Wind generator from China

[Pagetslady]

Hi is there anybody out there who has bought and installed one of these wind generators http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320817987168?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
I have already got an Air x which is almost the same. But very much cheaper.
Mike

 

[wiggy]

Check his postage cost.

 

[Norman_E]

Check his postage cost.

Then add 20% VAT to the total of price and postage and whatever handling charge the courier company add for collecting the VAT from you.

 

[maxi77]

Then add 20% VAT to the total of price and postage and whatever handling charge the courier company add for collecting the VAT from you.

Even then still a reasonable price

 

[lenseman]

Serious blade diameter plus you might need a 12/24volt auto-sensing charge controller?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pro-12-24...497?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ab27a2a01

 

[William_H]

Chinese Generator

A friend bought a Chinese 12v gen for his remote farm. It is well built bu the voltage output was quite poor especiually after a feww weeks of operation. It was replaced and replaced again. He gave up on complaining about the performance. My theory is that the magnets are of poor material and magnetism was lost. It was touted as having a regulator to manage charge when in fact all it had was 3 phase rectifier (and limited voltage).
It is still in use and giving useful charge current after I built for him a schotky rectifier set so improving voltage hence charge current. Though it is still nothing like the quoted 500 watts. You might get 500 watts at 10v. If you bought a 24 v gen then it would probably be good for 12v battery. But you would need a regulator.
Now I don't know if this one in the link is the same thing although it looks a bit like it. I can't imagine how it could sense 12v or 24v system. Still as you say it is cheap. You need more info good luck olewill

 

[nimbusgb]

There's a Manufacturer in Turkey selling a very similar thing on eBay. If anything it works out a little cheaper, just under £200 with the shipping included.

Quoted at 500w even a reliable 100w or so is enough to equal my solar panels so as part of a total package it looks like a reasonable idea.

 

[[10753]]

Personally still buy from Marlec, Aerogen etc. despite the cost difference - after sales support etc. is worth every penny....... And these are tried and tested.

 

[ukmctc]

Personally still buy from Marlec, Aerogen etc. despite the cost difference - after sales support etc. is worth every penny....... And these are tried and tested.

I understand what your saying but most parts installed on the other gens you mention are made in China, Tailand or Japan just have their brand name on.
Its the after sales support you don't get but is that worth the extra money, when the guts are identical.

You can only buy and see....

I bought both my gens from Marlec and my 3 solar panels and 2 HRDi's, but there was nothing cheaper at the time.

 

[grahama]

air marine

Do you get what you pay for................i don't know about the product shown but it does appear cheap. You need at add Duty as well as vat on imported items from outside the EU, another 2.5% from memory?
I have an Air Marine generator on my boat, it's about 15 years old and so far the only failure was the yaw shaft, which I changed myself for about £100. The voltage regulator controls the battery voltage well, the unit breaks at an adjustable preset voltage.
I would happily purchase a newer Air Marine unit, Air X etc , knowing that it would hopefully be fit and forget.

 

[Pagetslady]

Do you get what you pay for................i don't know about the product shown but it does appear cheap. You need at add Duty as well as vat on imported items from outside the EU, another 2.5% from memory?
I have an Air Marine generator on my boat, it's about 15 years old and so far the only failure was the yaw shaft, which I changed myself for about £100. The voltage regulator controls the battery voltage well, the unit breaks at an adjustable preset voltage.
I would happily purchase a newer Air Marine unit, Air X etc , knowing that it would hopefully be fit and forget.

I have an Air x which I have had for three years, unfortunately it gave up just before the 2 year warranty ran out I took it apart and found the the yaw brushes and commutator were out of line it looked as if there was a spacer missing between them, any way the good bit is I returned it to the agents in Germany and they fixed it, and its fine only complaint I have with the air x is they are noisy especially in my aft cabin as its attached to the deck above but as for charge its fine. I saw this one from China with a starting bid of £110 with £110 postage so I bid £110 and had it posted direct to Jersey where my boat is berthed. That is what I paid £220 no sure what I am going to do now I have it but it looks ok very similar to the one I have on the boat, except there is no instructions and the three wires coming out of it are all green don't look as heavy as my Air X and there isn't a voltage control like the Air X . I guess I can spin it up with a drill and check the wires but if there is no regulator to control the voltage as the Air X does it will be a problem wiring it into the circuit of the other one, I quite fancy having them both mounted on the pushpit. regards Mike

 

[William_H]

I have an Air x which I have had for three years, unfortunately it gave up just before the 2 year warranty ran out I took it apart and found the the yaw brushes and commutator were out of line it looked as if there was a spacer missing between them, any way the good bit is I returned it to the agents in Germany and they fixed it, and its fine only complaint I have with the air x is they are noisy especially in my aft cabin as its attached to the deck above but as for charge its fine. I saw this one from China with a starting bid of £110 with £110 postage so I bid £110 and had it posted direct to Jersey where my boat is berthed. That is what I paid £220 no sure what I am going to do now I have it but it looks ok very similar to the one I have on the boat, except there is no instructions and the three wires coming out of it are all green don't look as heavy as my Air X and there isn't a voltage control like the Air X . I guess I can spin it up with a drill and check the wires but if there is no regulator to control the voltage as the Air X does it will be a problem wiring it into the circuit of the other one, I quite fancy having them both mounted on the pushpit. regards Mike

I think you will find that the three wires are the 3 phase AC output. You will need a 3 phase rectifier to produce the DC. Then feed that DC into a regulator like those used for solar power or just feed the battery direct if you have a large battery or large demand.
A 3 phase rectifier requires 6 diodes. Take 3 diodes and connect the cathodes together. This point will be +ve output. cathode is at the point of the little arrow or the band end of the diode. Connect the 3 separate ends of the diodes to the 3 wires of AC coming in.
Take the other 3 diodes and connect the 3 anodes together. Opposite end to the cathode. This becomes the -ve output. Connect the 3 separate ends also to the 3 AC wires coming in.
The diodes should roughly be rated to the max current you expect from the alternator. Voltage rating of the diode is generally unimportant. If you find you have voltage output not enough to give good charge rate except with flat batteries and strong winds try buying 6X Schotky diodes. connect the same way.
A normal silicon diode drops about .7 volt and you have 2 diodes in series. (one in +ve line one in -ve line) so 1.4 volts lost. A schotky diode will drop about .25volt so only .5 volt lost or a boost of 1volt output which can improve charge a lot. good luck olewill