WIND GENERATOR

[dlj]

Originally Posted by newhaul

That is what I paid for my new to me air-x400D

Cool - I was also given free of charge a solar panel, wiring and controller.

dj

[FlyingScot]

I wrote two not too technical articles about creating and storing energy on your boat.

The relevant part:
4: Wind Turbine/Generator: They convert moving air (wind) into electrical energy by spinning the rotating blades. However, the output isn't very high unless the wind is blowing at 15-20 knots or more. Wind generators are losing popularity, and I’m okay with that, as they tend to be noisy day and night. My recommendation is to use that space for additional solar panels instead. However, if you're in a windy and cloudy area, wind generators can still be useful. For smaller battery banks, generating power continuously is highly beneficial. But as boat battery capacities increase, this becomes less of a concern. Our favorite is the D400.

Example: 200-400W potential but likely averages 25 - 50 W x 24 hours = 0.6 - 1.2 kWh per day.

https://squidandjellysgreatadventure...t-efficiently/
https://squidandjellysgreatadventure...storage-usage/

[AlvyLad]

The long story in short version then?:
Yes wind gens are okay for a very few occasions, that it actually does work, even in locations as non Caribbean or warm US states or even Med in the summer.
Else, it's NOT guaranteed to be what it's meant to be "redundancy power supply" and talking about cost of it, might as well need/have redundancy to redundant wind gen, to the main Solar generation, that in in European waters, wouldn't be possible to rely on more than 50% of a year, IE Petrol Generator https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B019ORYDW0 1KW at £349
Of course, cost of petrol, noise etc... but the biggest problem, it's the "necessary" evil, for some of us, is that power supply becomes rather big/heavy/expensive issue, unless moored in marinas, that aren't cheap either

[MicHughV]

I hear what you say, dlj.

I started my cruising days with little more than an icebox. I could keep ice for around 7 days, after which I learned to drink warm beer. The wind generator only came in later years as I could afford it.

But Ha, that's nothing. In my early years, never even had an engine....on a 38' boat. Yep, no diesel. Nada. I had a dink with a small kicker if I needed to push the boat around. Steering was done by a Monitor windvane.

Navigation was all by hand and eye. Kept a running paper log 24/7. Paper charts, etc, etc. Many handmade copies I had to make myself.

Like you, had kerosene lights. My only electronics was a vhf radio.

They say that the good Lord looks after drunks, fools and sailors, so I was well covered on all three bases.

But you know, I had a blast, I really did. I had no agenda. If the wind blew from the north, I headed south, etc.

I was poor as a church mouse. If I had $10 in my pocket, I felt like a rich man. No insurance of any kind, but would fish and dive for my daily food. This I would sell or trade for $$$ or something I might need. I always seemed to have " just enuff"

For me, I was living my dream. All started when I read about Robin Lee Graham's rtw trip in a National Geographic magazine.
Off course, I didn't have a dad willing to fund such a venture, so had to build my own boat to boot. A story all of it's own.

As for the rest, much like you you. Kerosene two burner stove, no oven, etc, etc.

Oh wait, I did have a cassette player for some music, but the salt air ate that up pretty quick.

In later years, like you, I had it all. Became an avid Ham enthusiast, but also had a SSB rig.
This was in the days of the ATT High Seas Operator, if I needed to "call home".

These days off course, much different. My Beneteau is equipped with everything, and I mean everything. Besides the solar panels also have a genset, etc.

But all these electronics and toys does not make one a better or more able sailor, on the contrary, this dependency on electronics and gadgets is.....not good.

[dlj]

I think the part that irritates me more is the "You must have blah blah blah" if you want to go go off sailing... Ever heard of Eileeen Quinn? she has a bunch of great sailing songs.

Here's an appropriate one for this thread.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms96...mLcwr&index=37

dj

[Wandering1]

Originally Posted by newhaul

That is what I paid for my new to me air-x400D

If they cost that new, they might have some customers. The reality is that for 99% of people, they have to pay the real price. They ain't worth it. Cost per Watt is woeful compared to solar

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by dlj

I think the part that irritates me more is the "You must have blah blah blah" if you want to go go off sailing...
dj

Question, for all you technophiles:
I need a power strip, to plug stuff into.
Should I go to an Outlet Mall?

[MWGDVC]

Like most of us, I can only speak to my own experiences. In my case, with my Sunpower 400W@12V wind generator. I replaced the original controller with an Amazon special, as the original died. Have replaced the blades as the originals had quite chipped leading edges, and had grown loud.

I find in anything above 10Kts. average wind speed, the wind gen will keep batteries at same state of charge overnight, IE: go to bed at 80% SOC. will still be at 80% at sunup. This is running LED anchor light, refrigerator, and such lights during the night as needed.
Of course, once the sun is up, solar is far better. I use the wind gen mostly overnight, to keep batteries up, rather than thinking of it as a primary charging source. Usually batteries are fully charged by 10:00am, so power can be used for making water if needed.

[hpeer]

Originally Posted by MWGDVC

Like most of us, I can only speak to my own experiences. In my case, with my Sunpower 400W@12V wind generator. I replaced the original controller with an Amazon special, as the original died. Have replaced the blades as the originals had quite chipped leading edges, and had grown loud.

I find in anything above 10Kts. average wind speed, the wind gen will keep batteries at same state of charge overnight, IE: go to bed at 80% SOC. will still be at 80% at sunup. This is running LED anchor light, refrigerator, and such lights during the night as needed.
Of course, once the sun is up, solar is far better. I use the wind gen mostly overnight, to keep batteries up, rather than thinking of it as a primary charging source. Usually batteries are fully charged by 10:00am, so power can be used for making water if needed.

This matches my experience with my AeroGen closely.

[AlvyLad]

Anyone would know, if any good?
400W 12V Wind Turbine With 5 Blades WTJ400-12
https://generator-pro.co.uk/product/...des-wtj400-12/
For £300, local delivery, most likely made in China, as everything else

[dlj]

Originally Posted by AlvyLad

Anyone would know, if any good?
400W 12V Wind Turbine With 5 Blades WTJ400-12
https://generator-pro.co.uk/product/...des-wtj400-12/
For £300, local delivery, most likely made in China, as everything else

You'll need a rectifier and a voltage regulator. I'd check out how much those would cost before buying that unit. Most good wind vanes have an electronic break so you can stop, or nearly stop, the blades in order to tie them off, do work around or on them. Think about that.

From the looks of the blades I'd guess it's a fairly noisy one.

Not much more i can say given what info is available.

dh

[dlj]

Originally Posted by AlvyLad

Anyone would know, if any good?
400W 12V Wind Turbine With 5 Blades WTJ400-12
https://generator-pro.co.uk/product/...des-wtj400-12/
For £300, local delivery, most likely made in China, as everything else

You'll need a rectifier and a voltage regulator. I'd check out how much those would cost before buying that unit. Most good wind vanes have an electronic break so you can stop, or nearly stop, the blades in order to tie them off, do work around or on them. Think about that.

From the looks of the blades I'd guess it's a fairly noisy one.

Not much more i can say given what info is available.

dj

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by dlj

You'll need a rectifier and a voltage regulator. I'd check out how much those would cost before buying that unit. Most good wind vanes have an electronic break so you can stop, or nearly stop, the blades in order to tie them off, do work around or on them. Think about that.

From the looks of the blades I'd guess it's a fairly noisy one.

Not much more i can say given what info is available.

dh

Doing the brakes is easy they just short the output leads to use the magnets as the brake
As to the rest my personal opinion would be don't get one that doesn't have the charge controller built into the unit or at minimum external comes with it.


As to the noise factor of a wind generator easy fix 200 grit sandpaper . Round the edges a little on the blades so they are slightly rounded. This will cut the blade noise considerably

[ausnp84]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Air Marine Wind Generators are made in Colorado.
eg: Air Silent X ➥ https://www.emarineinc.com/images/we...spec-sheet.pdf

Our Air Silent X has been excellent in the Bahamas👍

N

[Symphony]

My boat came with a D400 from Eclectic Energy. Amazing output here in Grenada at anchor with the winds. 8-10Amps keeps me charged. Almost completely silent, and spins when other wind gens barely move.

Good luck