Wind generators...

Rutland 903 seems ok, vert. doesn,t seem to achieve much, what about a S/panel if you are worried about the 'lines', depends how much leccy you require, don,t forget the racket W/gens can make. Bill.
 
There is only one answer, well there are several, but this one is also good - fit an Aerogen 4. Don't bother with small generators. In 12 years I have never had a battery less than 70%. With smaller generators what you save on installation costs you also save on effectiveness.
Allan
 
Ive got the 503... which is smaller even still..... bought it to trickle charge whilst on the mooring....

In a nutshell, I suspect its totally useless.

After a couple of season it also now makes a banshee like wail all the time,, i think the bearings or bushes or whatever are knackered....

Called Rutland up, to get some advice on fixing.... they told me to refer to the troubleshooting manual.... which is a complete and utter waste of time. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

So, its still their, and I would like to get a bigger one, but a total waste of money, and my experience of Rutland has been poor.
 
[ QUOTE ]
vertical axis type?

[/ QUOTE ] They look an attractive proposition for a small boat but their output is small and they don't start generating effectively untill the windspeed is quite high. If you compare the cost per watt of output with other types they look a very expensive option.

Google for the specs of the two Forgen models that are available.
 
Having to sell Cornish maid, and obviously all her equipmant, we will have a wind generator for sale. Not used since we had it serviced by Aerogen (it's an Aerogen 4)

If you are the least interested, pm me

regards Becky
 
We had the "standard" Rutland (913) installed last winter and it has been exceptionally successful. I would not like to be without it. Batteries always tip top when going to the boat, and practically not use of engine just for charging on last summer's 3 week cruise. Never hooked up to electricity on the marninas, by the way.
 
Yep, entirely support Tiggertoo and Simon SPGE. These are brilliant bits of kit and we definitely wouldn't be without ours when cruising. Might be a bit OTT for simply keeping batteries topped up on a mooring unless you're living aboard, but better that than fitting one that's too small! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
How's that Air-X working out for you?

Had it on the last boat - always kept the batteries topped up and underway it just about kept up with the fridge.
Only drawback: THE NOISE.

Am looking to get the Rutland 913 on the current boat.
As you've experience of both I would be interested in your views.
 
The noise form the Air-X is horrendous! It has a system that feathers the blades in wind speeds over (I think) 30Kn. When that happens you get this banshee scream that makes your hair stand on end. I hate them.
 
I've got an AirX, mounted on a pole bolted in two places, insulated by rubber between pole and boat. Banshee? that man doesn't know what he's on about! It's more like 747 trying to land on the aft deck. The only known thing on this planet that can outscream the wife! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Can't fault the power output though.

It was so bad that I was relieved when a blade fractured and I had to take the thing off for repair. I now have a solar panel. Cheaper quieter and able to keep up with the fridge. I haven't repaired it yet and probably won't.
 
[ QUOTE ]
...The only known thing on this planet that can outscream the wife! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Good point, it's not all bad.
 
I complained like mad to Southern Wind Power ( or what ever they are called) about the noise from my Air X.

They sent me some new blades as I told 'em I thought mine were poorly finished and that possibly was not helping the situ...anyway the new ones were just as bad... but I worked over the spare set with wet n dry and I recon it made a difference ..

Great thing is that with all that power going in it tops up the batts pretty quick and then of course cuts out and stops the turbine.

I'm pretty sure I would be dissappointed with anything else now ( I think !)

Also of course the new ones don't have the blades that flex... its all controlled to stop overload electronically..

Nick
 
I fitted an Aerogen 4 to my yacht about 3 years ago and I reckon its one of the best bits of kit I ever bought. Was easy to fit even on a canoe stern Victoria

Spend most of the summer on the boat and since I fitted the genny I've never had to run the engine just to charge up batteries.
 
Just replaced our Aerogen 4 with a Rutland 913.

The repair quote from LVM for the Aerogen was £100 more than a new 913!

The Aerogen 4 never worked quite right (but that could be the age of the unit - not the quality).

Installed a Rutland 913 a few weeks ago (cheapest price we found a few months back was from Merlin Electronics) seems superb so far, the last windy couple of weekends has seen 5 amps + coming out of it. The batteries have been at 14.2 volts every time we've set foot on the boat, and when working on the boat today we had fridge, heater, lights and stereo on, and the regulator was still kicking some of the power out in the big gusts!

Can't report how well it copes in the long run, but initial impressions are excellent (we use it with the Rutland HRDX controller).

Jonny
 
We've got a Forgen 500 vertical axis type. It is only capable of trickle-charging the batteries between weekends, but it does this extremely well. It is silent and unobtrusive.

However, it was expensive and its maximum output (according to our NASA battery monitor) is 0.3A, and this only when it is a howling gale. Normally it gives 0.1A in bursts in anything over about F2-3.

Would I buy one again? Yes, but only because I'm allergic to shore power and won't touch it. One minute shore power, next minute air conditioning as a friend said to me last weekend!
 
I accidently broke off about 4 inches from one blade on my AirX. Didn't get a new set just cut the others off to the same length. I don't think the tips do much anyway as they are so slender.
I havent noticed any drop in performance.
It is a bit noisy though so I do switch it off. Mine came with a on off stop switch, ammeter and 50 amp fuse. I have had it up to 25 amps steady.
 
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