Wind generator or Solar Panel?

[James W]

Hi guys,

As the fog closes in and the sun takes a yearly break, I have a question as I need to keep the batteries topped up over the winter months and I don't think the sun's going to do the job somehow.

As the price of a good solar panel is still in the £100 region and the Rutland wind generator's seem to have come down to a slightly more acceptable level (Rutland 504 Wind Generator about £280 at the moment) what do you think is the best option?

I have a bank of two batteries, one for engine starting and one leisure.

Thanks and any suggestions gratefully received.

James

 

[Greenheart]

Not absolutely the first time this subject has been covered...

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=282079&highlight=solar+aerogen

 

[James W]

Thanks for that, as always it looks like you need to buy twice to get the job done.

Typical!

 

[VicMallows]

Last Sunday one 40W panel put around 8Ahr into my batteries. You only need an occasional sunny day if its only to maintain the batteries fully charged.

Vic

 

[catalac08]

Having had a Rutland 504 and a913 and an 80w solar panel I think that the solar panel wins hands down against both the wind gennies on the basis of cost and output. I have 2 913's on my boat and the 80w solar panel most days produces more than the 2 wind gennies together, unless it is blowing a hoolie! I like the 913's as they are so quiet and reliable but they just do not produce the raw power that the bigger generators put out but the rotating diameter of the bigger generators is a bit too big for safety on a small boat.

 

[V1701]

If all you want to do is keep the batteries charged up either will probably do that, assuming you don't have a massive battery bank. The 504 is no more than a trickle charger, a small solar panel will do the same but be cheaper to buy. The inexpensive monocrystalline solar panels from ebay are fine, e.g. 20W for £60, 40W for £95. If I was you I'd go for something like a 30/40W panel and a cheap PWM regulator (£12 or so), that size will help keep the instruments going under sail as well as keeping batts topped up...