Wind Vs Solar

i have just refurbed my Aerogen 4 & its brilliant. i realised a while ago that it wasnt paying any rent.
i found the rectifier was duff, replaced that & all the bearings ( last done more than 16 yrs ago) the exposed one`s are now s/s (expensive) gave it new blades & a lick-o-paint.
Last w/e i saw an output of 3.6amps @ one time ( Nasa battery monitor 2 )
 
sailorman said:
i have just refurbed my Aerogen 4 & its brilliant. i realised a while ago that it wasnt paying any rent.
i found the rectifier was duff, replaced that & all the bearings ( last done more than 16 yrs ago) the exposed one`s are now s/s (expensive) gave it new blades & a lick-o-paint.
Last w/e i saw an output of 3.6amps @ one time ( Nasa battery monitor 2 )
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I had suspicions it might be the rectifier. Almost cheaper to buy a solar kit than a new one though.
 
single said:
I used to have a wind generator (aero4gen) but it never really did much for the batteries. I now have engine start and x3 110Ah domestics. A friend uses solar and has no problems, so i was looking at something like http://www.sunstore.co.uk/140w-12v-Vehicle-Kit-Duo.html Any opinions welcome?
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The size of your batteries is fairly irrelevant ... it's the size of the loads that matters. I have a 100W of panels on the coachroof which easily keep up with everything I use ... although that's just LED lighting, VHF radio, GPS (not plotter) and occasional netbook charging.
 
Solar is very cheap and very easy.
I spent £100 on bits from eBay last year, and now have a 50w panel and a dual-battery charge controller with remote monitor and the option to fit a further 100w at a later date. Going with a more basic charger my total costs would have been under £70. The hardest bit was persuading a seller that, yes, Royal Mail will deliver to the Highlands, and, no, they won't charge you extra for it!!

Even at this time of year it is keeping both batteries at 13v, I visit the boat once a week and turn on a few lights and run the bilge pump. In the summer it coped easily with me living aboard.
 
Kelpie said:
Solar is very cheap and very easy.
I spent £100 on bits from eBay last year, and now have a 50w panel and a dual-battery charge controller with remote monitor and the option to fit a further 100w at a later date. Going with a more basic charger my total costs would have been under £70. The hardest bit was persuading a seller that, yes, Royal Mail will deliver to the Highlands, and, no, they won't charge you extra for it!!

Even at this time of year it is keeping both batteries at 13v, I visit the boat once a week and turn on a few lights and run the bilge pump. In the summer it coped easily with me living aboard.
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That voltage is not the battery voltage but the charge voltage
&i have just yesterday fitted a PV panet to swmbo`s car as its not used much & we have battery issues even though a new battery last year
 
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I switched from wind to solar a couple of years ago and have found solar to be far better for me. I have two NASA 20w semi flexible panels linked via an MPPT contoller from Sunstore and that setup keeps a 140 A/h house and 85A/h start battery at about 14 -14.8v over an average week. I use a heater for about 12 hrs average a week, instruments, led lights and some phone and tablet charging. If the BM1 can be believed then I'm getting about 90 amps a week from the sun.
 
I have both, a Marlec Rutland 913 wind generator and a 100w solar panel as it happens from Sunstore. In tandem they both work superbly through a Marlec Charge Controller. Sailing at night with lights, GPS etc. the wind generator keeps things under control then when the light arrives the pair completely recover the batteries (2x domestic 170ah and starter 80ah.
 
BradC said:
I switched from wind to solar a couple of years ago and have found solar to be far better for me. I have two NASA 20w semi flexible panels linked via an MPPT contoller from Sunstore and that setup keeps a 140 A/h house and 85A/h start battery at about 14 -14.8v over an average week. I use a heater for about 12 hrs average a week, instruments, led lights and some phone and tablet charging. If the BM1 can be believed then I'm getting about 90 amps a week from the sun.
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Can I ask which Mppt controller you have?

I'm presently sourcing bits for a similar set up but seem unable to find an MPPT controller that will drive dual banks.
 
It's an EP solar tracer 1215rn 12/24v 10a, you'll find it on the Sunstore site at about £65. I use the two panels wired in parallel but I recently read that it may be even better if I wire them in series, less loss apparently.
 
Solar, solar, solar. I've had two really good wind generators but when you're at anchor it's often because the weather is settled, and below 8 knots it just didn't do much, 1 amp an hour doesn't cut it. We fitted two 80w panels and don't connect in the marina now even in winter unless we need power tools or the like. Between visits the panels always full charge the 400ah bank no matter which month it is. In the summer we have a fridge on super cold and freezer compartment for ice, iPad's charging seemingly 24/7 and an inverter for the family TV. We can be like that at anchor at Studland for 4 days and see 12.8v at the batteries under load in the evening. Passages are often planned to be reaches or broad reaches when the apparent wind speed is slower so the genny isn't working well.
 
jac said:
Can I ask which Mppt controller you have?

I'm presently sourcing bits for a similar set up but seem unable to find an MPPT controller that will drive dual banks.
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I use a cyrix VSR to join the two banks, works in both directions so alternator to engine battery, solar to house.
 
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BradC said:
... I use the two panels wired in parallel but I recently read that it may be even better if I wire them in series, less loss apparently.
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Swings & roundabouts; wired in series you get higher voltages to the controller and less loss in the wiring BUT the panels are now susceptible to shade on either panel drastically reducing the output of both. Wiring in parallel reduces the effect of shading to just the shaded panel BUT reduces the voltage at the controller.

I have 4x50w panels installed on arch at the stern. I've experimented with various connections and reckon that 2x2 series/parallel diagonally connected gives the best result for higher voltage with reduced shading effect.

You pays yer money...
 
RobbieW said:
Swings & roundabouts; wired in series you get higher voltages to the controller and less loss in the wiring BUT the panels are now susceptible to shade on either panel drastically reducing the output of both. Wiring in parallel reduces the effect of shading to just the shaded panel BUT reduces the voltage at the controller.

I have 4x50w panels installed on arch at the stern. I've experimented with various connections and reckon that 2x2 series/parallel diagonally connected gives the best result for higher voltage with reduced shading effect.

You pays yer money...
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Or two controllers feeding the batteries, one from each panel.
 
single said:
I used to have a wind generator (aero4gen) but it never really did much for the batteries. I now have engine start and x3 110Ah domestics. A friend uses solar and has no problems, so i was looking at something like http://www.sunstore.co.uk/140w-12v-Vehicle-Kit-Duo.html Any opinions welcome?
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Often depends where you are, I am in Greece to solar panels for me, feeds 435 ah battery bank
You can do it cheaper than what you are looking at, shop around for the panel and controller
 
Sarnia said:
Often depends where you are, I am in Greece to solar panels for me, feeds 435 ah battery bank
You can do it cheaper than what you are looking at, shop around for the panel and controller
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+1
The charge controller in the link looks identical to mine. Was about £30 off eBay.
 
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