Sunbird
New Member
I need a wind generator and would appreciate advice on what to go for.
Thanks in advance
Thanks in advance
Wind generators -advice please
- Thread starter Sunbird
- Start date
Koeketiene
Well-Known Member
On previous boat, I had an Air-X Marine.
Pro - very powerful, kept up with all elec demands, apart from fridge in summer
Con - big, and can be quite noisy
Pro - very powerful, kept up with all elec demands, apart from fridge in summer
Con - big, and can be quite noisy
michael_w
Well-Known Member
What ever sort you get make sure it isn't a Air X Marine one. Even the new model is probably the noisiest wind generator made. Makes my Honda petrol genset whisper quiet by comparison.
In the Caribbean I would choose our anchoring spot to be as far away as possible from the wretched things.
I'm cosidering a Duogen for the next boat,as they seem to have resolved a few problems with the Mk 1 model.
In the Caribbean I would choose our anchoring spot to be as far away as possible from the wretched things.
I'm cosidering a Duogen for the next boat,as they seem to have resolved a few problems with the Mk 1 model.
D
Deleted member 478
Guest
I am a huge fan of the DuoGen. Mine was towed over 7000 miles before a bearing needed attention and DuoGen replaced it under warrenty. At 6 knots, it produced 8 amps which more than covered my requirements, including a having the fridge on for 24 hours a day.
In wind mode, it seized in 35 knots and again, DuoGen came good with their warrently and gave me the lastest one free of charge.
I will be ordering one for the new boat.
In wind mode, it seized in 35 knots and again, DuoGen came good with their warrently and gave me the lastest one free of charge.
I will be ordering one for the new boat.
cliff
Well-Known Member
I like the Aerogen either that or run a genny /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Not convinced about the duogen but as you like it I suppose it is O.K. but NFG when at anchor (Aerogen NGF in following wind) - hmmmm maybe duogen gives the best of both worlds....... Sod it start the genny....... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>
Not convinced about the duogen but as you like it I suppose it is O.K. but NFG when at anchor (Aerogen NGF in following wind) - hmmmm maybe duogen gives the best of both worlds....... Sod it start the genny....... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
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sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>
D
Deleted member 478
Guest
No wind generator is good when sailing downwind or when at anchor because we tend to anchor in the lee. IMHO, a combination of wind generator and solar panels will do the trick when at anchor.
Fr J Hackett
Well-Known Member
On a price per watt basis the Air X comes out quite favourably, yes it is noisey and should be used with consideration in anchorages, in harbour their are other forms of power available and it can be switched off. On an offshore passage of several days I have found it to cope with a full ships electrical load including fridge and radar and personally have not been bothered with the noise and if you mount it on a decoupled platform (rubber bushing) there is no transmitted noise into the ships hull and in my case cannot be heard inside. I have had a couple of problems that have been sorted out under warranty.
KellysEye
Well-Known Member
As others have mentioned noise is a big problem both to you and your neighbours. It's mainly down to blade tip speed thus as a rule of the thumb:
- the longer the blades and the fewer the blades the noisier it is.
- the shorter the blades the more the blades (preferably square tipped) the quieter it is.
If you go and stand behind the different wind generators you'll hear exactly what I mean.
- the longer the blades and the fewer the blades the noisier it is.
- the shorter the blades the more the blades (preferably square tipped) the quieter it is.
If you go and stand behind the different wind generators you'll hear exactly what I mean.
moondarra
Well-Known Member
Kilter
Well-Known Member
Arse!
moondarra
Well-Known Member
Sorry----- I just couldn't resist it.
Kilter
Well-Known Member
Evidently! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Serious note (as opposed to a bum one! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif) I had great service from the Rutland on my last boat, the latest version is the 913 IIRC
Serious note (as opposed to a bum one! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif) I had great service from the Rutland on my last boat, the latest version is the 913 IIRC
temptress
Well-Known Member
I recommend the AMPAIR 300 - puts out high amps in LOW winds and is quite quite. Cost is 900 quid!
ShipsWoofy
Well-Known Member
I have an AeroGen 4 which I am very pleased with. But I am now looking to supplement with some solar panels.
You did not mention how big your boat was, it does make a difference, and what sort of use you intend, weekends, live aboard, long passages etc..
How large is your battery capacity, how much power do you use.
You did not mention how big your boat was, it does make a difference, and what sort of use you intend, weekends, live aboard, long passages etc..
How large is your battery capacity, how much power do you use.
crisjones
Well-Known Member
We have an Eclectic Energy D400, this is basically the same alternator as used in the Duogen that Stingo recommends (both made by same company)
It is a large unit with blades 1100mm dia and weighs about 15kg so is best suited for larger boats. The rated output is about 400 watts at 32 knts but it does put out about 50 watts (4 Amps) at 10 knts.
I have had it fitted for about 3 months and my observations so far seem to indicate that the manufacturers claims are pretty accurate so it is a good unit for normal wind speeds.
Above all it is very quite, you can hear it in higher winds, but no more noise than the wind through the rigging. In an anchorage I doubt if the next boat could hear it at all unless he was far to close. Lots of people in the marina have commented on how quite it is so it must be noticeably quieter than other types. I did sand all the blades with wet and dry to remove any rough edges etc from the moulding before fitting to give smoothest possible airflow, but I would say the blades were pretty good straight out of the box.
Because of the weight it does need a substantial support, but it is designed to be fitted to std scaffold pole. I used aluminium poles and keylite fittings all powder coated white and it has produced a very solid stucture - even allows for a hanging point for a dinghy engine lifting tackle.
I went for the dedicated wind generator as opposed to the Duogen for a couple of reasons - the Duogen gives less output in wind mode than the D400 because of losses in the mechanical transmission between blade head and alternator and also the price.
The Duogen is at least twice the price, although you do have to factor in the cost of a support system for the D400, which the Duogen already has. I reckoned I could buy the D400, a mounting pole etc, and a towed water generator for less than the cost of the Duogen - I would then have two independent sources of power and the redundancy should one fail.
I have not yet got a towed unit and am not sure if I will bother because long term cruisers only reckon to actually sail for about 10 - 20% of the time the rest is anchored etc, and since the D400 will give some output at 10knts I think we will get some charging output even in tradewind sailing.
I think solar panels in addition to wind gen will give the best chance of keeping up with demands.
It is a large unit with blades 1100mm dia and weighs about 15kg so is best suited for larger boats. The rated output is about 400 watts at 32 knts but it does put out about 50 watts (4 Amps) at 10 knts.
I have had it fitted for about 3 months and my observations so far seem to indicate that the manufacturers claims are pretty accurate so it is a good unit for normal wind speeds.
Above all it is very quite, you can hear it in higher winds, but no more noise than the wind through the rigging. In an anchorage I doubt if the next boat could hear it at all unless he was far to close. Lots of people in the marina have commented on how quite it is so it must be noticeably quieter than other types. I did sand all the blades with wet and dry to remove any rough edges etc from the moulding before fitting to give smoothest possible airflow, but I would say the blades were pretty good straight out of the box.
Because of the weight it does need a substantial support, but it is designed to be fitted to std scaffold pole. I used aluminium poles and keylite fittings all powder coated white and it has produced a very solid stucture - even allows for a hanging point for a dinghy engine lifting tackle.
I went for the dedicated wind generator as opposed to the Duogen for a couple of reasons - the Duogen gives less output in wind mode than the D400 because of losses in the mechanical transmission between blade head and alternator and also the price.
The Duogen is at least twice the price, although you do have to factor in the cost of a support system for the D400, which the Duogen already has. I reckoned I could buy the D400, a mounting pole etc, and a towed water generator for less than the cost of the Duogen - I would then have two independent sources of power and the redundancy should one fail.
I have not yet got a towed unit and am not sure if I will bother because long term cruisers only reckon to actually sail for about 10 - 20% of the time the rest is anchored etc, and since the D400 will give some output at 10knts I think we will get some charging output even in tradewind sailing.
I think solar panels in addition to wind gen will give the best chance of keeping up with demands.
doug748
Well-Known Member
I have a small, old Aerogen which, as far as I can see has been used continiously for 20 years; certainly for the 12 years of my ownership. The main rotor bearings are as good as new, I have changed the vertical bearings (the ones that allow it to hunt the wind) about every 6 years. Outstanding. Brian.
Phoenix of Hamble
Well-Known Member
I'll add a vote for the Aerogen 4..... superb bit of kit... very quiet, and generates a decent amount of charge... mine too is pretty ancient, and still doing its stuff quite nicely.....
