I am now struggling to get to the bottom of my
wind generator output problem. I am in contact with tech support of the manufacturer who have given me some tests to run. I will also be able to check with their
archives to definitely settle the question of whether I have been given a 12 volt unit by mistake.
Meanwhile, tech support are waffling on what real output I should expect -- hinting that maybe there's nothing wrong with the
generator at all. Now this would be b*ll*cks -- if my
wind generator can't even run a
compass light in windy
weather, then who the h*ll needs one? I don't believe that this can possibly be so, considering how many happy owners of this unit there are.
So guys, help me out here, what real-life
power production do you get out of your
wind gennies, particularly Rutlant 913's and 914i's?
According to the manufacturer's literature, the
Rutland 914i is supposed to produce:
* 230 watts peak
power in 30 knots of
wind
* 8 amps (12v nominal) at 10 m/s (about 20 knots), that is about 100 watts
* 2 amps (12v nominal) at 6 m/s (about 12 knots), that is about 25 watts
* 247 kilowatt/hours per annum where the mean wind speed is 5 m/s (about 10 knots) (247 kw/hours per annum is 677 watt/days or 28 watts average -- equal to a bit more than 2 amps average at 12v nominal or 1 amp average at 24v nominal.
http://seatronic.no/pdf/Ruthland/914...0Datasheet.pdf
* 48 amp/hours per day (at 12v nominal; like 24 amp/hours per day @ 24v)
(
http://www.marlec.co.uk/wp-content/u...ull-Report.pdf)
OK. That's the data I used to choose this wind
generator and I had hoped to get 24 amp/hours per day at 24 volts, on an average day with some wind.
The reality -- has been totally different. I have seen:
* Peak power of 95 watts during a 50+
knot gust (at the masthead; surely that's at least 40 knots at
deck level). Rarely observe more than 20 watts.
* Highest sustained production I ever saw was one amp/hour per hour over 12 hours or so, and that was during a severe gale.
* Usual production during good strong windy
weather -- 20 knots at the masthead -- is 4 or 5 amp hours per 24 hours.
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I can't imagine that this is a useful amount of power for anyone, and so if this were really typical, no one would buy them. So guys -- what is your real-life everday power production from your wind generators? And are you, in general, happy with them?