Wind Generation

[Ed Carlson]

Looking to add a wind generator above mizzen spreaders on our CD30 ketch, Skywind. Has anyone completed such a project? Suggestions as to best system for power output, and quiet operation? Thanks in advance.



skywindmcm@aol.com

[Michael Bond]

Ed, I have a Amp Air100 which I installed about 4 yrs ago on my mizzen. My boat is a very early CD 30 ketch(hull#4). I do not have spreaders on my mizzen. I have seen several ketches with mizzen spreaders though. I don't know when the addition of spreaders began. What year is your boat? The rated outputs for all of the wind devices is much higher than what you can expect to actually get. I installed a seperate regulator just for the wind generator. The output goes directly to my house bank of 3 135 amp hr batteries. This seems to be a pretty good set up. If the wind is 10 plus knots all is well. Less than 10 knts the gain is minimal. I spent ten days at anchor in Key West with the wind at 15 plus with the refrigeration on continous and anchor light, stereo, cabin lights ect. and the batteries remained full the entire time without any engine running. The Amp Air unit is a very heavy duty unit. The rated out put is a bit more realistic than some of the others. This unit is almost totally silent and requires no feathering in high winds. I have friends who prefer the four winds unit,but I find the noise that the two blade systems make to be uncomfortable and not worth the difference in output. Plus the units have to be feathered when it kicks up. On this boat I don't think that you can find room for any of the big two blade units. I looked at several of the small units and selected the Amp Air for its real construction. The other types all seemed to very lightly built and more "cute" than actually servicable. If you choose to install one of these devices make sure you have it high enough to prevent conflict with your main topping lift. One morning after a brisk night off shore I discovered a wonderfull ball of stainless wire around the blades of my generator! The topping lift had skyed during the night and found a very secure home in the generator. You will also need to add a fairlead near the location of the generator for the up-bound side of the mizzen halyard to prevent it from finding it's way into trouble when it's slack when dousing the mizzen. Other than these operator errors the unit is a very nice addition to the boat. Good luck with your project.

Michael Bond
CD30 K
Hull # 4
SeaBrook, Tx.



bondmichael@worldnet.att.net

[Leo MacDonald CD33]

Ed, I have a Amp Air100 which I installed about 4 yrs ago on my mizzen. My boat is a very early CD 30 ketch(hull#4). I do not have spreaders on my mizzen. I have seen several ketches with mizzen spreaders though. I don't know when the addition of spreaders began. What year is your boat? The rated outputs for all of the wind devices is much higher than what you can expect to actually get. I installed a seperate regulator just for the wind generator. The output goes directly to my house bank of 3 135 amp hr batteries. This seems to be a pretty good set up. If the wind is 10 plus knots all is well. Less than 10 knts the gain is minimal. I spent ten days at anchor in Key West with the wind at 15 plus with the refrigeration on continous and anchor light, stereo, cabin lights ect. and the batteries remained full the entire time without any engine running. The Amp Air unit is a very heavy duty unit. The rated out put is a bit more realistic than some of the others. This unit is almost totally silent and requires no feathering in high winds. I have friends who prefer the four winds unit,but I find the noise that the two blade systems make to be uncomfortable and not worth the difference in output. Plus the units have to be feathered when it kicks up. On this boat I don't think that you can find room for any of the big two blade units. I looked at several of the small units and selected the Amp Air for its real construction. The other types all seemed to very lightly built and more "cute" than actually servicable. If you choose to install one of these devices make sure you have it high enough to prevent conflict with your main topping lift. One morning after a brisk night off shore I discovered a wonderfull ball of stainless wire around the blades of my generator! The topping lift had skyed during the night and found a very secure home in the generator. You will also need to add a fairlead near the location of the generator for the up-bound side of the mizzen halyard to prevent it from finding it's way into trouble when it's slack when dousing the mizzen. Other than these operator errors the unit is a very nice addition to the boat. Good luck with your project.

Michael Bond
CD30 K
Hull # 4
SeaBrook, Tx.

Hi Michael,

Sounds VERY interesting. Do you have a web address or point of contact? Thanks.

Fair Winds,
Leo MacDonald
'Evening Light' CD33
(Somewhere in) Long Isl. Sound/Fishers Isl. Sound, CT Fair Winds,



macdoreNOSPAM@aol.com

[Leo MacDonald CD33]

Hi Ed,

You have 'mizzen spreaders' on your CD30 ketch??

Fair Winds,
Leo MacDonald
'Evening Light' CD33
(Somewhere in) Long Isl. Sound/Fishers Isl. Sound, CT Fair Winds,



macdoreNOSPAM@aol.com

[Tim Smale]

I installed an Aerogen wind generator 4 years ago on my mizzen on my CD 36. I installed it above my radar mount about 2/3 up the mast using a stainless steel tube I bent for the application that allows the wind generator to swing 360 degrees and it fits into an alum. tube I had welded to the shaft. The stainless steel tube is also braced further by a stainless steel bracket I purchased from a machine shop.

Doing it all over again, I would not weld anything to the mast again. The heat caused the mast to bend slightly - you can't really see it but I know it's there. I was concerned about corrosion between the mast and stainless steel tube, so I wanted the fixture the tube fit into to be the point of possible corrosive contact instead of the mast.

The installation works well and supplies a trickle charge in SoCal - but in OH provided a nice charge to replace about 10-20 amp hours a day when at anchor (plenty of wind in OH - not much in CA). I installed a regulator with a heat sink in case of overcharging, although this has never been a problem. I use a Heart Interface Link 2000R to monitor everything so can tell at a glance the amps I'm putting back in the house and starting system. For awhile, I had complete seperation between the house and starting batteries and the wind generator was the only way I supplied amps to the starting system - the house system had alternator, wind generator, and AC power generation. I've since changed this somewhat due to lack of wind in SoCal because my starting batteries were not getting proper charging. In windier climes I wouldn't hesitate for complete seperation again, using jumper cables between the house and starting batteries if needed. Otherwise, the run from the starting battery to the selector switch, to the starter causes quite a loss in juice needed to start the motor.

Last week I removed the wind generator because it wasn't doing much besides weathering, so I'm saving it for the cruising we plan on doing in the future.

I believe the wind generator I have is still available from Defender. I purchased mine from the previous boat owner who never installed it. It runs very quiet compared to other models, but it also puts out about 1/2 the amps of the noise-makers. I also don't have to worry about high winds as compared to the other types that are "fair weather" applications. I installed it and forgot about it. There are some excellent sources of information about the differences between the various models and a discussion between generator and alternator types that can be found by searching the web. I have seen articles in the past but can't recall where - possibly Practical Sailor. Also try Sailnet - they have some great resources online.

Probably more than you asked for, but hope it helps anyway. Good luck.

Tim Smale
Freestyle
Oceanside CA



tim@iga.org

[Michael Bond]

Leo, I bought mine from Jack Rabbit Marine. Easy to find by search under same. Jack is very helpful with tech advice too. He's helped me twice while crusing with problems on my electrical system. He is a distributor for several different manufacters. There are probably other sources out there too. Good luck

Michael Bond
"Frivolity"
CD30K
Hull #4
Seabrook, Tx.



bondmichael@worldnet.att.net

[Ed Carlson]

Thanks for your input. Skywind is a '80 ketch hull # 167.



Skywindmcm@aol.com

[John R]

I have the Aerogen (3) also and it has been a very good unit, extremely quiet and compact. Mine mounts on a stainless stern pole on our CD30. Have had it for years, finally refinished it last year. All mechanical parts were okay. Defender sells these units.

I installed an Aerogen wind generator 4 years ago on my mizzen on my CD 36. I installed it above my radar mount about 2/3 up the mast using a stainless steel tube I bent for the application that allows the wind generator to swing 360 degrees and it fits into an alum. tube I had welded to the shaft. The stainless steel tube is also braced further by a stainless steel bracket I purchased from a machine shop.

Doing it all over again, I would not weld anything to the mast again. The heat caused the mast to bend slightly - you can't really see it but I know it's there. I was concerned about corrosion between the mast and stainless steel tube, so I wanted the fixture the tube fit into to be the point of possible corrosive contact instead of the mast.

The installation works well and supplies a trickle charge in SoCal - but in OH provided a nice charge to replace about 10-20 amp hours a day when at anchor (plenty of wind in OH - not much in CA). I installed a regulator with a heat sink in case of overcharging, although this has never been a problem. I use a Heart Interface Link 2000R to monitor everything so can tell at a glance the amps I'm putting back in the house and starting system. For awhile, I had complete seperation between the house and starting batteries and the wind generator was the only way I supplied amps to the starting system - the house system had alternator, wind generator, and AC power generation. I've since changed this somewhat due to lack of wind in SoCal because my starting batteries were not getting proper charging. In windier climes I wouldn't hesitate for complete seperation again, using jumper cables between the house and starting batteries if needed. Otherwise, the run from the starting battery to the selector switch, to the starter causes quite a loss in juice needed to start the motor.

Last week I removed the wind generator because it wasn't doing much besides weathering, so I'm saving it for the cruising we plan on doing in the future.

I believe the wind generator I have is still available from Defender. I purchased mine from the previous boat owner who never installed it. It runs very quiet compared to other models, but it also puts out about 1/2 the amps of the noise-makers. I also don't have to worry about high winds as compared to the other types that are "fair weather" applications. I installed it and forgot about it. There are some excellent sources of information about the differences between the various models and a discussion between generator and alternator types that can be found by searching the web. I have seen articles in the past but can't recall where - possibly Practical Sailor. Also try Sailnet - they have some great resources online.

Probably more than you asked for, but hope it helps anyway. Good luck.

Tim Smale
Freestyle
Oceanside CA