Wind generator

captden · 29-06-2009, 11:38

I just had my old and yes noise Air Marine wind generator up on my mizzen and ran #6 wire down the mast to the deck. With all this great New England weather we are having I've had time to think the best way to run the wires from the deck to the battery bank and think that if I run the wires to the negative post on the main engine and the positive wire to the positive post on the alternator on the main engine the #6 cable would be a shorter run to the battery bank and the cable from the alternator to the battery bank is a #00 and I would think I would have less voltage drop because of less resistance using the #00 which is at least a 15 - 20 foot run. The length of #6 cable would be about 8 feet to the alternater and 20-25 feet to the battery bank. Any thoughts or ideas would be great.

Captden

Bash · 29-06-2009, 16:09

...would be lightning. I'm not sure I'd want to provide such a great path to the engine.

mesquaukee · 30-06-2009, 01:59

If I recall right the voltage regulator is built into the Air Marine unit. That is where the voltage is set. So a exceedingly long run of #6 could reduce the voltage at the batteries significantly. That means a reduced charge rate.
Assuming 55 feet one way of #6 for;
5 amps is 3%
10 amps is 6%
20 amps is 12% ????
At a 20 amp output your battery voltage would have to be under 13 volts or so to accept this rate of charge. If above this voltage the charge rate will diminish.
Cutting down on the distance by 20 feet assuming 0 voltage drop in the double ought would give;
5 amps is 2%
10 amps is 3.7%
20 amps is 7.5% 13.5 volts at battery
32 amps is 12.5% 13.0 volts at battery
Obviously an improvement for charging BUT you would only see the difference in winds of over 20 knots.
Have fun deciding.

29-06-2009, 11:38	#1
captden Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New England Boat: Vagabond 47 Renaissance Posts: 74 Images: 15	Wind generator I just had my old and yes noise Air Marine wind generator up on my mizzen and ran #6 wire down the mast to the deck. With all this great New England weather we are having I've had time to think the best way to run the wires from the deck to the battery bank and think that if I run the wires to the negative post on the main engine and the positive wire to the positive post on the alternator on the main engine the #6 cable would be a shorter run to the battery bank and the cable from the alternator to the battery bank is a #00 and I would think I would have less voltage drop because of less resistance using the #00 which is at least a 15 - 20 foot run. The length of #6 cable would be about 8 feet to the alternater and 20-25 feet to the battery bank. Any thoughts or ideas would be great. Captden

29-06-2009, 16:09	#2
Bash Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: sausalito Boat: Hunter 46LE Posts: 650	the one concern I'd have with that setup ...would be lightning. I'm not sure I'd want to provide such a great path to the engine. __________________ ex cearulo

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30-06-2009, 01:59	#3
mesquaukee Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Western Caribbean & ocassionaly inCanada Boat: Mesqua Ukee, Buccaneer 40 (Salar 40) Posts: 350	If I recall right the voltage regulator is built into the Air Marine unit. That is where the voltage is set. So a exceedingly long run of #6 could reduce the voltage at the batteries significantly. That means a reduced charge rate. Assuming 55 feet one way of #6 for; 5 amps is 3% 10 amps is 6% 20 amps is 12% ???? At a 20 amp output your battery voltage would have to be under 13 volts or so to accept this rate of charge. If above this voltage the charge rate will diminish. Cutting down on the distance by 20 feet assuming 0 voltage drop in the double ought would give; 5 amps is 2% 10 amps is 3.7% 20 amps is 7.5% 13.5 volts at battery 32 amps is 12.5% 13.0 volts at battery Obviously an improvement for charging BUT you would only see the difference in winds of over 20 knots. Have fun deciding.