Hello again

[The_Sailing_Pelican]

On a budget for this type of item:
Marine Grade 500 Watt 12/24V Wind Generator
Reviews, present and passed experiences with it. Is there so better for the same price?

 

[garymalmgren]

To answer that question SP. we need to know WHAT (marine grade) wind generator you are referring to.

Is there so better for the same price? Generally the cheap ones don't last and there are no spares when the fail.

Some are noisy.
Some are cheaply constructed and fall apart
Some have low quality electrics and burn out.
Some don't have a good braking system and fly apart.
Some are really expensive.
Some don't generate anything until there is a lot of wind.
Some don't really work when you are under sail.
Some have very efficient blades.
Some need to be mounted way up high to work properly.
Some are quite good.

Most people eventually, just go for solar panels.

 

[dLj]

I put both on my boat.

My experience with wind generators compared with solar panels is that you get substantially more power out of solar panels than wind generators. Solar is much less expensive to install compared to wind generators.

The wind generator cost about $2000 for a fairly high end unity and gave me at best a trickle charger.

My solar panel cost me about $300 and gave me substantial, reliable output.

Both were rated at almost the same, the wind generator was rated at 400 amps and the solar panel at 380 amps. Even though in theory the wind generator should provide power 24 hours a day and the solar panel only during daylight hours, the output of the solar panel was notably better than the wind generator.

I would never spend the money on a wind generator again except under very defined usage:

A) If I were to sail into high latitudes and plan to do so during winter where there is no sunlight 24 hours a day for months, or if

B) I were to keep my boat in the trade wind regions.

In the first case, I would still have solar and I would then also have probably two wind generators. In the second case, I might put on solar and add on a wind generator. But I'd more likely put additional solar for the price difference and power output.

dj

 

[The_Sailing_Pelican]

I put both on my boat.

My experience with wind generators compared with solar panels is that you get substantially more power out of solar panels than wind generators. Solar is much less expensive to install compared to wind generators.

The wind generator cost about $2000 for a fairly high end unity and gave me at best a trickle charger.

My solar panel cost me about $300 and gave me substantial, reliable output.

Both were rated at almost the same, the wind generator was rated at 400 amps and the solar panel at 380 amps. Even though in theory the wind generator should provide power 24 hours a day and the solar panel only during daylight hours, the output of the solar panel was notably better than the wind generator.

I would never spend the money on a wind generator again except under very defined usage:

A) If I were to sail into high latitudes and plan to do so during winter where there is no sunlight 24 hours a day for months, or if

B) I were to keep my boat in the trade wind regions.

In the first case, I would still have solar and I would then also have probably two wind generators. In the second case, I might put on solar and add on a wind generator. But I'd more likely put additional solar for the price difference and power output.

dj

Hello
Grest answer.... Great
Nowbthen if you dont mind the question, whuch brand of solar panel you used and how long ago ect.
Thx again.
CRivera

 

[The_Sailing_Pelican]

To answer that question SP. we need to know WHAT (marine grade) wind generator you are referring to.

Is there so better for the same price? Generally the cheap ones don't last and there are no spares when the fail.

Some are noisy.
Some are cheaply constructed and fall apart
Some have low quality electrics and burn out.
Some don't have a good braking system and fly apart.
Some are really expensive.
Some don't generate anything until there is a lot of wind.
Some don't really work when you are under sail.
Some have very efficient blades.
Some need to be mounted way up high to work properly.
Some are quite good.

Most people eventually, just go for solar panels.

Some reality
Thx

 

[dLj]

Hello
Grest answer.... Great
Nowbthen if you dont mind the question, whuch brand of solar panel you used and how long ago ect.
Thx again.
CRivera

I don't recall the brand. But it was a decent panel, not one of the more modern panels where you get power from both sides. It is a fixed panel not a flexible panel. I put it on three years ago now - I think - close enough anyway.

I used a mppt controller - definitely recommend that technology.

dj