Wind generators.

pessimist

Well-known member
Joined
7 May 2003
Messages
3,179
Location
Exmoor. Boat in Dartmuff.
Visit site
I think I raised this subject a couple of years ago, so apologies in advance for a repeat. The time has come to replace our Aero4gen. I've never been happy with either the performance or reliability.

We 'phoned the distributor of the Air X units and he was less than complimentary about the reliability of their latest model.

So, I'd be interested in others personal experiences of the various makes. Was our Aerogen a Friday afternoon job? Anybody have experience of the later Air X units? Anybody have anything good to say about Rutland (chap on our pontoon says he's had two Rutlands and fried two sets of batteries).
 

webcraft

Well-known member
Joined
8 Jul 2001
Messages
40,199
Location
Cyberspace
www.bluemoment.com
We inherited an Aerogen4 with our boat. The batteries were knackered and it turned out the regulator had gone and so the batteries had been getting regularly boiled. (The boat had been left on a mooring in Argyll all Winter).

It turned out that we had the wrong rinstallation (an extra dump resistor, designed for a bank of 3 batteries, not 2) and it was an ancient installation. The people at Aerogen couldn't have been more helpful, the new regulator was under £100 - and there is a lot of good info on their website.

http://www.unlimited-power.co.uk/LVM_Aerogen_Regulators_&_Mounting_Kits.html

Our Aerogen has consistently kept the (new) batteries in peak condition over two seasons, and we have never had to run the engine just to charge the batteries (a relief really since running our engine is a bit of a last resort).

The actual blade design means that there is much less noise than with some other designs, but there is a bit of play in the main bearings now which results in a rumble being transmitted down the mounting tower and amplified by the lockers - only really annoying at low speeds. This has got slightly worse over two seasons. We have a spare main bearing kit on board (costs about £12) but have not got round to fitting it yet because you really need a very calm day and a wall to moor alongside at the right height - we will do it this season, and our Aerogen will be a thing of joy again.

You don't say specifically why you are unhappy with the Aerogen. Have you considered getting in touch with Aerogen and rebuilding your existing generator - all parts are available, and IMHO it is a very good piece of kit . That would be the cheapest option.

- Nick
 

pessimist

Well-known member
Joined
7 May 2003
Messages
3,179
Location
Exmoor. Boat in Dartmuff.
Visit site
Hi Nick,

Thanks for the reply. The problems with the unit are -

1. It has never come anywhere near its rated output (never seen more than about 4 amps.)

2. Replaced the bearings twice (and they're now shot again).


3. It now produces nothing at all in any wind strength.

As I said maybe ours is just the Friday afternoon model.

Cheers

Colin
 

penultimate

New member
Joined
12 Sep 2004
Messages
345
Location
Cargreen, Cornwall
Visit site
IMHO you have been unlucky with your particular Aerogen. I have always had the cheaper and more agricultural Rutland and am now on my 4th in 16 years. One was replaced by Marlec (Rutland) at trade price as a tacit admission of some sort of responsibilty for the failure.
Replacement of the bearings is not easy, but Marlec say that the bearings fail because people tie off their wind generators thus permitting rain water to run down the blades and enter the hub. (Presumably the number of times you get heavy rain and no wind are of no consequence).
Leaving the generator turning constantly without a shunt regulator will certainly overcharge the batteries (unless you have an enormous battery bank). It can even happen on an extended passage in winds of F6 and over.
I am now on my 3rd shunt regulator but, touch wood, the system has worked extremely well for the past 3 years.
Output is rated at 50W but it will produce 100W for a time before the windings overheat and the thermal cut out operates. The blade speed then becomes frightening until the windings cool and it cuts in again. The makers say that this is normal.
p.s. Gus, who has no balls, forebore to add a caption to your competition but went and dug himself another hole in the garden.
 

snowleopard

Active member
Joined
16 May 2001
Messages
33,645
Location
Oxford
Visit site
the air marine is a noisy beast but you can't fault it for output - i once saw 35 amps in a F6 gust though it's usually in the 5-10A range when the batteries are 80%+ full. the air X i believe has an automatic electrical brake to stop it when the wind gets too strong whereas the older versions have to be stopped manually by shorting the field coils and rely on the blades twisting to prevent over-speeding. i wouldn't consider an air marine to leave permanently running at a mooring, you are likely to be lynched by the neighbours.

i understand that the blade noise is caused by the flexible tips and if you saw those off it becomes quiet but loses its overspeed protection. i have a damaged blade and am going to try shortening them pending buying a new set.
 

graham

Well-known member
Joined
16 May 2001
Messages
8,108
Visit site
Quote " i wouldn't consider an air marine to leave permanently running at a mooring, you are likely to be lynched by the neighbours."

Or return to find a length of old rope wrapped around the blades and batteries half flat.

The distributor is surprisingly honest about the problems,obviously fed up to the teeth with units being returned.
 

snowleopard

Active member
Joined
16 May 2001
Messages
33,645
Location
Oxford
Visit site
[ QUOTE ]
The distributor is surprisingly honest about the problems,obviously fed up to the teeth with units being returned.

[/ QUOTE ]

i presume we are talking about shorepower in somerset? he certainly wasn't as enthusiastic about them when i spoke to him about replacement blades last year compared to when he sold me the unit in 2000.
 

pessimist

Well-known member
Joined
7 May 2003
Messages
3,179
Location
Exmoor. Boat in Dartmuff.
Visit site
Thats the chap, surprisingly honest. He seems to think that waiting a while might be a good plan.

[ QUOTE ]
i understand that the blade noise is caused by the flexible tips and if you saw those off it becomes quiet but loses its overspeed protection. i have a damaged blade and am going to try shortening them pending buying a new set.


[/ QUOTE ]

I believe that the design has changed and they are now quieter.

Thanks to all who have bothered to reply.
 

sjohn_gibson

New member
Joined
2 Oct 2002
Messages
112
Location
Cambridge
Visit site
Fitted an Air X at the top of the mizzen mast last year. Delighted with it. Yes, there is some noise but its not intrusive - the thought of free electricity also helps. I am conscious that the noise might be down wind of me so I switch it off when there are other boats near-by or on those rare occassions when we visit a marina. The great thing is that I can have the option to switch off because I no longer worry about maintaining the charge in the batteries and that includes running the fridge when we are aboard. I didn't run the engine once for battery charging last year.
 

Sea Devil

Well-known member
Joined
19 Aug 2004
Messages
3,906
Location
Boulogne sur mer & Marbella Spain, Guadeloupe
www.youtube.com
I had an Air Marine fitted in the States and it got to Australia before needing new blades - saw a bit of weather too - I have had Aerogen before that and they are not in the same league as far as power output goes - I had a 3 way switch on my Airmarine which enabled me to short circuit it so it did not make a noise (much) run free (never used this) or generate so I could along with the regulator I could control it -

Having said all that I felt my two 75w Siemens solar panels were a much better investment in terms of cash for power - Unless sailing only in UK waters I would probably not bother with a wind generator again but rely on solar panels and a smart charger on the alternator for the no sun days....
 

jerryat

Active member
Joined
20 Mar 2004
Messages
3,569
Location
Nr Plymouth
Visit site
Have used my Rutland 913 virtually full time for about six years now and, despite an early problem or two (entirely my fault, I dropped it and Marlec repaired it FOC!!) it has performed without fault. We do tend to leave it turning except when we're off the boat for a long time (e.g. flown home for a while) as the shunt regulator copes with any risk of overload on the batteries, so maybe that's why we've not yet had to renew the bearings. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Ok, the output is modest compared with the Air Marine models, but it's enough to keep our batteries in excellent conditon along with help from the solar panels. Have to say, that if we shove off full time cruising again after the refit's finished, we'll seriously think about an Air X as the output is so much greater. Interesting posts on their reliability though, so we may wait and see what mods. are made.

We had intended buying Air X in St Maarten on the last trip, but it's advertised launch was delayed and we could get no sensible reasons from the manufacturer. In the event, the Air X was well over a year late on the market, so maybe they had big problems that sound as if they still haven't been resolved. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Have also done a Pond circuit with the bigger Ampair (can't remember the model) and that also was very good and reliable with a similar output to the 913. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Cheers Jerry
 

TigaWave

New member
Joined
17 Dec 2004
Messages
2,147
Location
Buckland Monachorum
www.H4marine.com
I only have personal experience of Ampair 100, and was very impressed by both output and almost silent running. Aparently the latest version is even quieter if thats possible.
I had the Aquair version so hoisted it between the backstay and the boom, sleeping in the aft cabin in 25-30knots it was hardly noticeable, in most cases if there was one of those three bladed very curvy looking ones any where within 1/2 a mile we would here that above all the other noises.
It had a small problem with noisy bearings and they were replaced free of charge after more than a year of near constant use and two Atlantic crossings as a towed generator. Great product great service.
Neil
 

jerryat

Active member
Joined
20 Mar 2004
Messages
3,569
Location
Nr Plymouth
Visit site
Yes, the ampair we used was the 'Aqurair version and chucked a pretty steady 6 amps into the batteries while being towed, though we did find the changing over to it's windgen mode a bit long winded to do too regularly. Very impressive bit of kit IMHO.

Cheers Jerry
 

FergusM

New member
Joined
15 Feb 2003
Messages
226
Visit site
I saw an item in one of the magazines about the 'Duogen', which can be used as a water or wind-powered generator. Has anyone any experience of that?
 

pessimist

Well-known member
Joined
7 May 2003
Messages
3,179
Location
Exmoor. Boat in Dartmuff.
Visit site
Thanks to all who have responded. Seems that there is no simple answer - as many good experiences as bad with each make. Think I'll try fixing up the Aerogen short term with a view to switching to the higher powered Air X when they have sorted their reliability problems.

Thanks again to all.

Colin
 
Top