Wow, what a perfect opportunity for me...I have more stupid wind-gen questions than I can count. Where shall I start?

On the Rutland site last week, I found an enormous wind-gen, recommended for remote communication-station sites, etc. I read in the same article, that a masthead location is ideal for turbines, though most yachtsmen don't like so much weight at that height...

I wondered, is there a good reason why one of these whopping Rutlands, six feet across and weighing 70kg, shouldn't reside at the top of the mainmast of a twelve-tonne motorsailer, whose performance isn't inclined to raise her skipper's blood pressure?

The biggest unit's output really cranks out the amps, so long periods at anchor, or on a mooring through a breezy winter week, wouldn't mean hours of rumbling diesel power to top up the domestic supply.

Once upon a time, the vast windfarms on and offshore around our coast, were a barmy dream, and the power in the wind went unused. Not for any good reason, as far as I can see. Isn't the free availability of wind even more appealing to yachtsmen, provided the compromise of weight and windage aloft, isn't an issue? I'm surprised there aren't windmills aboard every sailing boat, already.

 

[Downsman]

Could you elucidate, please?

I keep my 504 tied off as the HRDi controller has a battery drain which was not being replaced by the charge of the generator (admittedly, I'm in a quiet spot).

Rob, In wet weather, I was advised that allowing the 504 to spin
kept rain from getting into the bearing, as centrifugal force and they way the hub is designed prevented the water from penetrating to where it would eventually cause damage. I'm not certain that stopping the 504 in dry weather causes any problems though.