Which wind gen?

[maby]

I too am researching wind generators. Looking at the Aero6gen blurb it's saying that it shouldn't be used in winds over 45 knots. Isn't this a problem if (a) you want to leave the boat for a few weeks and want to keep the batteries topped up or (b) you're sailing: Wouldn't fancy mucking about with 15Kgs of kit up a 3m pole with the wind rising from F8..

I guess it depends on where you are - an F9 is very rare in inshore waters round my part of the world. It could be very different if you keep your boat in some exposed location around the Scottish islands.

 

[BrianH]

I too am researching wind generators. Looking at the Aero6gen blurb it's saying that it shouldn't be used in winds over 45 knots. Isn't this a problem if (a) you want to leave the boat for a few weeks and want to keep the batteries topped up or (b) you're sailing: Wouldn't fancy mucking about with 15Kgs of kit up a 3m pole with the wind rising from F8..

Probably "used" means in generating mode. With mine, I throw the 'Stop' switch, which shorts the output and the blades just slowly windmill in any windspeed. If, however, that switch is not thrown, the blades reach high velocity and the Amps pour in, depending on the battery charge. But you are right, I would not leave my system generating while not aboard.

When I leave the boat for any appreciable time (like now during the winter) I pass a line through the fin and tether the unit in the non-prevailing wind direction to minimise rotation. It does get some, which is recommended just so the bearings are not always in the same position.

Edit:
Leaving the boat ... minimal power consumption - fit a solar panel.

 

[Oscarpop]

We installed the air breeze based on the reviews and also love it.

There are 3 in our marina and so far as I know they don't have problems either.
I guess maybe I need to have it longer to see if its reliable.
But so far it has been very quiet( we purchased the mounting kit). My friend made his poles out of s/s and its no where near as quiet.
It also knocks out 12 amps in a blow.

 

[laika]

Probably "used" means in generating mode. With mine, I throw the 'Stop' switch, which shorts the output and the blades just slowly windmill in any windspeed.

I think the manual suggests that the stop switch is only to slow it down while you secure the blades, but maybe that's just covering their arses. Stats look great and it obviously gets the thumbs up from folks here. I take on board the "use solar" suggestion for float charging, but having to physically secure the blades in a rising gale would concern me a little.

 

[Tradewinds]

Another turbine to consider - the German 'Superwind' -

john_morris_uk is a fan.

see http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...ro6gen-or-Superwind-350&p=3855146#post3855146

 

[BrianH]

I think the manual suggests that the stop switch is only to slow it down while you secure the blades, but maybe that's just covering their arses. Stats look great and it obviously gets the thumbs up from folks here. I take on board the "use solar" suggestion for float charging, but having to physically secure the blades in a rising gale would concern me a little.

In twelve years with my Air-X I have never secured the blades, only used the 'Stop' switch to let them windmill in a controlled manner. And I have been in many bora gales - and for the winters before I started tethering - there were plenty of very intense gales. A winter bora in my NE Italian marina regularly reaches winds in excess of 100 knots. Last summer one passed through the anchorage I was in (south Istria) with local measurements of 125 kph. As usual I electrically shut off the wind generator and just ignored it - no physical securing; there is no problem and no noise above that from the rigging.

 

[GrahamM376]

I too am researching wind generators. Looking at the Aero6gen blurb it's saying that it shouldn't be used in winds over 45 knots. Isn't this a problem if (a) you want to leave the boat for a few weeks and want to keep the batteries topped up or (b) you're sailing: Wouldn't fancy mucking about with 15Kgs of kit up a 3m pole with the wind rising from F8..

I always tie ours up when leaving the boat for more than a couple of days as we do get high winds, well over 45 kts at times in winter. Shorting the wires will slow it down but, it's still putting out voltage and the wires can get quite warm in high winds.

 

[charles_reed]

Neither in this thread nor the other wind gen threads last year have Air Breeze owners had a good word to say for it. Take a look at last year's YM review of wind gens. Guess which one they recommend most highly? Funny old world....

I think that's the difference between reviews and the real world - I find the same with Amazon reviews - the reviews just a comparison (frequently without actually handling any) of specs.
As users one is more interested in real life performance and how trouble-free the gear might be.
Having looked a specs and listened to opinions I've come to the conclusion that "little" wind gens are innocuous, produce insufficient power to be of value and big ones are noisy and troublesome.
I too will stick to solar power especially as cost/ah is about 1/3rd that of wind-gens.