wind generator

[chrisb]

thinking of higher output model-air-x/kiss/poss lvm 6. all have 4-5ft dimeter blades and need to be fixed perhaps 3-3.5 m up at the stern. anyone have experience of sailing with these and if so what is the effect on the performance of the boat-or any other comments welcome

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[masterofnone]

I've one of the rutland 503 models, the one with the outer ring mounted on the standard pole on stern. It really smarts when you stand up and feed your head into it, the whining noise in high winds is a pain. It does a great job of keeping batteries topped up, but as I'm in a marina, I don't really need it, I could use a battery charger.
As one forumites footnote says, experience is a great teacher, but it sends expensive bills.

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[Robin]

Chris

We have one of the LVM Aerogen 6 models mounted on a pole that is part of our stern gantry/goalpost. Works fine, pretty much as it says on the box. It is not noisy and we do not hear it down below either in the main cabin or the forecabin where we sleep, it can just be heard in the stern cabins but not annoyingly so.

We also have solar panels, one permanent 75W on the gantry and one that comes out at anchor of 110W.

Robin

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[Talbot]

a rutland 503 can hardly be considered a high output model! It struggles to do anything more than maintain charge on the battery and is certainly not designed to actually be able to run anything. Howeevr there are wind generators that are suitable for replacing power into the battery such as the Aerogen 6 etc, but the highest power pure wind generator is the new . The larger the blade the more power it can provide and also the slower the blades actually turn - so the noise is reduced. However none of them can hope to provide as much power (except in a gale!) as a towed system (aqua 4 or the <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.duogen.co.uk/pwrwater.htm>big duogen)

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[peterbringloe]

Considered most of the alternatives before opting for the Air X. Very pleased with it and it was quite simple to install with good instructions. Bought the mounting kit as well. It's not particularly noisy (unlike previous Air Marine models). In fact it's most annoying when wind speeds are fairly light and direction variable. In these conditions a glance at the ameter will show that it's not charging much so it's easy to switch off. No need to installa separate regulator either.

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[Koeketiene]

Agree completely - brilliant bit of kit.
The on/off switch very usefull.

<hr width=100% size=1>Experience is a good teacher, but she sends in terrific bills.

 

[JerryHawkins]

Check out DuoGen

Don't discount a DuoGen before you buy. I've had one since they first came out. They are now much updated and improved and have many advantages over a standard wind generator. They are quiet in wind mode unlike AirMarine (even the Air X is very noisy - our neighbour in the marina has one!).

Cheers,

Jerry

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[chrisb]

a gantry is something i have also been thinkink about. i have a similarly sized boat[beneteau 411]. was yours off the peg or did you fabricate it. any tips welcome thanks chris

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[Robin]

Ours is superb but it came with the boat, it is actually a complete new pushpit rather than n add-on, incorporating poles for the radar scanner and the wind genny. The previous owners had the design drawn up by a yacht designer (Pocock of Blackjack fame) in Lymington, it must have been very expensive! If you pm me with your e-mail address I have a pic I can send you.

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>