Wind Generator?
Does anybody use a wind generator? Vs... solar? Has anyone already worked out the pro's - con's? Thanks,
Forum Discussion
Nightsailor and Sleepy hit on some major considerations when considering charging sources. For me both results and costs are equal in choosing a workable system. Having a variety of sources is, of course, desirable. On "Imagine" our sailing yacht, we had 5.First a 200 watt alternator on the diesel, a 3500 watt gas Yamaha generator carried on the foredeck, a Windbugger wind powered generator, 2 100 watt solar powered panels, and a 125 watt shaft alternator fitted to the free wheeled propeller shaft when under sail for long passages.
At sea the solar required having the salt mist wiped of regularly in the oft spray filled conditions. We would put the Yamaha in the Zodiac rubber dingy and drift it astern with a long power cord to carry the noise aft, particularly when we were using the microwave or DVD.
The wind generator did it all in 15 knots of breeze or better. It would power an inverter, the fridge, and most of our electronics. But only with that wind power. Wiping off the solar was a nuisance by the time you noticed the mist it was only operating a half power.
We got most of our 12 volt from the shaft generator.
From a cost to power ratio, between solar and wind for a TC solar is way better from my experience.
At sea the solar required having the salt mist wiped of regularly in the oft spray filled conditions. We would put the Yamaha in the Zodiac rubber dingy and drift it astern with a long power cord to carry the noise aft, particularly when we were using the microwave or DVD.
The wind generator did it all in 15 knots of breeze or better. It would power an inverter, the fridge, and most of our electronics. But only with that wind power. Wiping off the solar was a nuisance by the time you noticed the mist it was only operating a half power.
We got most of our 12 volt from the shaft generator.
From a cost to power ratio, between solar and wind for a TC solar is way better from my experience.
