MarineBeam.com MarineKinetix MK450 Marine Wind Generator

I have seen several of these this year, and it seems from what I have read, that this is the new best wind machine out on the market. I know of two Island Packet Yachts that have these:
IP37 WHY KNOT
IP32 MORNING GRACE

store.marinebeam.com/wind-turbine.html

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These are quiet and they are reported to put out the power very well. They start up in 5 knots of wind and add breaks at 28 knots.

Progress is being made as I install the MK450 Wind Turbine. I now have the pole mounted and secured and the machine connected at the top and the controller installed below. Final wiring is next. Here are some issues I worked out. The pole was a challenge due to the bimini frame mounted so wide on our boat. There was no way to use the hinge base pole mount to hinge the pole forward to the deck for mounting. So, I had to work out the mounting onto the pole while all was off on the dock and then lift the entire rig into position and pin the down struts. For service in the future, I will have to do the same, unwire the bottom and pull the wire feed back to deck, then un pin the down struts and pull the entire pole and rig.

The other issue learned is that they call for 10/3 wire from the turbine to the controller! WOW that is large and heavy. This requires a wire restraining rig at the top to hold the weight of the wire up so it does not pull on the turbine wires. So I made a SS wire rig that is connected to the two wire tires on the 10/3 and then I ran this up and over the pole. This is then clamped to the pole with the turbine under the silicone padding. The weight of the wire will now hang on this hook.

Clamping the turbine onto the pole with the silicone padding and the bracket was a challenge, but it is well designed. These clamp bolts could be longer to make it easier, but it worked.

Here are some photos as I progress.

This is the SS wire restraint I made to hold up the 10/3


The top connections with heat shrink.


I sighted with the mast to make sure it was plum


Right now it does lean aft just a bit. I will adjust this with the forward strut.

Full PHOTO ESSAY ADDED HERE:

www.ipyoa.com/photos?view=album&aid=374

Here is my first VIDEO of the MK450 up and running in about 5 knots of wind. This unit is quiet and starts up with 4-5 knots of wind.



Hayden

I am well into year #2 running thie Marine Kinetix MK450 Wind Turbine by MarineBeam.com and it is really a great unit. These past two days sitting on anchor off the St. Augustine Fort in 15-20 knots of wind, we awoke to our battery bank at 12.8 volts and the unit putting out an easy 10 amps in 15-20 knots and in gust to 20-25 we saw 14-16 amps. We are running an AB super cold machine refrigerator and two laptop and a network along with an invertor, TV and phone chargers. All was covered last night by the wind machine. Now, the daylight hots the solar and the battery banks sits there at full all day long. I do like the combination of wind and solar, because all night long the wind machine will keep charging the bank. Usually the charge is 2,4, 6 amps, but when the wind blows hard, it can really put out the amps.

Here are some photos of proof. Note, I added a DC shunt to the ouput line of the wind controller.







Hayden, anchored St. Augustine, FL

We are anchored in Black Point Exumas, Bahamas with the tradewinds blowing a solid 20-25 gusting to 30. We awoke to a battery bank at 13.2 volts, freezer / frig running, and a full battery bank. All day today, we worked with two laptops, an inverter on and our 120 volt outlets live as well. The sun is shining and the solar panels are off due to the wind machine making all the power. I have to say, having a wind machine is really amazing, especially if the wind is blowing 15-20 knots.

I would buy this MK450 wind machine again, it is a fantastic set up. The controller uses electromagnetic braking to stop the blades in winds over 30 knots or when the battery voltage is over 14.1, either of these situations stops the turbine. If I had a spectra 8 amp / 8 gallon/hr watermaker, I could make water off this solar and wind set up in 15-20 knots of wind.

This is fantastic.

Hayden, in the Exumas