Wind turbine

[Lostsailor13]

Looking to add wind turbine to my liveaboard before winter arrives and daylight hours are cut way back,plus my winter spot gets a good blow all winter,I already have a solar setup with victron charge controller,and have shore power and 30 amp 2 bank house charger,but want to wind generator regardless prepping the boat for mooring,who has wind generator on their boat,and what are the most reliable I'm looking at tesup

 

[OldDan1943]

I dont have one. I have heard they are all noisy SHRUG
I really dont know.

 

[dhays]

I have heard a number of the typical wind turbines on boats and they are noisy.

I have heard that some are less noisy than others but I haven't seen any that weren't.

I have wondered about a vertical turbine and wondering if that might be quieter. There are some new designs being developed that do look interesting.

 

[fryedaze]

I have sailed on a boat with a D400 wind turbine. They are supposed to be one of the best. I didn't find noise to be an issue. The output was disappointing. They are a 400 watt generator but you need crazy wind. 10-15 only gets you 5 amps.

 

[Nomad Willy]

WAY too noisy

 

[FF]

The old units were just a DC motor spun by a prop and were never quiet.

Most MFG have changed the blade configuration over the past decades and although not silent are far quieter than the older units.

Some sell retrofit blades to tame the antiques.

 

[janice142]

I have had an Air-Breeze by SouthWinds for more than a decade. It is on a schedule 40 stainless post through the top covering my cockpit. It does vibrate. Noise is relative. Is your generator "noisy" or do you consider it a good part of your charging system?

Power output is not great. Now I originally had Air-X blades on my updated Air-Breeze unit. Recently I upgraded to the carbon fiber blue and white blades. My friend did so last year and says these blades turn sooner and produce more power. She also said they were quieter.

Frankly, I consider having a wind genny a Good Idea. If the sun isn't shining there is a good chance the wind is blowing. With the wind generator I am usually in absorption charing mode (solar panels) by 11 a.m. I like having redundancies.

If your wind generator is too noisy for you, the stop switch can stop the unit. Mostly the noise is aboard your vessel not out into the anchorage. If it is the clang of the halyards on sailboats is bothersome, so too will be a wind generator. Still, after a few nights you probably won't notice it often.

That's my experience.

 

[HTurner]

If your wind generator is too noisy for you, the stop switch can stop the unit. Mostly the noise is aboard your vessel not out into the anchorage. If it is the clang of the halyards on sailboats is bothersome, so too will be a wind generator. Still, after a few nights you probably won't notice it often.

That's my experience.

This is so true.

 

[dhays]

I was near a sailboat a clue weeks ago that had a wind generator. It may have been having some trouble but it was a very loud raspy noise.

My generator is very quiet inside my boat and even less so outside. 20 yards away it can't be heard.

Having said that, I would love to have a wind generator to supliment the 365W of solar that I have. My two priorities would be ease of maintenance and noise. Also, many of the wind generators that I've seen seem to take a bit more wind to operate than what we often have in the PNW in the summer months.

Someday.....

 

[psneeld]

Like windmill projects and solar fields....there are better locations for one over another.


If you boat in areas of low winds (I prefer), the wind is never going to be much more than a sliver of power. However...I have had stormy weather for a couple days where solar was weak and wind was strong.


If you have many square feet that solar can occupy...then most likely your best bet in the continental US.


There are 2 wind generators on the next dock over....I rarely notice them. Even when I listen for them because of threads like this.

 

[Nomad Willy]

Janet wrote;
“I have had an Air-Breeze by SouthWinds for more than a decade. It is on a schedule 40 stainless post through the top covering my cockpit. It does vibrate. Noise is relative. Is your generator "noisy" or do you consider it a good part of your charging system?”

Noise is noise. One or two boats in an anchorage …. Mostly tolerable. But I mostly object to 30 os so whizzing away in my marina … VERY objectionable.
That was the case in Everett Wa and there there there were halyards too. Seemed like 100 of them.

Now we’re in a covered moorage and almost never hear either one. YES!

 

[freshalaska]

I have an air-x wind generator with the blue blades and yes it makes noise but no vibration in the manner I have it mounted. I like the sound of energy going into my house bank.

I have solar panels I have engine alternator I have Honda 2200 watt gas generator and I like options and back up systems.

 

[Lostsailor13]

I'm starting of by machining a custom adjustable mount for my solar panel,its only 160 watts but its mounted like crap,the new mount will rotate 360 degrees and swivel 90 degrees to maximize output,as its mounted now it can already keep up with my refrigerator if its sunny,being summer with the extra sunlight,but with new mount hoping to squeeze a couple more amps out of the old girl,and just gonna have to wait for winter to see how much I loose,maybe add another 160 watt panel parallel and the 200 watt tesup dolphin

 

[dhays]

I'm starting of by machining a custom adjustable mount for my solar panel,its only 160 watts but its mounted like crap,the new mount will rotate 360 degrees and swivel 90 degrees to maximize output,as its mounted now it can already keep up with my refrigerator if its sunny,being summer with the extra sunlight,but with new mount hoping to squeeze a couple more amps out of the old girl,and just gonna have to wait for winter to see how much I loose,maybe add another 160 watt panel parallel and the 200 watt tesup dolphin

That could help a lot. I have a single panel but it is fixed to the pilothouse roof. At times it can be partially shaded by the arch or Bimini on the flybridge. There are better places and mountings, but this was relatively simple and, most importantly, approved by my wife.

 

[Nomad Willy]

I think the wind generators are kind of a fad.
Everybody's doi’in it sort of a thing.
A low buck ticket into the mod e-crowd.

And .. just don’t need it.

 

[psneeld]

I think the wind generators are kind of a fad.
Everybody's doi’in it sort of a thing.
A low buck ticket into the mod e-crowd.

And .. just don’t need it.

Fad? they have been around for decades in the tropics where the trade winds are perfect for wind generators....


Not everyone is doing it, but a lot of dreamer sailors thinking they are gonna wind up there get them in hopes of accomplishing their dreams.


If any other old timers are out there...I think wind generators were around more so than solar before it became so much more efficient...anyone remember?


.....here's one reference I can find.


https://www.lifeofsailing.com/post/best-wind-generators-for-sailboats



Wind generators, also known as micro turbines, have come a long way since their first appearance on the cruising scene back in the 1970's.

 

[HTurner]

I think the wind generators are kind of a fad.
Everybody's doi’in it sort of a thing.
A low buck ticket into the mod e-crowd.

And .. just don’t need it.

Wind generators have been around for a long time. Certainly not a fad. I have had wind generators on previously owned sailboats where they work quite well.



"Trawlers," especially those with all the conveniences of home, consume so much power that a wind generator that on average will deliver less than 160 watts of power (maximum power -- 400 watts -- is only delivered at 25 - 30 kts plus of wind), only makes a fraction of the power deficient.




If you have modest power needs than a wind generator will work for you.

 

[Lostsailor13]

Custom bracket allows full latitude adjustment bringing efficiency up to 90% 6 o'clock and making 8amps,now I can start tesup

 

[HTurner]

Custom bracket allows full latitude adjustment bringing efficiency up to 90% 6 o'clock and making 8amps,now I can start tesup

More pics please. What generator did you get?



On my last sailboat, I consumed 6-8 amps of energy. The wind generator would provide anywhere from 5-8 amps. With the addition of a 100 watt solar panel I was usually golden.

 

[Ted]

might be interesting ????

https://www.amazon.com/TQ-Vertical-...07343898&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-1-catcorr&th=1

 

[KnotYet]

might be interesting ????

https://www.amazon.com/TQ-Vertical-...07343898&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-1-catcorr&th=1

I checked the specs of this and it is more of a toy than a tool. Something like 20 watts.

 

[Lostsailor13]

Ted the diameter on that is 3ft absolutely never if was to get vertical axis would be this model. https://www.amazon.com/Generator-Portable-Vertical-Controller-Industrial/dp/B08W496BZ9

 

[Lostsailor13]

Ted the diameter on that is 3ft absolutely not this would be the turbine I would get if vertical axis was my 1st choice

https://www.amazon.com/Generator-Portable-Vertical-Controller-Industrial/dp/B08W496BZ9