Wind generator, affordability versus performance

[Conrad]

I'm looking into getting a wind generator but what I've seen so far just seem to be overpriced for an alternator with a fan. Can anyone give me an idea of whether there are any realisticly priced units out there and what their performance is like.

 

[oceanpilgrim]

hi
i have a rutland 913 with a hardex controler,and cannot rave abought it to much well worth the cost,the big problem with an alternator is stoping it over speeding in strong winds when not under load,also it will not supplie good power til it gets 1000 rpm and above

 

[photodog]

We have a Rutland 503.... in theory to keep the batteries topped up.... in reality it is a waste of good pushpit space.

 

[VicS]

It depends on what you want. The smaller units like the Rutland 503/504 are aimed at recharging a lightly discharged battery and keeping it topped up for the weekend user. You would be disappointed if you expected more from it.

Without doubt they are expensive, but name some bit of equipment on your boat that is not. For really expensive per amp of output look at the Forgen vertical axis generators.

Personally for the type of use outlined above I am a fan of solar panels. My little 5 watt panel is an excellent use of the bit of space it occupies. Still not cheap but a good bit less than a windmill.

 

[Chrusty1]

[ QUOTE ]
It depends on what you want. The smaller units like the Rutland 503/504 are aimed at recharging a lightly discharged battery and keeping it topped up for the weekend user. You would be disappointed if you expected more from it.

Without doubt they are expensive, but name some bit of equipment on your boat that is not. For really expensive per amp of output look at the Forgen vertical axis generators.

Personally for the type of use outlined above I am a fan of solar panels. My little 5 watt panel is an excellent use of the bit of space it occupies. Still not cheap but a good bit less than a windmill.

[/ QUOTE ]

Me too, much more cost effective....To the OP, have look at these, I have the 10 watt one, and it's brilliant, it's hooked up to a 110 amp hour battery via a controller from Maplin, (£14.00)..

http://www.yachtbits.com/spectra_solar_panels/spectra_semi_flexible_solar_panels.php

 

[jeremyshaw]

I have both a windgen and solar. Both are expensive to buy and fit. The advantage of solar is that it is practically maintenance free and panels usually have very long lives.

But our windgen is great too - in the Caribbean. I expect to find it less useful when we return to the Med. We fitted a KISS which has one of the highest outputs at the critical range of c15kts. Any windgen can knock out power at 20kts, but you don't want to be anchoring in that...

The D400 is also highly rated. In my view these are the two best value windgens when it comes to power per knot. Neither are cheap but the KISS was cheaper - may have changed since it's made in Trinidad and so priced in USD whereas the D400 is priced in GBP I think.

If you do buy a windgen look carefully at the fitting issues. This is not only another cost but there are safety, electrical (rectification in the unit or elsewhere?) and noise issues (ensure dampened mountings if you have a cabin below).

 

[Otter]

Another alternative is a Sterling (or other) DC output genset. This very small mini suitcase generators only produce 12v DC but they do produce 50amps of it! They also only cost £250 so in terms of cost/amp analysis, ease of fitting, noise (switched off for 23 hours a day) and expected working life they win hands down.

 

[pappaecho]

I have a Rutland 913 fitted to a boat which spends all its life in the middle of Portsmouth Harbour and 400 amps to battery to support. It works perfectly.
Before I had two "15 watt solar panels", which worked in the height of summer but were not much use in the depths of winter, or at night. The 913 has a switch which cuts the unit if you want to sleep and the same system prevents over running in strong winds, and keep the battery banks to 14,2 volts.
It works!

 

[retsina]

If you decide to buy a wind generator, i strongly suggest thast you do go for anything smaller than the rutland 913. They are trouble free and provide ample of power. Fit and forget all year round.

 

[MIKE_MCKIE]

Almost ditto. 913 on a boat on a swinging mooring in Portsmouth Harbour charging 2 x 85ah batts. Never had a problem in over 6 years. The Rutland controller would also do solar panels, but have never found it worth considering. Not cheap to fit initially, but spread over it's life so far it is not costly, and gives an enormous feeling of certainty that the batts (and hence the engine) are always ready to go.
With no possibility of a manual start, what price reliability?

 

[DipperToo]

Rutland 913 - works as it says. Also, above decks is very quiet so no annoying the neighbours.

However, take great care in getting the mounting right - as already mentioned this is a real issue if there is a cabin below.

I had a custom mount built and had to put rubber vibration isolation pads and collars under the mounts which reduced the rumble to tolerable levels, then added 2 shaft anodes at strategic points on the main pole to further dampen vibration. Marlec claimed that their own pole set was 'tuned' to minimise vibration, but transmitted noise is notoriously difficult to 100% eradicate. Someone else on the Forum did mention to me last year that the Rutland is the grand-daddy of potential vibration. Everyone I spoke to at my home marina mentioned that they usually 'kill' the genny at night to get a decent sleep (the newer Rutland controllers have a kill switch which is essential as it slows the unit down but still allows the blades to slowly rotate which keeps moisture out of the bearings)

That said, taking heed of the mounting will minimise irritation at a later date.

 

[Otter]

[ QUOTE ]
I have a Rutland 913 fitted to a boat which spends all its life in the middle of Portsmouth Harbour and 400 amps to battery to support. It works perfectly.
Before I had two "15 watt solar panels", which worked in the height of summer but were not much use in the depths of winter, or at night. The 913 has a switch which cuts the unit if you want to sleep and the same system prevents over running in strong winds, and keep the battery banks to 14,2 volts.
It works!

[/ QUOTE ] I agree and had a Rutland 913 working very happily on the mooring. But the OP was partly about amp for £ and at Marlec's own claimed average of 1amp per hour (I know we've all had 10 amps showing, but it's the 24 hour average that counts) is not the most amp for £. It can't be fired up whenever you need it and it isn't noise free. Lots of Rutland's work brilliantly, but that doesn't make them the best solution for everyone else.

 

[tobble]

As VicS and others mentioned, it really depends on what you need, and how the rest of your system is set up, or what you are willing to change to make it work... if you live aboard and have all mod cons, then even quite a big unit will struggle to keep up. Also think about battery capacity, you ideally want a bank around six times your daily use in Ah - i.e. if you have three days without wind, and you don't want to go below 50%...

The other point is that compaing £ per A peak output doesn't really tell you much, if possible work out £/Ah per day (or week or whatever.) you can expect. E.g. average windspeed where you expect to be times Amps at that windspeed (look at the tub specs) take of a bit for real world ness... In this case, wind tubs usually start looking better than solar, especially when they have a nice low cut-in speed.

 

[MarkJohnson12345]

I also had the Rutland 503, and agree with your opinion.

As I am moored to a pontoon with electric power there is little need for these 'alternative' power sources. I guess if I was crossing oceans they would be very helpful.

I do have a 20 watt solar panel despite the last sentence, and it certainly keeps the battery topped up during the week when the battery charger is switched off.