Wished I had..

[catalac08]

Turned off my Rutland 913 charge controller (HRDX) to OFF, when it would slowly rotate, rather than leaving it and trusting that the controller would slow down the vanes when the batteries are fully charged. As we generally load the batteries heavily when on the boat I have rarely seen this function, which according to the Marlec info booklet should happen. As gusts up to 60 knots are forecast for the Solent has anyone personal experience of how the Rutland 913/HRDX actually copes with high winds like this?

I dread getting a call to tell me the the boat has burnt to the waterline -electrical overload, although the controller is fused. The big disadvantage of living 250 miles from your boat that you cannot pop over and secure things in this situation.

 

[prv]

The big disadvantage of living 250 miles from your boat that you cannot pop over and secure things in this situation.

On the other hand, being in the Solent there are plenty of other people around. I'm probably going to go and check on my boat on my way home from work tonight, so if you were at Kemp's (f'rinstance) I'd be happy to have a quick look at yours while I was there.

Pete

 

[VicS]

Winds are dropping now.

82 mph gust recorded at Thorney island at about 1300.

 

[z1ppy]

No direct experience but i will be going to Mercury on my way home to check our boat so if if you are there or one of the other marinas on the river hamble let me know and i will stick my head in for you.

 

[TopDonkey]

You should tell us where your boat is, if its near hard way in Portsmouth I can put a rope around the blades to stop it spinning if you like?

 

[Ardenfour]

Goes into hyperspeed mode - had it once and would advise to keep clear and out of range!

 

[V1701]

The HRDX controller dumps excess power (red light comes on when it's doing this) when the batteries are fully charged...

 

[Pleiades]

Leave blades turning?

I have had a 913 running constantly in gales and severe gales over 5 years but I always leave the blades free to turn. If you switch the HRDX controller to off it attempts to slow the blades electronically but the circuitry would not in my opinion be able to cope with the load during a gale and that is more likely to wreck it than just letting it run. When the unit is left switched on the red light comes on and it dumps the power just as it does when you run the engine. The HRDX controller copes with input when motor sailing at high engine RPM in gales so I think it should be able to cope.

Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5

 

[Ardenfour]

Yes, but there is a second stage after the red light comes on, where a thermal breaker inside the hub disconnects the windings and the device free-runs...

 

[PembrokeshirePromise]

Goes into hyperspeed mode - had it once and would advise to keep clear and out of range!

I'm pretty sure it does this at a certain wind speed regardless of how you have the controller set. I've always assumed its a "safety" mechanism and it somehow detaches itself from the dynamo.

Certainly sounds like its about to take off when it happens!