Marine Wind Generator Setup?

Happy sailing!

But I wonder why you are looking for a 3-phase converter in order to supply a 1-phase load such as a TV.

I have more then the tv just using as an example, theres the batteries, gps, dept finder, radio, an also a outlet, all this is in my boat but i cant say i ever used any of it except the motor.

As far as I know, those are all single-phase loads, too. You speak of a motor, but I think you are referring to the diesel engine that you mentioned before. Your terminology seems a bit confused.

How about VERY confused....?

Hey, more power too you (no pun intended) for making your own way in the world and learning things as you go. But now you are literally playing with fire. Electricity is not something to dabble in, amatuers are killed and injured every day. Do some work, save some money and hire a professional. You are risking your life and the lives of anyione else who is on your boat.

Very true, but i dont make enough to hire a professional thou i have enough for the equipment necessary an i did keep that in mind, multiable fail safe switches will be put in by myself

What math? Have you actually furnished any in this thread?

Well I've survived a lot longer than you have....You have not answered the question, do you have a 12 hp electric motor in this boat? or is it a 12 v trolling motor?

I suppose your some what right but at what cost to your dreams an ambitions. 12 Hp electric inboard runs off three deep cycle batteries i also have an old conveyor belt motor i converted to a generator witch charges my batteries very slow an is not fire safe that why i would like to upgrade, how would you really replace a diesel motor with a trolling motor plus there surprisingly pricey.

That's just the thing, a trolling motor would not work reliably, for one thing you would need at least 150lb of thrust, that means probably 3 trolling motors...now granted 1 might be sufficient in dead calm moving with the tide, but still risky as an under powered boat is hard to steer....Better to get a little 35 hp gas powered outboard...Use the windmills for battery chargers and suppliment those with solar pv panels...But you still need a control system for charging, and they are not cheap, you can easily ruin your batteries by overcharging or undercharging...You know the boat needs to be taken out of the water every 3 yrs or so to have the bottom repainted, that's not cheap, even doing it yourself...and you need to scrape the barnacles every 6 mos or so....I had scuba setup, still really hard to do...The best way is to pull the boat out every year and do a bottom clean and inspection...

GA for your knowledge & common sense.

There are plenty here who haven't a clue, including the OP!!

What do you need the three phase power for exactly?

Everything you listed are at best simple single phase powered devices of which many of those can be purchased in versions that use common 12 volt DC battery power directly without any power conversion required.

I am guessing the 12 horsepower electric motor replaced the original propulsion/drive engine in the boat?

What are the motors input power requirements in volts and amps and is it a direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC) three phase motor?

How big are your batteries in amp hours (AH) ratings?

Without this information no one here can give you any useful or workable ideas or suggestions.

Blair, I would hook up the two wind generators in parallel. There is your simple answer.Good luck, Ace

Sounds like fun. I, too, spent about thirty of my years living aboard, sailing, houseboats, and off-grid housing. Even built a solar-powered Hobie 18 with no sails (I got the hulls and trampoline free). Have fun, Blair. Just make sure you have a couple mildly oversized anchors, and some serious rode for them. Electric motors hate marine environments. And that old Irwin hull will need an epoxy coat, likely, for blisters. You'll need a controller for the motor, unless you plan to fire it in spurts, but watch for sparks at the batteries, which will be outgassing explosive hydrogen when heavily loaded. Make a good story at the bar, if you live, though. Learn to sail light airs really well. Look at getting a rotating mast. Really improves the problems with stall-outs in light airs, especially with a full-batten sail. Keep the batteries as fully charged as possible, without overcharging. Lead acid battery life is directly proportional to the time and depth they spend discharged, and it ain't much.

Can you swim? with one battery no back up engine & at 21 I think swimming may be a must & to Olympic standards at that.

Bazzer

Blair, like several of your responders I moved aboard to live full time and I did it when I was 21 also.

Lack of formal schooling is not necessarily a detriment. What counts is whether or not you are willing to accept constructive criticism and have enough self dicipline to learn on your own.

As for your proposal I see some pitfalls. I am a marine electrician and passed tge ABYC test. I was even asked to teach the course to a dozen electricians at a large builder.

Perhaps it was misleading to send you a link to the Miami boat show. I worked that show when I was employed by Xantrex but there are less expensive ways while keeping safe.

As several others have pointed out the numbers do not add up for a sucessful system as proposed. However that does not mean you can't make it work provided you make a few alterations. I have ideas for that but it would get too lenghty to outline in this forum -especially in this text box. After my stroke I have troubles writing them in thefirst place. Poor vision means I don't always see things spelcheker misses.

You do not need to parallel the two wind turbines. If the motor is a 3 phase AC motor consider driving with a VFD powered through an inverter. The wind turbines can be independent and charge your traction batteries individually.

I think 12HP electric is over powering a 28 foot Irwin. 5HP would do. Until you learn how to sail without a motor I suggest staying on the outside instead of the inside passage. Better winds for the turbines as well. I learned to sail well enough I could even sail right into my slip with out bumping. Got yelled at by harbor master for sailing in harbor but I said my engine had quit. When you can sail backwards in light winds consider yourself a master mariner.

Wow I have to say you have impressed me i worked for lurhs. Sailing is a fairly easy task thou i cant say Ive every sailed into a slip before which is totally awesome btw. I fashioned mine own gibe preventer with a pulley an old mast parts when you been sailing all day tacking gets to be pain an takes to long you just want to get to a cove

Do you really think a 5hp will do, I was afraid it would be to weak agenst the current. An with two turbines do i need two converters aswell or inverters i cant say i know much but or anything really what they do except the inverter i have i can charger my labtop from my battery

Your intuition is correct, 5hp is not enough to allow safe maneuvering of your boat in almost any situation except dead calm: zero current and zero wind.

With only 5 hp, staying is a typical small dredged channel would be impossible with a small cross current a moderate headwind. Running aground instead of succeeding in navigating a year typical port entry/exit would suck... it is also one of the most mild downsides to being woefully underpowered.

Even many smaller fully keeled sailboats in the 23-25ft range could not be controlled with only 5hp with a moderate headwind and a small cross current.

Your boat originally installed 18hp diesel. Having close to 18 hp available, even if just for limited periods, would be smart.

A very basic understanding of AC and DC circuits and electrical machines is necessary before any explanation of an inverter will make sense. Try www.karnacadamy.org for videos or use wikipedia for reading on those subjects and the interactions of the various components will being to come together for you.

I never realised that I am a master mariner, I thought all good sailing teachers/instructors made their pupils learn that, at least mine did!! Otherwise we would not have got our first sailing certificate...

You imply that many cannot do that, how sad.....

That was nearly 60 years ago, Oh hell, doesn't time go fast!

I learnt sailing without ANY motor at all.....now harbour masters get upset. Don't times change.....motors were then only for rich people with a lot of money in those days, and took up space, destroyed balance and added weight!!!

A big day sailer with no motor is a great place to learn....and woe betide you if you scratched the paint!!

Blair

I think you may find this useful: DIY solar panel

Combined with some connecting and soldering and probably encapsulating ( kit lacks supplies for encapsulating) this kit makes solar power available for under 50 cents a watt even adding some additional cost to encapsulate. The 500 cell kit could make ~ 900 watts.

This is much cheaper than any other sources I have seen on a dollar per watt basis, and might be a good way to supplement your windmills in charging your battery banks.

It seems to have good reviews from buyers as well.

Blair

do yourself a favor. Find Professional Boatbuilder magazine current issue on-line and look up the column 'ROVINGS' by Dan spurr on electric boat builders. There are plenty to choose from. One sidebar is about someone who converted a morgan 30 using a 9 HP electric motor. Given your age and apparent lack of things nautical you may not be aware that increasing horsepower to a displacement hull does not increase speed appreciably. It simply digs a deeper hole in the water and consumes more power. 12 HP electric is simply a big waste of watts. The article is very useful to someone like you because it gives brand names and prices. The product names are the most important because it will give you an idea of what to look for that has already proven to work. With luck and ingenuity you can probably find a solution that will work but as presented in your original post you are heading for frustration and disappointment.