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fluffflinger

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  • Gender
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  • Location
    Northampton
  • Occupation
    Semi retired

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Gongoozler

Gongoozler (1/12)

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  1. Apologies I had presumed you lived on a narrowboat that moved once in awhile and not one that remains permanently moored. So would you agree that in cruising mode your set up would be a tad impractical? Tell you what I think we both know where we stand on this topic so let's call it quits? I really don't believe a wind turbine is worth the expenditure for a narrowboat. This is merely based on my ten plus years cruising on a yacht, you obviously do. Let's agree life is too short to get into silly disputes. As I said before happy cruising. Kind regards Richard
  2. Totally agree. The other consideration is that on my previous yachts the wind turbine was placed in as higher unencumbered location as possible. Not really something you can achieve on a narrowboat. If you check back that was my original suggestion.
  3. Understood. They didn't exist in a practical form when I outfit my last yacht so my understanding of them is limited to reading and listening to those that have them. So what can you determine from measuring battery voltage, not the definitive stage of charge that you can with lead acid? I appreciate we 're going off topic but I am intruiged.
  4. So probably something like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Generator-Vertical-Windmill-Controller-Supplementation/dp/B07PCQYF16?th=1 600w at 12v that's 50amps, that's an interesting number? I am no expert on Lithium but friends who have them tell me you can't measure state of charge from purely the voltage it is unreliable because of so many other factors. So I presume you have some sort of battery monitor??? What does that tell you about it's performance? If you ever get any definitive handle on its output at realistic wind speeds please share it with us all. Til then happy cruising.
  5. Sorry my mistake vertical axis. I stand corrected and yes I was aware of what Peterboat was using just my mistake. But Mike I don't understand why you are quoting me in your last post. I thought we were discussing wind turbines not gensets?
  6. Allan are you saying they doubled their fee with no justification or reasoning? I thought your mooring fee was assessed at a level of 50% of the market rate for the area in which your mooring is located??? That is scary stuff.
  7. Peterboat If it works for you then that's great, I apologise but I am dubious as to how much use it really is, I assume you don't have it connected to an ammeter??? . If you think it has any sort of output make sure that you balance the voltage set point so it doesn't argue with your solar controller. The Air Breeze was great as it had an on board controller and was simple to adjust. Would you be happy to share what horizontal axis turbine you have??? At least then we can see what claims the manufacturer makes if you have no numbers. Sadly even the reputable big brands are, shall we say, adventurous with their numbers. I have seen a few low output marine units (very expensive) and a plenty from China on eBay and Amazon. I have seen pretty much all of the decent units and of them I've tried the majority. Look forward to hearing what you are using. Best Richard
  8. The other consideration is cost. Solar panels are now so cheap by comparison ( when I outfitted my yacht we were looking at $1 a watt, way less than that now) that reduces the value of wind even more. I'm sure I could find circumstances on the canals where one would be useful but they would be so few and far between as to make them as I said before pointless. My 10 year real world experience of a unit that cost north of $1500 to buy is simple, more solar panels and a bigger battery bank to give you more capacity and less degradation caused by overly deep discharge of your batteries is way more bang for your buck. We spent over $450 on instal, not the electrical side just the physical pole brackets and rubber mounts. If you don't they will whine and vibrate making sleep nigh on impossible. Oh and yes Bob many a quiet anchorage has been rendered very painful by just one badly maintained wind turbine. The only time it ever came into its own was to help take the load of night passages when we were using the Radar Nav Lights etc etc, as well as having to keep up with the general house load. Surely something like a Travel Power Generator would be better value??? I'd love to see data that counters my conclusions. Anybody????
  9. Having spent years living on a cruising yacht with a big solar array and a wind generator I can tell you categorically a wind generator on the canals will be utterly pointless. We had an Air Breeze with a built in regulator and yes it was worth it on occassions in a windy anchorage and on passage at night but under 12knts of constant breeze it really was just an irritating buzzing contraption. I am a massive devotee of solar and yes in sunnier climes they really are all you need yearound and will definately put a decent array on whatever boat I buy. There is one thing you need to be aware of and that is when using them in the UK Winter the brackets must allow for significant tilting. I have a small panel at home and have done a few experiments in the garden and from horizontal to 60° there is a difference of close to four times in the output. Simply put lose a panel and pay to have some decent tilting brackets made up makes electrical and economic sense. My logic based on years of live-aboard life is as big a house bank as you can afford and the biggest solar array you have room for and if you want to dump the excess production in the summer a 12vDC element in your water heater. This is from somebody who lived for weeks at a time at anchor without ever dreaming of firing up the engine to charge the batteries. Yes sunnier climes but a fridge and freezer trying to keep cool with very high ambient temps in the boat chewed up a lot of juice.
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