Wind generator

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alankilner

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I have just bought a Rutland 913 and Regulator which I was planning on putting on top of my mizzen 24' above deck. Marlec now inform me that I need to be able to get at the generator to be able to still it in stong winds. My question is has anyone got one fitted "out of reach". I had intended leaving it and the regulator to it's own devices during the season and removing it or at least bagging it over the winter period. Are Marlec being over cautious?
 
Erm, mine malfunctioned last friday in f8 gusts, we keep our boat on a swing mooring at Pin Mill and it's been damn windy down there by all accounts for the last couple of weeks. Friday was the first time I could get to the boat so there it's been whiring like a Dervish. We'll be liveaboards before too long and won't have this problem. It's tied up now, after the event. Happily Marlec are fixing it under warranty. If I were you I'd place it where I can get to it.

Crispin.
 
Crispen

thanks. We are at Walton and Frinton Yacht Club pond so not too far away. And funnily enough were at Pin Mill in a F9 last "summer". Looks like I will be revising my installation plans.

Alan
 
Simon

I have the fancy regulator for that very reason but what Marlec don't tell you, until you get the installation manual, is that the "stop" feature needs the propellor to be stilled before it is operated. Back to the drawing board!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Simon

I have the fancy regulator for that very reason but what Marlec don't tell you, until you get the installation manual, is that the "stop" feature needs the propellor to be stilled before it is operated. Back to the drawing board!

[/ QUOTE ]

That's interesting. We have the Marlec provided regulator that slows the blades once the batteries are fully charged, and have been amazed its ability to operate in all wind speeds we've experienced since fitting it.

Our earlier, less sophisticated regulator, had its circuit board burnt out during a gale but, as I say, the new one is quite different, and has kept the blade speed down to very slow revs in some very high winds without us having to touch the fan.

Perhaps we're just lucky! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
We are on a long cruise (currently in NZ) and have a 913 fitted and we are generally very happy with it. The 'feature' that we discovered (it is mentioned in the manual but we had glossed over it) is that there is a thermal cut-out inside the wind generator. In prolonged strong winds (2-3 hrs in 25-30 kts, shorter time in stronger winds) the thermal cut-out operates and the takes any braking effect off and it starts to really scream. A 747 at take-off power is about right. Mind you, if the wind is that strong, it doesn't sound so bad!

What we like about it is that it is quiet and starts to produce power at quite low wind speeds compared with others. We accept the occassional tantrum, which we ignore (it resets after about 10 minutes) or tie it down as required. Our manual recommends that the blades are not tied down for a prolonged period, cover it up.

Please don't get one of those vile Airex things. They are appalingly noisy and spend so much time stopped so the crew can sleep or hold a conversation that the total output is somewhat reduced.

Send me a PM if you want more info.

Angus
 
Simon
I too have that regulator but have copied below the last response from Marlec tech dept.
<span style="color:blue"> "My response falls into line with looking after the Rutland 913 in the long term. It can be that items take flight in stormy weather and a blade strike will swiftly prove fatal.
A simple way to keep batteries topped up against natural discharge only is to attach solar panel(s) directly to the battery during periods of absence." </span>
We are currently weekenders and wanted the generator to keep the batteries topped up in our absence and when we are at anchor. I think I am going to hedge my bets and mount the generator within reach on the stern, use it as intended and monitor how it reacts in severe conditions.I can always move it later if there proves to be no problem. Do you leave yours running when the boat is unattended?
 
Angus

thanks. You will see my response to Simon and Marlec's comments. Where is yours installed? I am thinking of getting a pole fabricated to mount the unit at the stern, high enough to reach from the top of the rails but out of reach from deck level.

Alan
 
Had my 913 now for 5 years. I too have a regulator. The generator is used for charging 3 batteries and I have never had the need to stop the thing.

Theres also lots of 913's along railways, roads etc. now and I can't believe people go and stop them every time the wind blows a goodun

Only inconvenience I can see about mounting one that high is if you have to get it down plus the length of the cable.
 
I have had the 913 plus the HRDX regulator for just over a year and have been more than pleased with both its output and reliability.

I have found that the regulator slows the turbine as the batteries charge up and keeps it turning slowly even in winds up to F8.

On 5 occassions last year the wind went above f9 whilst on the boat (and the batteries low due to the inverter use) and I hit the kill switch with the blades turning fast without any undue effects on the system.
 
A friend has a Rutland 913 fitted to his Mizzen. I'm not sure of the precise arrangement, but he uses a fixed line to swing the generator out of the wind to still it before engaging the electric 'brake'. It seems to have worked well for several years -- even in the windy old Western Isles.
 
Yes Simon, I think you'll find that all cars have one.

Its to stop the car from running away when you're not there.

Sound familiar?
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Simon

I have the fancy regulator for that very reason but what Marlec don't tell you, until you get the installation manual, is that the "stop" feature needs the propellor to be stilled before it is operated. Back to the drawing board!

[/ QUOTE ]

That's interesting. We have the Marlec provided regulator that slows the blades once the batteries are fully charged, and have been amazed its ability to operate in all wind speeds we've experienced since fitting it.

Our earlier, less sophisticated regulator, had its circuit board burnt out during a gale but, as I say, the new one is quite different, and has kept the blade speed down to very slow revs in some very high winds without us having to touch the fan.

Perhaps we're just lucky! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

no I don't think you are lucky: I think this is what they are designed to do: the regulator really does slow down the blades very effectively if the generator is overcharging. ON the HRDX box (recommended) there is also a "manual" override switch that can be turned to "off" at any time causing teh blades to turn only very slowly. My instructions came with the very clear and specific indication NOT to stop the blades by hand (or tying them with a line) for long times as this might damage the unit.

I have been following the instructions and it has worked wel soo far (fingers firmly crossed).
 
.....Just make sure it's high enough so that you don't come into contact with the blades accidentally, I caught my gloved hand iin one a while ago whilst the blades were rotating quiter slowly and it would have hurt like hell if I'd had bear hands. Also tie a small line through the hole in the tail at one end and the other round the mounting pole, fairly loosely, so that you can grab the line and turn the genny away from the wind to slow it down when needed.

Cheers,

Crispin.
 
I've had my Rutland 913 (24v) up the mizzen for nearly seven years now.
It failed very early in its life and was replaced under warranty.
The regulator (not the super expensive one) failed after about five years and couldn't be economically repaired, so they replaced it with the newer model at cost price.
HRS5200.jpg
This one (again not the super expensive one) has an electronic brake for windy conditions. It does the job very well, I also charge the 12v batteries from it via a relay and a 24/12v converter / charger.
The Rutland 913 + L bracket is a weighty beast, I would not dream of putting it any further up the mizzen than just out of arms reach. Plus it cuts down the length of feed wire (and its resistance).
 
Ours is fitted at the stern on a Rutland stainless steel pole which puts it above head height but not hand waving height as my wife found out when greeting friends. Painful but no damage fortunately to her or the 913.

Angus
 
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