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08-14-2014, 05:10 AM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1995 30' Excella
Bowie
, Maryland
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,345
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...charges as you drive...
Or you could install a better charge line from your alternator to your trailer for a lot less money that wouldn't increase your wind resistance. There have been a couple threads on doing this.
__________________
1995 Airstream Classic 30' Excella 1000
2014 Ram 2500 Crew Cab with Cummins 6.7L Diesel
Sold but not forgotten: 1991 Airstream B190
Sold: 2006 F-250 6.0L Powerstroke Supercab
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08-14-2014, 05:59 AM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2011 34' Classic
Westchester Cty.NY
, / Miami FL
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,122
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only 4K eh? how much output do you get for that?
no wind no power. $4k buys a very nice solar pkg with lots of reserve. let me know when they're 75% off on black friday ;-)
__________________
Ricky
2012 F150 Super Crew 5-1/2' bed Ecoboost 4x4 3.73 elec. lock diff. Propride hitch
give life. kidney & pancreas transplant 9/9/06
Ingrid-my unofficial '"World's Oldest Streamer" 1909-2008 R.I.P.
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08-14-2014, 06:15 AM
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#4
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Figment of My Imagination
2012 Interstate Coach
From All Over
, More Than Anywhere Else
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,868
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I've not been able to find technical specifications on this device (naturally, since it's still in Kickstarter, not in production). As an engineer, that immediately prompts a "wait-and-see" approach. I can't judge technology based solely on marketing hype.
I can speculate, though… A wind generator is still a generator; you're just getting the power from the wind and not from an internal combustion engine. Wind generators can only harness about 60% of the kinetic energy in wind as a theoretical maximum. But most wind generators operate about 75% to 80% of the Betz limit, or between 45% and 48% of the kinetic energy in wind.
So to replace your 3kW Honda gasoline generator with a wind generator, you need one that produces 3kW of electrical energy, which requires about 6.67kW of wind kinetic energy. There are formulas for calculating the energy content of wind based on wind speed, air density, and effective cross-sectional area of the device. Since we don't know the effective cross-sectional area of this device, (no specs published) that's where we're stuck.
But it's a pretty safe bet that for a device small enough that you can mount on the roof of your RV, you're talking a goodly amount of wind. Enough wind that you'd never be able to safely deploy your awning. So it's a good thing it would charge your batteries while traveling down the road, because you wouldn't want it charging them while you're parked!
And I sure hope you never hit an overhanging tree branch with one; that would be one expensive repair!
If you're thinking of joining the Kickstarter campaign, stick with getting a little one that you can set up on a picnic table to run your laptop or charge your tablet.
__________________
I thought getting old would take longer!
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08-14-2014, 06:18 AM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2007 Interstate
Sneedville
, Tennessee
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,753
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You have to buy it to find out what's in it.
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08-14-2014, 12:10 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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I have to agree with Protagonist. There is not enough data to support what they are saying. My thoughts are most of the energy is coming from a battery that is fully charged before you even start the day. I have a feeling that if the little turbine had to charge that battery that it would take a week to do it if there were no devices drawing power from it and it was dead to start with. The battery in the thing is big enough that the contribution from the wind is minor.
Perry
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08-14-2014, 01:46 PM
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#7
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Full Time Adventurer
2007 27' International CCD FB
Nomadic
, USA
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,748
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What happens on calm days?
__________________
Family of 5 exploring the USA with a Ram Power Wagon & Airstream in tow.
OUR BLOG | INSTAGRAM
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08-14-2014, 01:55 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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You plug it in to charge the battery and it has enough energy to run all your toys even if the wind does not blow.
Perry
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08-18-2014, 03:45 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2005 31' Classic
Garner,
, North Carolina
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,031
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looks like a nice item but for less money you can get a marine grade wind turbine that will work better and live longer.
But i do agree sometime you need a wind turbine when you have no sun. A lot of places get some wind at some time and if you park under shade the panels are not all that effective.
My cousin has both panels and turbine on his boat.
nice find none the less..
__________________
Carl, Raleigh NC
2-24-16 got a 2005 Classic 31D 460 watts solar, lithium 230 AH, 16" LT's, pulled by:
2003 F-250 SD, CC, 7.3L PowerStroke
WBCCI#1691, Piedmont Airstream Club, Unit #161, Region #3
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05-11-2015, 08:41 PM
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#10
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2 Rivet Member
2012 22' FB Sport
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 51
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Amazon Wind Generator - using microphone stand. Keeps 12v charged in 10mph wind.
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05-11-2015, 08:56 PM
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#11
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3 Rivet Member
2015 16' Sport
Oakville
, Ontario
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 234
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BoldAdventure
What happens on calm days?
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It's a fan.
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05-12-2015, 05:21 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1995 30' Excella
Bowie
, Maryland
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,345
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulG_4307
Amazon Wind Generator - using microphone stand. Keeps 12v charged in 10mph wind.
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Is that this one? If so, it looks like it's only 15 watts, so it'll keep a battery that's not being used much topped off, but not much else. Still, it's a cool find.
__________________
1995 Airstream Classic 30' Excella 1000
2014 Ram 2500 Crew Cab with Cummins 6.7L Diesel
Sold but not forgotten: 1991 Airstream B190
Sold: 2006 F-250 6.0L Powerstroke Supercab
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05-13-2015, 09:10 AM
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#13
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2 Rivet Member
2012 22' FB Sport
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 51
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Yes that's it. Adding 15-55 watts with wind and solar keeps our 12v in the 25% to 90% charged range. We have all led lights and use a Endless Breeze 12v fan and water pump. The TV uses 25watts using a 75watt Inverter. Keeps our small stuff charged like phones tablet laptop and 2way radios. We have lasted up to 5 days unplugged. Ran out of water.
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05-13-2015, 01:36 PM
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#14
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Winemaker
2022 25' Flying Cloud
Avila Beach
, California
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 243
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Being the simpleton that I am, I do not think I would want to be parked in area where the wind was sufficient to turn a generator. I like drinking my cocktails on still evenings!
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05-13-2015, 02:11 PM
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#15
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Figment of My Imagination
2012 Interstate Coach
From All Over
, More Than Anywhere Else
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,868
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rgwatkin
Being the simpleton that I am, I do not think I would want to be parked in area where the wind was sufficient to turn a generator. I like drinking my cocktails on still evenings!
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Since I gave up alcohol years ago, I don't know about drinking cocktails anymore. But anyplace where it's windy enough to use a wind-powered generator is too windy to use my awning!
__________________
I thought getting old would take longer!
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