Cheap Wind Generator - Anybody Tried One ?

[Hoohaa]

I have been researching a wind generator for my yacht & have found these chinese generators for around $350, I know you get what you pay for but they are very tempting.
Has anyone tried them?
400W WATT MAX OPTION WIND TURBINE GENERATOR KIT 12/24V VOLT ELECTRICITY r3 | eBay

[Minggat]

Well, definitely Chinese. Love the English under 'feature"(s)

[marc2012]

Would not be surprised in the US ones do not have Ch.parts in them.

[mbianka]

Looks like an Marine Air-X ripoff. What I am not seeing in the specs is a automatic regulator which stops the turbine when the batteries are fully charged. The Marine AirX has this feature. Unless you want to be buying new battery banks every year or two because of overcharging I would proceed with caution.

[SailFastTri]

Originally Posted by mbianka

Looks like an Marine Air-X ripoff. What I am not seeing in the specs is a automatic regulator which stops the turbine when the batteries are fully charged. The Marine AirX has this feature. Unless you want to be buying new battery banks every year or two because of overcharging I would proceed with caution.

You can add an external controller such as Flexcharge NC25A for under $150.

[GordMay]

FWIW: 1 metre/second = 2.24 mph (3.6 km/h, or 1.94 knots)

3.5 m/s x 2.24 mph = 7.84 mph Starting wind speed
12.5 m/s x 2.24 mph = 28 mph Rated wind speed (300 Watt)
18 m/s x 2.24 mph = 40.32 mph Cut-out wind speed (400 Watt)

[SunDevil]

I am interested in making one myself. Make magazine did a simple one that could be modified to get better performance. The above numbers is whet most commercial ones get, and I worry that the average wind speed will be under 10mph.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by SunDevil

... I worry that the average wind speed will be under 10mph.

Hopefully, it should be, if you choose your anchorages well.

[kaimusailing]

I put together one of those Scorpion kits from eBay, it was very cheap and has been spinning for about a year and a half, claimed to be 600W. Doens't look like it could withstand the marine environment, but it has so far.

[Capt.Chuck]

Originally Posted by Hoohaa

I have been researching a wind generator for my yacht & have found these chinese generators for around $350, I know you get what you pay for but they are very tempting.
Has anyone tried them?
400W WATT MAX OPTION WIND TURBINE GENERATOR KIT 12/24V VOLT ELECTRICITY r3 | eBay

Take a look at Sunforce Products 45444 600 Watt Marine Wind Turbine

Capt. Chuck

[barnakiel]

An Air-X clone?

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Capt. Chuck .

[speciald@ocens.]

Air-X is already cheap; I spent more for the pole I mounted it on than I spent for the unit itself.

[Hoohaa]

Just an update.
Finished up going to the other end of the spectrum and bought myself a D400 system today, should arrive in a week or so.
Thanks for all your comments.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by marc2012

Would not be surprised in the US ones do not have Ch.parts in them.

I owned an Air-X (marine) unit. Be surprised because they made all their own stuff.