Does anyone have any experience -long term-- with LVM aerogen 4--and/or ampair 913---vis-a-vis efficiency --noise levels--output installation etc--would appreciate any comments as im about to purchase one or other? --thanks andrew--australia
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have you investigated solar as an alternative? not noisy or potentially dangerous as wind gens can be [depending on placement , tho you can get the cylinder type ones too].. friend of mine got quite fed up of the constant noise from his wind gen and so dumped it.. check before you buy is my suggestion.
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 | TMS Poloshirt winner |
24/09/07 14:11
I also am waying up the pros and cons of either wind or solar back up power generation. I am inclined now to lean towards solar due to asthetic looks "laying" it on the deck compared to a solid secure obvious structure astern ... which hums. But nonetheless Not decided as need practical feedback from end users.
so whats the drum folks? ross dublin
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 Hi Ross, I am currently researching an article about this, which I hope to have on the site by the end of the week. I am assured by a friend (who has just fitted one) that solar panels are now much more efficient than they were even a couple of years ago. Obviously they have the advantage of being unobtrusive and silent! I think a relatively small one will keep, for example, the engine battery topped up. But if you want to run your whole boat on solar power for long periods you will need quite a few of them!
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 I installed a 20W solar cell and controller last spring to charge the batteries of my Nicholson 26 whilst it is in the marina. Total cost from an ebay supplier for the panel, smart controller and P&P was around £130. I am very pleased with it so far. It has kept the batteries up to scratch and amazingly charges even during quite dull days if the controller calls for it. Because I have a small boat I bought a glass monocrystalline panel. Although these are fragile, they are more efficient and are smaller and have a longer service expectancy (20years) than other available panels including flexibles. My 20 Watt is approx 220mm x 620mm from memory. I just leave it on the deck angled to face the sun but take it below to go out as as I haven't devised a good way to keep it connected whilst sailing yet. The smart controller seems very good it can be set for "wet" batteries or "sealed" and "gel" types. I use wet batteries so it invokes a conditioning cycle to 14.6 volts as necessary. I do not really understand the intricacies of this but a hydrometer reading always shows shows full charge when I visit the boat and I very rarely have to top up the electrolyte. I did try the panel without the controller and it is quite cabaple of serious boiling despite its modest output. The controller stops this and the cell is often turned off when I visit the boat. I am considering the option of buying a second panel or a small wind turbine (Rutland 503?) to augment the solar panel so I can charge whilst sailing and at night. My biggest power use is autopilot and nav lights so use of these would be restricted even if I managed to find a safe place to rig the solar panel whilst sailing. An alternative might be to reduce power use by buying a windvane and led nav lights. So far I would highly recommend Solar panel generation providing space is available for mounting it safely.
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| TMS Poloshirt winner |
27/09/07 14:27
Yes the nite sailing is where one would need a rutland or similar 503 which I am currently reviewing too. Just one comment from another blog states that the constant "fan" noise can become irritating. I wonder if these units have a "brake" pin which can be used to stop the fan cycle for what ever reason one may choose.... Second thoughts they must have otherwise how would one do "maintance on them. thanks for the feed back
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| TMS Poloshirt winner |
27/09/07 20:24
I've a Rutland 913, (running through one of their controller/regulators), bought with my boat,which does an excellent job and is on a pole on the stern deck of my Twister 28 at a height above heads and you have to be waving something like a boathook aroung to get caught on it. It is rarely noticed at all and when it does blow it gives a comforting sound from this larger version rather than a whine . At night I occassionally switch off the windmill at the controller which slows the blades to silent mode. I have 2 Domestic batteries and 1 for the engine . I leave a Navtex and the power to my aerial to my Standard horizon plotter running all the time. I also run a Raymarine ST2000+ Tiller pilot(when it's working), a garmin GPS, a seperate AIS and a large DSC VHF, and cockpit repeaters. I'm about to put in a diesel heater so that will draw a fair current on start up. So far I have always had fully charged batteries and think nothing of leaving all lights on for any length of time, and I have checked the charge occassionally if running everything. I usually have 12.5 - 14 amps showing on the digital readout on the controller for the state of each bank of batteries. The controller will also take care of a bank of Solar cells/panels if required which would be a good back-up for long distant cruising. As an addendum to that, i would suggest that you save you pennies/cents and get better and more powerful than you first consider, because you'll only go and add more power hungry bits to your boat in time. Scotty
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| Edited: 27/09/07 20:55 |
| TMS Poloshirt winner |
01/10/07 14:10
 I bought and fitted a Rutland 913 which has been great. I suggest you try walking around a marina on a reasonably windy day and assess what the various wind mills are doing. The large American units will be stopped because they only seem to rotate in half a gale - and when they do the screech they make is quite obscene - I would chop it down if mine made that racket. They must be unbearable in an anchorage. I like the large flywheel on the Rutland which keeps going in the faintest of winds. The Aeorogens are quiet but do not start to rotate in the low wind speeds which start the Rutland. The big Aerogen 6 delivers live-aboard welly if you have room for it. The Ampairs likewise tend to need more wind to get them going but in my observations they seem to rumble a bit more. I would not give the noisier turbines sea room. No matter which you choose I think the regulator is key to happy batteries. This is perhaps another reason in favour of the Rutland becasue their HRDX Regulator is excellent and allows you to hook up and monitor a solar panel as well as charging two battery banks. It will obviously work just as well with other wind mills but you can usually get a deal if bought with the Rutland generator.
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| TMS Poloshirt winner |
02/10/07 10:56
 First thing you need to decide is just how much power you use. For example weekend summer sailing here in the north of Scotland with long days with no compressor fridge needs very little. The main use being occasionally the autopilot. All renewable type power sources are variable in their output-a wind gen may run 24/7 but only if there is a reasonable wind. Solar panels which are my favourite will give out some power so long as its light-and of course in sunny-great. Most important is an energy store ie.batteries and if they are deep cycling for leisure use you can store them anywhere there is space as they dont need the heavy wiring of a starter battery. You can source 120ah batteries for little more than £50 each. For weekend sailing you could probably last the weekend with ease on a couple of batteries charged by the boats alternator. Small or big solar panels?-my philosophy is small/as many as you need with a dedicated trickle charger for the engine battery. If you are live aboard sailing the world then mayby wind gen and panels not forgetting prop shaft driven generators-only problem is they are very expensive Phil
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