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Forum Index : Windmills : 100 series for a narrowboat ?
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Bernie the Bolt Regular Member  Joined: 26/10/2006 Location: United KingdomPosts: 45 |
Hi folk ! It's been a long time since i was on here, I have missed you all . A lot has happened since , I am no longer living in France but am back in the UK about to go and live on board a narrowboat . I still have a 100 series motor I was going to use in France, but am now wondering about modifying the design of mill to suit being mounted on the roof of a narrowboat . Narrowboats are only 6'10" beam and are narrower on the roof so rotor about 4' diameter would not get in the way when lowered to the roof . I was thinking of using a grp windsurfing mast for the pole. My mooring will be on a canal next to the Severn estuary , between Bristol and Gloucester so it does get winds up the estuary fresh off the Atlantic. Narrowboats typically have 3 or 4 x 110 amp leisure batteries. My target would be 300 watts to supplement solar, What thoughts and suggestions do you guys have ? Regards Bernie Bernie the Bolt I'd rather be sailing! |
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fillm Guru  Joined: 10/02/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 730 |
Hi Bernie, Sounds like a nice life cruising the canals, 100S getting 300W will be a strong to gale force Atlantic wind but 100S can get there .. I take it you mean 12V?, you might get away with a un-modfied stator in delta or 2x7P in star. Blade size and quality will be the limiting factor as I would think that you will only be able to go no more than 1m ~ 1.2M Dia Max on a boat like that as neighbours might get upset ..... PhillM ...Oz Wind Engineering..Wind Turbine Kits 500W - 5000W ~ F&P Dual Kits ~ GOE222Blades- Voltage Control Parts ------- Tower kits |
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| Bernie the Bolt Regular Member Joined: 26/10/2006 Location: United KingdomPosts: 45 |
Hi Phil, What setup would you recommend to reduce cogging ? - with smaller blades than normal start up could be a problem. How difficult is it to replace the magnets with neos ? Bernie the Bolt I'd rather be sailing! |
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| fillm Guru Joined: 10/02/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 730 |
Hi Bernie, Twisting the poles is by for the best decog method, using High lift blades like the GOE222 will give you the best chance with small Dia start up and at making good power as well as being quiet as they can be. ( sorry if I am pushing my own product but they just do it) Adding neos to the F&P hub is not simple and greatly increases start torque and iorn drag , you will need the biggest of Atlantic blows get it going .... Better 50 ~ 100 watts running all day than 5 mins of 500W. PhillM ...Oz Wind Engineering..Wind Turbine Kits 500W - 5000W ~ F&P Dual Kits ~ GOE222Blades- Voltage Control Parts ------- Tower kits |
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Don B Senior Member  Joined: 27/09/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 190 |
Hi Bernie, As an old yachtie I can appreciate the need for extracting as much of the free stuff as you can gather to power your floating home. I also endorse Film's comments about his recommended blades. This will probably give you the opportunity to gather as much wind power as is available in your profile, although you then need an effective alternator to extract as much energy as can can be obtained. When space is limited, you need to go for the most effective set up that you can have. The problem for you is that the wind power close to the ground (or water) is limited, and your options for elevating your turbine to any significant (and more productive) height are limited. I would therefore also consider fitting solar panels to every feasible surface, as the sun shines more regularly than useable wind blows. Please keep posting, as it is always interesting to hear how much free stuff you have managed to gather. Regards Don B |
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| Bernie the Bolt Regular Member Joined: 26/10/2006 Location: United KingdomPosts: 45 |
Hi guys, sorry for the 11 months gap , here is an update. We are the proud owners of " Simba Dada " a 57' steel Narrowboat typically seen on Britiish canals . She is a modern boat (2006) with a good Beta marine 43 hp Diesel engine ( marinised Kubota dumper truck motor ) The boat has a Dometic travel pack fitted which provides 3.5 kW 240v when the engine is running ( enabling us to use a normal washing machine when underway) The leisure batteries were knackered so I have replaced them with 4 x Trojan T105 6v wired in pairs parallel / series to give 450 ah @ 12v. The shore power battery charger was kaput and had been replaced with a 5amp automotive one which could not keep pace with lights plus fridge , hence the knackered batteries. I have replaced this with a Sterling 40 amp 3 stage charger. There was no method of monitoring the battery state so I have fitted a " Smart gauge " this accurately tells me the percentage of charge . Storage on a Narrowboat is , as you can imagine - a challenge , so I have built roof boxes with solar panels as the lids. They will eventually be hinged for easy access and Improve solar capture. There is 2 x Panasonic 240 watt wired in series to a Tracer 40 amp mppt controller. I would have liked a bigger controller to allow for future expansion, but 40 amp is the biggest Tracer make in that range. We did go on cruise in August and the panels worked great (32 amps on one day ) and allowed us to stay off grid without having to start the engine. Our usual mooring is heavily shaded by trees which is great for keeping us cool in the summer, but not for solar power . Anyway the panels are still proving enough on bright days to run the 12v fridge and the lights without putting the charger on . I am hoping when the leaves fall this may improve , but of course the daylight ours will be less. I will try and post some pictures as I am sure you will be interested. Regards , Bernie the Bolt I'd rather be sailing! |
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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
Hi Bernie Thanks for the update. Yes I would like to see pictures when you get a chance. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| Bernie the Bolt Regular Member Joined: 26/10/2006 Location: United KingdomPosts: 45 |
Here art pictures as promised of "Simba Dada" 
Bernie the Bolt I'd rather be sailing! |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
She's a nice looking boat Bernie The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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Tinker Guru Joined: 07/11/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1904 |
Agree with Gizmo, nice looking boat indeed. But the method of steering her - standing up at the aft end - must be very tiring on long stretches or in bad weather. Does you boat have a forward inside steering position? Klaus |
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| Bernie the Bolt Regular Member Joined: 26/10/2006 Location: United KingdomPosts: 45 |
Thanks Gizmo & Tinker , we are pleased with her. They have no forward steering position , they are traditionally steered from the stern. This style of boat is a modern interpretation of a traditional cargo carrying barge - they had a very small " Boatmans cabin" only extending forward about ten feet. Forward of this was an open hold for the load which was sheeted over with tarps. During the 1960/1970's after the demise of the canal system for commercial transport , it has been gradually restored and is now used by leisure boaters and folks such as ourselves whom live aboard. I usually sit on the roof beside the open hatch to steer in sunny weather , but am thinking of fitting a shelter like this one :- 
Bernie the Bolt I'd rather be sailing! |
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