How to Leave a Comment on Our Blog

HOW TO LEAVE A COMMENT ON THIS BLOG
1. Scroll to the end of the post.
2. Click on the phrase "0 comments" or, if there are comments it will indicate how many, for example, "8 comments." Clicking on this will open the comment option for you.
3. Type in your note.
4. Choose your Profile. If you don't understand the choices under Profile then choose Anonymous but PLEASE type your name and location at the bottom of your comment so I know who you are!

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

WIND POWER

Well i`ve got the wind generator up and running. The Rutland 913 will put a charge into the batteries with a modest wind speed of 5 knots, just under 6mph. With a wind of say 28mph it should put in about 9 amps.
So far since trying it out the winds have not been great blustery but not continuse but still the batteries have gained at the end of the day even after using power all day. Don`t forget on a boat all your power comes from the batteries and the worst power consumer is the 12volt fridge/freezer, then you pump your shower water then pump the waste water overboard. Your cuppa needs pumped water to fill the kettle. The loo uses electric to flush, the radio/stereo all these things are taken for granted on land but on board you have to be aware of a limited supply. Anyway with the wind so far the generator has ended up putting back what i have used during the daytime plus a small amount on top. All this adds upto less running of the engine to charge the batteries. Fine if the wind`s blowing i hear you say, true so my next thing is to do some research on solar panels. The control box i have fitted to the wind genny also allows connection of a 100watt solar panel so no wind means the slar panel will help things along and if i get wind as well so much the better.
In the picture above you can see the mast is held firmly by metal guy lines that go down to the roof and in the picture below you can see the mast is held in place by a heavy duty metal bracket that allows the whole thing to be folded down onto the roof after two of the guy lines have been released at roof level, all done in less than 5 mins.
I have to thank daughter in law Bevs dad Alan for making the bracket from a picture of something similar and a few rough measurements i supplied. Thanks Alan it works a treat.
All that needs doing now is to tidy the cable by putting it into some plastic pipe and fixing same to roof.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Les

Glad to see you've got the "windmill" working. Say "hello" to everyone for me. Sandra

Anonymous said...

It is such a good thing that you are doing here. Saves a load of diesel for just a relatively small outlay on the kit. It will surely repay in real money over time and the solar panel(s) will add to this good effect. BIG TICK from here!
S

Sue said...

I wonder sometimes at the relative cost. A battery costs say £55 (average, I don't know the cost of the wind generator. My narrowboat uses about 1.75 at worst an hour on diesel, costing average 96p.. say a pound an hour. I run 7 domestic batteries, run 1.5 hours a day if moored.. who has a calculator?

:D

Les Biggs said...

Hi SUE
Cor blimey girl can`t be getting a calculator out, to busy chilling out.
I actually bought the kit well cheap from a boater who was going into a marina on a perm hook-up so didn`t want the wind genny.
Yes i agree it will take a long time to pay for itself but it has reduced my engine running (when the wind blows) so i`m happy with it.
Maybe i`m going soft and green in my old age.
Look forward to seeing you sometime, say hi to Vic.

Les Biggs said...

Hi Sandra
It`s a wind genny not a windmill.
See you soon.
PS your cakes are scrummy.

NB Valerie & Steam Train by Les Biggs

NB Valerie & Steam Train by Les Biggs