Wind vs. Solar survey

I've heard the Rutlands are noisy. Is that correct?

Hayden,

We're planning to get a wind generator before our trip in June. We currently have two 85w solar panels and find that they really don't add enough to keep us going. I'd like to swap them out for two or three 150's but I think the wind generator is a must have. I was seriously looking at the Air-X until I came across the SunForce 600 (www.sunforceproducts.com/product_details.php?PRODUCT_ID=188). I think they're both made by the same company. I haven't seen any reviews on the 600 yet so I'm still up in the air (so to speak) about my choice. I've heard a lot of good about the Air-X, especially that it's very quiet. A guy on our dock has one and I can't hear it running from two slips away. I'll try to catch up with him and get a personal review.

Tom

So are you better having a single large controller that can handle your wind and solar or going with 2 separate controllers?

Hayden,
Found this great Practical Sailor article on wind generator tests (www.naviclub.com/Test_comparatif_eoliennes_marine.pdf). Lots of good info but slightly dated (2007).

And here's an update on the Superwind ().

This was interesting until I saw the price.

www.emarineinc.com/categories/Wind-Turbi...irdolphin-1000-Watt/

Hayden,

After looking around I ended up going with my second choice - AIR-X 400. My first choice was the Superwind but the price tag took it out of the running. I found a good package deal from emarine (www.emarineinc.com/products/AirX-12VDC-M...7De10-Cnt-Panel.html). I hope to have it up and running in time for our trip in June and can report back on it then. I did have reservations about the AIR-X because of some posts I'd seen about customer service but it's little brother, the AIR Breeze, performed well in the comparison done by Practical Sailor. From what I can tell the AIR Breeze and the AIR-X are similar designs, same manufacturer. My neighbor has one of the older models and it runs very quietly. I was unable to find any info on the Sunforce 600 and don't really wish to be a Beta tester.

-Tom

I'm gonna weigh in here about the wind generators - after 4 winters living aboard and cruising Exumas, this is the way to go. LOTS of wind in winter there. I also had 100 watt solar panel the last 2 years, but >75% of power came from the wind. There were some IP's we saw decked out with 2-400 watts on the biminis or arches, but peak output is VERY limited to several hours of the day in fixed applications.

I SPECIFICALLY went with an old Windbugger. VERY quiet but it had its share of maintenance issues. I don't think you can get them anymore. Whenever entering an anchorage, we ALWAYS circled around to scope out the AIR X units, then anchored as far away as possible. Maybe the new units are better, but When the wind picks up past 15knots, they howled (my last cruise there was 2007). Anyway, I would rate quietness over cost in importance - you have to sleep with it too!

Wind generator on Chesapeake? IMHO not worth the time or trouble. Choose this over solar though for when you head to Bahamas!

Jesse

I have both 360 watts solar and a 400 watt air-x unit. I installed the solar three seasons back and the air-x two seasons back. We've spent the last four winters in the Bahamas. The solar panels consistently deliver power day after day with no maintenance whatsoever whereas Air-x replaced the wind generator brushes and controller under warranty.

During passages, especially at night, the power from the air-x has been fantastic for keeping things charged particularly so since I have limited battery capacity (220AH) which I plan to change this year. There are many sunny days when my batteries fully charge by noon.

Power wise in the Bahamas I would guess it is close to a wash. I average about 60AH per day from solar, about the same from wind. There are about six good charging hours per day whereas the wind gen consistently delivers 1-3 amps.

My humble opinion is that I consistently get more power from solar but that during cloudy weather which frequently come with northers the wind gen does a great job. So, with the reliability of solar I would go with it first.

Ed Jacks

We have never regretted not having a wind generator. It would shadow the solar panels...we have 2 120W Kyocera on the arch. Chuck sorta wishes he had bought a towed gen but we just don't have enuf big seas left in our travels to make it worth it. Our friends love theirs.

Wind generators screw up SSB reception and are noisy. We have 600 amp hours in the house bank and the last set of batteries lasted over 4 years. We are in the minority out here in that most folks seem to have wind generators. Chuck says it would make more sense to have 2 wind generators than both.

While in the Florida Keys thru April 2011, I took advantage of a $100 on-board energy consultation by SALT of Marathon, FL. It was the best $100 I spent on the boat so far! Concerning the solar/wind question, I started with a Sanyo 215N Solar Panel and a Morningstar controller. That one 215 watt panel has kept my six Group 31 Lifeline AGM batteries at 98% until we returned to Pennsylvania July 1...and that includes powering a big box refrigerator/freezer in a 1999 IP while enduring 90 degree temps in the Keys. The old Crosby belt drive refrigeration system draws 45ah while running, but yet we never saw the batteries drop below 90%.

In addition to a Sanyo panel and six new Lifeline batteries, SALT also recommended all LED house lighting and Digital LED fridge controllers. Those changes went a long way toward making us energy independent. FYI- the six Group 27 Lifeline batteries I replaced were 3 months shy of ten years old! That was the only sales pitch I needed to stay with Lifeline.

Although Charbonneau still has a pole mount for wind generation, I have been so pleased with the Sanyo panel that if needed, I'll add a second panel before looking at wind generation. The silence is beautiful!

Bill Chappell

s/v Charbonneau

Glad someone else has shared our experience and has documented it so well. We just had good feelings about it.

I often wonder if folks just get wind generators because they were around before solar and seem to be somehow what you do. I just wish solar panels looked better. I do know that I would like to have them on a house when I have one of those someday!

When we bought Island Pearl (IP40)she came with one 120w solar and 1 x Air X which seemed OK but after loading her up with 2 TV's, sound system with booster & sub woofer, and many electronics we clearly needed more. We eventually built a new rear davit system which could take 3 x 120w solar panels and two wind gens (old Air X plus the new replacement model - Air Breeze).
Whilst this may seem overkill (and somewhat cluttered at the rear), in my view it's about functionality and the great news is we have never had to plug in anywhere and having both wind and solar covers all the bases. Often I prefer a windy anchorage at night as I can have the TV going, computer charging and still be getting a net positive inflow of power. With this setup Solar is still the dominant power source on a sunny summer day but at night I now love windy anchorages too. In terms of smart smart charge controllers we have two, both correctly rated, one for the 3 x 120w solar panels and a separate one for the combined 2 x Air Gens. In terms of brands my vote would certainly be for the Air Breeze. Only thing I would do differently is to try to have a system whereby the solar panels could be tilted to the sun. It is amazing how much more power comes through when they are angled better to sun.

We have 2 85 watt solar panels and the air-breeze unit. When one system isn't working the other one usually is. It's worked great for us. We spent 4 months in the Bahamas last season on the hook. We never had to start the engine for energy needs.