Hello everyone.
Is anyone using a wind turbine to charge the caravan batteries.
Either instead of, or as well as solar chargers?
I understand the setup times are different and more time consuming, I am just interested in how effective they are for an alternative to a petrol generator, or portable solar panels.
I have plenty of solar, and plenty of battery capacity, so not looking for advise on either of those, just first hand experience of people that have used them.
Many thanks
Meredith said
02:15 PM May 8, 2023
Haven't used them but they are fairly inefficient in any winds that you would actually want to camp in, they are also noisy. Cost/benefit they really are a loser compared to solar or even a generator.
spida said
07:08 PM May 8, 2023
So they dont 'spin' while driving/ Would seem a logical way to create the wind.
Meredith said
10:39 PM May 9, 2023
spida wrote:
So they dont 'spin' while driving/ Would seem a logical way to create the wind.
If they spun when driving they would create drag on the vehicle increasing your fuel bill, any power output from the wind turbine would be considerably less than the extra power expended, that's why it is not done.
Jaahn said
05:08 PM May 12, 2023
Graham a short answer.
Despite thinking that 'hell the *#? wind is always blowing', in reality the amount of power is small usually. To get any power you need an uncomfortable high wind, a turbine bigger than is easier to handle, and the turbine needs to be up quite a bit to be in the good wind. So not many bother for such a small return. They may not be noisy if well designed but cheap ones may be.
However on sailing boats they are used often. But they are out in the wind and might still only get a low power return to keep the batteries charged for radio use and a couple of lights and not much else.
The comment about using the wind while driving is easily answered by saying that a connection to the vehicles alternator while driving will provide heaps more power, possibly x10-x20 as much with no drag or cost.'
cheers jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Friday 12th of May 2023 05:10:06 PM
Macka1706 said
09:27 PM Jul 13, 2023
Wind Turbines I've used on Yachts for over 30 yrs. Fine. low input unless it blowing a min, of 25knots plus and faster = NOISIER. I have one sitting in shed for 25 yrs. was only 6 months old when I bought it. Then sold the yacht. Was going to install over top of Carport for power to caravan in Carport. (Live on coast). Hmmm Never got round to it. One day I'll go down the Marina and give somebody a birthday Pressie hey. Cost= over a grand then. NOW. Hmmm $20 maybe...... The Stainless Post and base worth more. Double pulley on front of engine and second high output Alt is more useful. IF room for it on these tiny little engine bays.
I installed a second cable from Battery bank through second plug on Drawbar. to a cable a sparky wired in to a sw to Patrol Alt.
Worked a treat for over 15 yrs.
-- Edited by Macka1706 on Thursday 13th of July 2023 09:30:54 PM
If they spun when driving they would create drag on the vehicle increasing your fuel bill, any power output from the wind turbine would be considerably less than the extra power expended, that's why it is not done.
Graham a short answer.
Despite thinking that 'hell the *#? wind is always blowing', in reality the amount of power is small usually. To get any power you need an uncomfortable high wind, a turbine bigger than is easier to handle, and the turbine needs to be up quite a bit to be in the good wind. So not many bother for such a small return. They may not be noisy if well designed but cheap ones may be.
However on sailing boats they are used often. But they are out in the wind and might still only get a low power return to keep the batteries charged for radio use and a couple of lights and not much else.
The comment about using the wind while driving is easily answered by saying that a connection to the vehicles alternator while driving will provide heaps more power, possibly x10-x20 as much with no drag or cost.'
cheers jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Friday 12th of May 2023 05:10:06 PM
Wind Turbines I've used on Yachts for over 30 yrs. Fine. low input unless it blowing a min, of 25knots plus and faster = NOISIER.
I have one sitting in shed for 25 yrs. was only 6 months old when I bought it. Then sold the yacht. Was going to install over top of Carport for power to caravan in Carport. (Live on coast). Hmmm Never got round to it.
One day I'll go down the Marina and give somebody a birthday Pressie hey. Cost= over a grand then. NOW. Hmmm $20 maybe......
The Stainless Post and base worth more.
Double pulley on front of engine and second high output Alt is more useful. IF room for it on these tiny little engine bays.
I installed a second cable from Battery bank through second plug on Drawbar. to a cable a sparky wired in to a sw to Patrol Alt.
Worked a treat for over 15 yrs.
-- Edited by Macka1706 on Thursday 13th of July 2023 09:30:54 PM