I'm starting to build a towed water generator to charge my batteries. So far I have a couple of motors which will make good generators (tape drive motors). Do you know of any description, or plans on the web that I can use for this project? I need some ideas on how to attach a towed line to the motor shaft. How to attach a spinnin propellor to the towed line. How to attach the generator/motor to the taffrail. How to protect the generator from the elements etc.. Any advice appreciated!
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tim
my stupid thought
i asked an engineer friend once about the same deal but i thougt that if an electric trolling motor used juice in forward , it you could turn the blades does it generate back? the answer "technically....." he didnt say it was a stupid question but i never went any farther with the idea. ill watch your thread with interest. good luck
i asked an engineer friend once about the same deal but i thougt that if an electric trolling motor used juice in forward , it you could turn the blades does it generate back? the answer "technically....." he didnt say it was a stupid question but i never went any farther with the idea. ill watch your thread with interest. good luck
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John
Heat hose
Put a 5/8 shaft on prop and moter run 3/4 " plastic plumbing hi heat pipe for heating houses . I think 50' run out the back will do use hose clamps to hold it on. I think make amounting bracket on back and make agood cover . only use on nice sunny days.
Put a 5/8 shaft on prop and moter run 3/4 " plastic plumbing hi heat pipe for heating houses . I think 50' run out the back will do use hose clamps to hold it on. I think make amounting bracket on back and make agood cover . only use on nice sunny days.
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Tim Schaaf
Towing generator hints
These actually work pretty well, although they are a hassle. Mount the prop on a shaft about six feet long. Use braided line, maybe thirty to fifty feet long, and gimbal the motor. You can hang it from the rail, if you want. Run the line through a bucket with a hole in the bottom. When you want to stop the generator from spinning, you let the bucket slide down the line and shaft until it covers the prop! (I am not kidding.) Then you haul the whole thing in. Power depends on the size of the DC motor, but typical set-ups put out 3 - 6 amps, which, over a 24 hour day, adds up. There is a cost in speed, but it is not too bad. Oh, by the way, the prop will spin off a bit to one side, usually the port side, so if you mount it on your port quarter, it will be less likely to foul your fishing line! If your boat goes really fast, you may have to reel the prop in, as it will start to skip on the surface. Big fish have been known to chomp through the line! Good luck.
These actually work pretty well, although they are a hassle. Mount the prop on a shaft about six feet long. Use braided line, maybe thirty to fifty feet long, and gimbal the motor. You can hang it from the rail, if you want. Run the line through a bucket with a hole in the bottom. When you want to stop the generator from spinning, you let the bucket slide down the line and shaft until it covers the prop! (I am not kidding.) Then you haul the whole thing in. Power depends on the size of the DC motor, but typical set-ups put out 3 - 6 amps, which, over a 24 hour day, adds up. There is a cost in speed, but it is not too bad. Oh, by the way, the prop will spin off a bit to one side, usually the port side, so if you mount it on your port quarter, it will be less likely to foul your fishing line! If your boat goes really fast, you may have to reel the prop in, as it will start to skip on the surface. Big fish have been known to chomp through the line! Good luck.
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NH
More Questions
Thanks for the great feedback so far.. I have some more questions... How do I attach the braided line to the generator shaft? I must need some fitting welded on? What kind of prop is recommended? Why a 6-foot shaft? Is that to weigh it down? Any suggestions on how to hang it from the stern rail? Great idea about the bucket! And advice about spinning to one side.. Thanks for the input... -NH.
Thanks for the great feedback so far.. I have some more questions... How do I attach the braided line to the generator shaft? I must need some fitting welded on? What kind of prop is recommended? Why a 6-foot shaft? Is that to weigh it down? Any suggestions on how to hang it from the stern rail? Great idea about the bucket! And advice about spinning to one side.. Thanks for the input... -NH.
Search for Aqua4gen
Here is a link. http://www.unlimited-power.co.uk/Aerogen_wind_turbines.html You may also want to search on Aqua4Gen on the different search engines. I saw some good pictures. You can also determine if it is worth trying to do this yourself.
Here is a link. http://www.unlimited-power.co.uk/Aerogen_wind_turbines.html You may also want to search on Aqua4Gen on the different search engines. I saw some good pictures. You can also determine if it is worth trying to do this yourself.
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Tim Schaaf
More towing
I use the six foot shaft because that is what I had! Yes, it does seem to weigh it down. The prop is an outboard motor prop. You do need a fitting to attach the line. Good luck. Most of this is from memory as I am currently chained to a Marina.
I use the six foot shaft because that is what I had! Yes, it does seem to weigh it down. The prop is an outboard motor prop. You do need a fitting to attach the line. Good luck. Most of this is from memory as I am currently chained to a Marina.
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NH
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