any new ops on wind gens?

[rebel heart]

the airx breeze is pretty loud. the normal airx isn't as bad it seems, because in the higher winds the wind itself makes a lot of noise. but the breeze spins fast in low wind, so it's pretty annoying.

but i'd much rather have a wind generator than anything using fossil fuels. the noise is nothing compared the damage to the environment. i'd just keep the noise down if possible; but not at the risk of not installing a wind generator at all.

[Gemini]

I recently installed a Duo Gen. It mount on a arm that can be fastend in the up position for Wind or dropped into the water for water power generation. Has a wind propeller and a water propeller. Wind propeller is a 5 blade and is extremely quiet and very efficient. About 30 Inches in diameter. The water propeller is about 6 inches in diameter and absolutely silent. In the water power output is 8 amps at 6 kts, 13 amps at 7 kts and 20 amps at 8 kts. A little more spendy than just the water or just the wind but with a dual use it is extremely efficient. www.duogen.com

Hope this helps.

s/v Gemini Daze

[bene505]

I bought a used fourwindsII that I will be installing this spring. It has air brakes on it that limit the rpms. So it has mechanical speed limiting, a feature which I like very much.

I have the charge controller for it (Xantrex C60). Wind generators like to have a load, the C60 handles a dump load, which I will make the water heater. Once the batteries get fully charged, the water will start getting heated.

I still have to pick up the stainless steel poles for it.

[Badsanta]

keep me posted on the dump load and how it works out. Thanks Al

[Bash]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

the airx breeze is pretty loud. the normal airx isn't as bad it seems, because in the higher winds the wind itself makes a lot of noise. but the breeze spins fast in low wind, so it's pretty annoying.

but i'd much rather have a wind generator than anything using fossil fuels. the noise is nothing compared the damage to the environment. i'd just keep the noise down if possible; but not at the risk of not installing a wind generator at all.

We went with the Breeze because our prevailing winds are so high in San Francisco Bay, and it handles the higher wind speeds better than most of the six-blade types. Were I sailing in an area with light air, I'd definitely have gone with a Rutland 913, which is noticeably more quiet at low speeds.

I also agree with your sentiments about preferring wind power to using fossil fuels. Carbon emissions will ultimately do more harm to the anchorage than the whish of my Air Breeze.