Looking for advice on a windpowered generator. Was looking at the CET Air 403 turbine..runs $870... boasts being able to run all sorts of electronics with minimal engine start-up. My concern is the "NOISE" generated by the turbine. How difficult are they to install? Do they work as advertised?
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T
Trevor - SailboatOwners.com
Check LVM Aerogen
Hi Ken - I don't have any personal experience with LVM, but this UK company's Aerogen (4 and 6 models) are reportedly very quiet. I've spoken to several owners who are satisfied with their performance and noise levels. See Related link below for technical specs. Trevor
Hi Ken - I don't have any personal experience with LVM, but this UK company's Aerogen (4 and 6 models) are reportedly very quiet. I've spoken to several owners who are satisfied with their performance and noise levels. See Related link below for technical specs. Trevor
Several Boats at my marina have wind generators
In windy conditions they make noise some more than others. A cruiser with one said that he would go with another solar panel if he was outfitting his boat again. His criusing area is the gulf coast and Bahamas. He had one panel and the wind generator. He said that the wind often didn't blow hard enough for days at a time but that the panels always produced some energy(except at night). Every generator at my marina has a separate mast on the stern. If you are farther north or in an area with a lot of rain wind might be a better option. But here around panama city weeks of wind that doesn't get above 10 kts are common. Often it is dead calm in the morning with winds beginning around noon and dying down shortly after sunset. we may have 15 kt winds but just for a couple of hours. When I was over near Corpus Christi Texas they seemed to have a lot more wind. You can find data for your cruising area. Compare average winds with your needs and see if it makes sense. Tom
In windy conditions they make noise some more than others. A cruiser with one said that he would go with another solar panel if he was outfitting his boat again. His criusing area is the gulf coast and Bahamas. He had one panel and the wind generator. He said that the wind often didn't blow hard enough for days at a time but that the panels always produced some energy(except at night). Every generator at my marina has a separate mast on the stern. If you are farther north or in an area with a lot of rain wind might be a better option. But here around panama city weeks of wind that doesn't get above 10 kts are common. Often it is dead calm in the morning with winds beginning around noon and dying down shortly after sunset. we may have 15 kt winds but just for a couple of hours. When I was over near Corpus Christi Texas they seemed to have a lot more wind. You can find data for your cruising area. Compare average winds with your needs and see if it makes sense. Tom
B
Bil Thomas
Solar and wind
We are currently cruising in the Caribbean. Makai has 4 120 solar panels. We are just getting ready to add a superwind generator. We like the solar panels over the wind as they are very quiet and the only maintence that is needed is washing. As full time liveaboards we have added some heavy duty electricity eaters (must have satelite TV on the hook). Currently solar meets our needs, but we are at the top of the energy budget. Wind was secondary because of the noise, though the same wattage is cheaper, and maintanence. Adding wind will offset the extra electric use and be able to take advantage of the trade winds in the evening and when it is cloudy. I would recommend that you look at the power requirements, budget, and wind/sunshine potiential in your area. We lived in the Cheseapeake bay before leaving and found solar more effective there as there are many windless or light wind days, but overall excllent sunshine conditions. THis effects the amount of total charging your boat receives. Also didn't want to deal with the noise. We move our boat often in various anchorages because of the wind generater noise from other boats. But yes we want more power so we are adding the wind generator!
We are currently cruising in the Caribbean. Makai has 4 120 solar panels. We are just getting ready to add a superwind generator. We like the solar panels over the wind as they are very quiet and the only maintence that is needed is washing. As full time liveaboards we have added some heavy duty electricity eaters (must have satelite TV on the hook). Currently solar meets our needs, but we are at the top of the energy budget. Wind was secondary because of the noise, though the same wattage is cheaper, and maintanence. Adding wind will offset the extra electric use and be able to take advantage of the trade winds in the evening and when it is cloudy. I would recommend that you look at the power requirements, budget, and wind/sunshine potiential in your area. We lived in the Cheseapeake bay before leaving and found solar more effective there as there are many windless or light wind days, but overall excllent sunshine conditions. THis effects the amount of total charging your boat receives. Also didn't want to deal with the noise. We move our boat often in various anchorages because of the wind generater noise from other boats. But yes we want more power so we are adding the wind generator!
LVM Aerogen 6
I have the LVM Aero6gen model. I picked it after reading Lin Pardey's comments about how they chose their wind generator: by checking out the boats at each anchorage and making notes about noise levels for each type. They picked the Aerogen and so I did the same. It seems to be a well built product and the regulator is top notch. I can tell you that it is really quiet and even when the wind is really strong (20+) there is only a nice hum. The surprise to me was that it actually puts out what LVM says--10 amps at 20 knots into a large battery bank. Maybe not the highest output but just fine for a really quiet generator. I'm on the lower Texas coast and we get lots of wind. I agree that solar would be good to add for elsewhere.
I have the LVM Aero6gen model. I picked it after reading Lin Pardey's comments about how they chose their wind generator: by checking out the boats at each anchorage and making notes about noise levels for each type. They picked the Aerogen and so I did the same. It seems to be a well built product and the regulator is top notch. I can tell you that it is really quiet and even when the wind is really strong (20+) there is only a nice hum. The surprise to me was that it actually puts out what LVM says--10 amps at 20 knots into a large battery bank. Maybe not the highest output but just fine for a really quiet generator. I'm on the lower Texas coast and we get lots of wind. I agree that solar would be good to add for elsewhere.
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