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#1 Piddlin

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Posted 28 April 2019 - 01:29 AM

I have searched this site and can not find anything. Has anyone researched or experimented using a wind turbine to charge the batteries?

 

We will spend most of our camping fishing on the beach. Regardless if the sun is out or not, the wind is almost always blowing 10+ mph. it looks like 400w kits on Amazon for ~$200, but have mixed reviews.


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#2 Alley-Kat

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Posted 28 April 2019 - 01:23 PM

Back in 2010 I briefly considered doing this.

 

My idea was to have alternate electrical power sources, i.e., solar AND wind.

 

At the time all the small wind turbines had a built in battery charge controller that would not work well with other electrical battery charging sources, such as solar, the truck alternator, or a portable generator. I explored methods of making it work, including having only one charging source connected to the battery at a time, however, most of the wind power experts that I read articles from said that was not really a good idea. So, I didn't go any farther in my research.

 

It seemed that if the wind turbine was going to be the only source of charging the battery it would have worked well. Back in 2010 wind turbines were primarily set up for fixed base, off the grid, home installations. However, converting to a portable type of installation on a truck camper would have been feasible, provided it was the only electrical charging source because of the built in battery charge controller.

 

Maybe things have changed since 2010.

 

I do have a marine wind turbine on the sailboat, however, it is connected to a separate battery bank that is not charged by any other source and it does not provide power to any devices that get power from another power source. So, that electrical system is completely isolated from all other electrical systems. And, it does have a built in battery charge controller.


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#3 Bigfoot Dave

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Posted 28 April 2019 - 07:08 PM

I notice that BHA Solar offers several wind turbines. Haven't tried one yet but it would be good to ask them about Alley-Kat's research. I did buy a portable solar setup from them and they were good to work with. I have it set up so I can add it to my Trimetric 2030SC in the camper or the boat. Good luck, Bigfoot Dave


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#4 JHanson

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Posted 30 April 2019 - 04:45 AM

My wife and I have had wind turbine power as a supplement to solar power at our off-grid residence for over ten years. I would caution you to be wary of claims for turbines, especially inexpensive models. Often the rated power is produced only at very high wind speeds, and cut-in speeds (when the turbine starts producing power) can be high as well. If you plan to camp for days at a time, the bulk of a turbine (for transport) and the setup hassle might be worth it; otherwise I'd prefer a portable PV panel.


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