An alternative to solar when camping?

[rick130]

Portable Wind Catcher turbine pops up in a claimed 15 minutes (https://newatlas.com/outdoors/wind-catcher-portable-turbine/)

Overnight charging if there's a breeze. [emoji6]

[BradC]

The vital question is “how much noise does it make?”.

[PhilipA]

Or you could go for a 1 hour drive.

regards PhilipA

[101RRS]

Or you can start up your generator - zoom zoom

[Gav 110]

12 VOLT 55 AMP – Christie Engineering (http://www.christieengineering.com.au/products/12-volt-55-amp/)
No wind required
Easier to setup
Faster charge
Cheaper
Probably takes up less space
Just need a small Jerry can of fuel

[Red90]

I call BS on the specs claimed by that wind generator.

[W&KO]

12 VOLT 55 AMP – Christie Engineering (http://www.christieengineering.com.au/products/12-volt-55-amp/)
No wind required
Easier to setup
Faster charge
Cheaper
Probably takes up less space
Just need a small Jerry can of fuel

Didn’t realise these guys are still in business.

I brought one for my dad close to 20years ago

[Tins]

Love to see how that thing would have survived at Wombat a few years ago.[bigsad]

[simonmelb]

No room in our Disco for it and too long to set up!

just bought a very high quality 100w lightweight semi flexible panel which fits perfectly at the front of our cargo barrier. Connected to 120A AGM via a Victron charger with Bluetooth monitoring.

Will report back after next school holidays 😊.

169395

ps sorry for inverted pic!

[goingbush]

plenty of yacht style wind generators on ebay for $150 ish

Should you get a Wind Turbine for your RV? - YouTube (https://youtu.be/Va4dLamVQf8)

[Homestar]

I’ve never had an issue with solar myself - even in dark cold Victorian Winters, so I don’t see a need here but maybe places in Europe etc where their days are so short that solar does struggle.

Even running a 90 litre fridge, lighting and charging of mobile devices my batteries are back to 100% before lunch even on a cloudy day and by 10am on a sunny Summers day.

As someone who works with generators for a living I hat the ****ing things when it comes to camping and hate being around people that use them for camping. I get there are certain times they are handy but they aren’t for me.

I’ll shortly be adding a large inverter so I can run the coffee machine when we are free camping but I’m not even expecting that to put a huge dint in my battery capacity or ability for the solar to do its job.

[Blknight.aus]

I call BS on the specs claimed by that wind generator.

I dont, its cleverly written allowing 2 different facts to be co located within one sentence so they seem linked but arent.

the startup speed is the minimum speed they can start working in, from experience once you get them past the cogging point similar turbines (wattage wise) produce about 5%-15% of their rated power at their start speed, they then ramp up to their optimal wind speed and then dont make any more power once the "magnetic" capacity of the alternator is reached

600watts at 7.5m/s should be achievable out of a 4 meter disc in nice clean airflow.

Personally I'm looking into VAWT in the 90cms range that I can stick on a sectioned pole similar to a clark mast. Couple of big heavy batteries to help anchor the base and 3 guy lines or stick the pole on Arkie. Realisitcally they're only good for a handfull of amps but its enough (based on the one I trialled) to run an engle, lighting and a small radio with a whisker over.

AU 600W 24V Lantern 5-Blades Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Generator+Controller 930114734068 | eBay (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/AU-600W-24V-Lantern-5-Blades-Vertical-Axis-Wind-Turbine-Generator-Controller/183635571060?epid=24025900280&hash=item2ac1887174:g:iZUAAOSwjQVcO~~8&frcectupt=true)

[101RRS]

12 VOLT 55 AMP – Christie Engineering (http://www.christieengineering.com.au/products/12-volt-55-amp/)
No wind required
Easier to setup
Faster charge
Cheaper
Probably takes up less space
Just need a small Jerry can of fuel

How much?

[Homestar]

How much?

Around $1200 for the 55 amp unit and $1450 for the 80 amp unit.

Edit - A quick google turned up a couple of second hand units for around $800

[350RRC]

How much?

I recognised the name but couldn't remember what they made.......... for a couple of seconds.

Was a great product 20 years ago, maybe even better now. Just don't use one near me in the boonies to run your coffee machine. [thumbsupbig]

DL

[Tins]

. Just don't use one near me in the boonies to run your coffee machine. [thumbsupbig]

DL

Fine. I'll just run my TD5 instead[bigsmile1]

[goingbush]

Around $1200 for the 55 amp unit and $1450 for the 80 amp unit.

Edit - A quick google turned up a couple of second hand units for around $800

cough , seriously , you can get a GX50 Honda engine for $350 . 80Amp alternator for $200 , bolt them together , job done.

[Tins]

cough , seriously , you can get a GX50 Honda engine for $350 . 80Amp alternator for $200 , bolt them together , job done.

I was thinking just that. I have a 13HP ( overkill I know ) engine and a 100ish amp alt sitting here right now. 5-10 mins running late morning shouldn't really upset too many folk should it?

[Homestar]

cough , seriously , you can get a GX50 Honda engine for $350 . 80Amp alternator for $200 , bolt them together , job done.

That was my thought when I saw the price. [emoji16][emoji106]

[trout1105]

Too Big, Too Bulky, Too expensive and look like a PITA to deploy and have to keep pulling down when the wind comes up and as I live in the West where 20-30kts is just a sea breeze I would be forever taking this setup down.
As my solar panels are Fixed to the D2a, 79 Series and the caravan they are set and forget and with a combined input of 720w I rarely have the need to deploy another panel to keep up with demand.

I do love new gizmo's and camping toys But this one doesn't interst me at all.

[101RRS]

Was a great product 20 years ago, maybe even better now. Just don't use one near me in the boonies to run your coffee machine. [thumbsupbig]

DL

If it is between the legislated hours where you are allowed to make noise - usually between 7am and 10pm week days I will make my coffee when I want [thumbsupbig].

[Eevo]

love the idea. not the price.

[shwza]

This is a really cool idea. I hope it actually manifests with the specs. There's a bit of downside of course but this could pave the way for a lot of future developments. Quite interesting what he says about the prop and drive being the heaviest parts. Seems so straightforward to try to streamline that part

[Tombie]

Wasted product here in Oz…
Couple of panels should see almost anyone sorted even in mid winter.

[Homestar]

If it is between the legislated hours where you are allowed to make noise - usually between 7am and 10pm week days I will make my coffee when I want [thumbsupbig].

7am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm Weekends and public holidays. Outside those hours you’ll find an axe through the engine... [emoji6]

I have certainly turned a guys gen off and cut the plug off their lead when they kept running one after these times even when asked politely to stop. Was in a national park late at night - complete tools like this ruin it for those that have some courtesy when using them.

[350RRC]

cough , seriously , you can get a GX50 Honda engine for $350 . 80Amp alternator for $200 , bolt them together , job done.

From memory they used a modded German Bosch alternator for some reason.

DL

[101RRS]

7am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm Weekends and public holidays. Outside those hours you’ll find an axe through the engine... [emoji6]

I have certainly turned a guys gen off and cut the plug off their lead when they kept running one after these times even when asked politely to stop. Was in a national park late at night - complete tools like this ruin it for those that have some courtesy when using them.

Totally agree and I will be there with you, but what gets me are the guys who think they have a god given right to total serenity no matter what even during the during the day. What is far worse than gennies is the doof doof music etc.

[prelude]

Not sure about the turbine, but that portable mini generator is a hoot!

I have been toying with this idea for years. There is this large gap under the bonnet of my P38 next to and on top of the passenger side tower strut where I could fit something like this... (I have a LHD car)

Personally I was planning to use the 50cc engine from a honda zoomer, which is a liquid cooled, electric started version. It also has fuel injection and a tiny catalytic converter in the exhaust. This would make it run so clean I reckon that smell wise nobody would notice.

The air intake I would duct into the snorkel and the exhaust into the "big" exhaust. The fuel line would run into the existing system as would the cooling. With no fans turning even that huge radiator would be more than plenty for a 50cc engine. The exhaust could be made to be virtually silent, under the bonnet the small engine would hardly be noticed running and when using lithium (still not my preferred batteries) you can charge them in no time at all. I real winter conditions you would have the added benefit of preheating the engine and heater :)

The only issue is weight since I guess solar panels would still be a bit lighter.

Cheers,
-P

[Blknight.aus]

Around $1200 for the 55 amp unit and $1450 for the 80 amp unit.

Edit - A quick google turned up a couple of second hand units for around $800

whipper snipper, some scrap metal, an old landy alternator, tek screw the clutch and a chunk of heater hose with hose clamps for the drive... 3w bulb for the excite circuit and...

done for under $30

[rover-56]

whipper snipper, some scrap metal, an old landy alternator, tek screw the clutch and a chunk of heater hose with hose clamps for the drive... 3w bulb for the excite circuit and...

done for under $30

Built one like this in about 1970 with a Victa 2 stroke and a 35w alternator all bolted to a bit of 5 ply. Fitted under the tray of our CFA fire truck. Fixed the flat battery problem on night calls instantly. (Lucas generators fitted to the trucks then).[thumbsupbig][thumbsupbig]
Terry

[DiscoMick]

I met someone who bought a second hand yacht wind generator and took it camping. He had a couple of poles he fitted together and then clamped to his caravan to get height so it was above the van and wouldn't behead passing people.

[Eevo]

RTGs should be available for power and warmth

[Arapiles]

12 VOLT 55 AMP – Christie Engineering (http://www.christieengineering.com.au/products/12-volt-55-amp/)
No wind required
Easier to setup
Faster charge
Cheaper
Probably takes up less space
Just need a small Jerry can of fuel

There are people with off the grid houses that run entirely on 12V - there are catalogues and suppliers:

The 12 Volt Shop (https://www.12volt.com.au/)

The Christie mini generator might be an option for people running on 12V but then the little Hondas might be quieter ....

Edit: actually, if I'm reading that right, the Hondas only output 8.3 amps on 12V, the Christie claims 55 amp.

[350RRC]

There are people with off the grid houses that run entirely on 12V - there are catalogues and suppliers:

The 12 Volt Shop (https://www.12volt.com.au/)

The Christie mini generator might be an option for people running on 12V but then the little Hondas might be quieter ....

Edit: actually, if I'm reading that right, the Hondas only output 8.3 amps on 12V, the Christie claims 55 amp.

From memory the Christie job runs a modded Bosch alt.

There has been a thread recently about this.

A side note............. yesterday fired up a chinese 13kva diesel generator that was given to me a few years ago.

Took a squirt of aero at first then all good. Only doing this to do a remote welding job, but the thing wasn't really all that loud. [biggrin]

Might take it to winter Wombat to do all the coffee machines at once. [bigwhistle]

DL

[trout1105]

Most of us carry a genset with us when the sun isn't enough for our needs or the Missus wants the air con running [bigwhistle][biggrin][thumbsupbig][thumbsupbig]

[Homestar]

From memory the Christie job runs a modded Bosch alt.

There has been a thread recently about this.

A side note............. yesterday fired up a chinese 13kva diesel generator that was given to me a few years ago.

Took a squirt of aero at first then all good. Only doing this to do a remote welding job, but the thing wasn't really all that loud. [biggrin]

Might take it to winter Wombat to do all the coffee machines at once. [bigwhistle]

DL

Should have the new inverter in Stan the van by then which will run the coffee machine. [emoji16][emoji106]

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Should have the new inverter in Stan the van by then which will run the coffee machine. [emoji16][emoji106]

What are the requirements of the bean machine? I wont start a war by asking the brand...... [bighmmm][tonguewink]

[DiscoMick]

How do the power demands of full coffee machines and pod machines compare?
Our coffee machine is not very portable, so we bought a little Aldi pod machine for travel, but the pods are wasteful.

[BradC]

Most of the power in a coffee machine is the boiler. Bigger machines tend to have bigger boilers. On an average power basis they aren’t that bad, but the draw high peak currents when heating as they all seem to use a high power element in a pulsed heating mode. So for example my coffee machine has a 2KW. When heating it starts with heating pulses around 5 seconds and then throttles back to as short as 500 ms pulses as it approaches set point.

On average over a cycle it probably draws a couple of hundred watts, but it needs a 2400W inverter to cope with the heating pulses. It also drives the inverter genny mad with its load profile. It spends the cycle madly throttling up and down. I switch it off ‘exon’ mode before making coffee.

We have a little Nespresso machine also. It has a similar heating profile but the element is somewhere between 1-1.5KW. I haven’t bothered to properly profile it.

[350RRC]

Most of the power in a coffee machine is the boiler. Bigger machines tend to have bigger boilers. On an average power basis they aren’t that bad, but the draw high peak currents when heating as they all seem to use a high power element in a pulsed heating mode. So for example my coffee machine has a 2KW. When heating it starts with heating pulses around 5 seconds and then throttles back to as short as 500 ms pulses as it approaches set point.

On average over a cycle it probably draws a couple of hundred watts, but it needs a 2400W inverter to cope with the heating pulses. It also drives the inverter genny mad with its load profile. It spends the cycle madly throttling up and down. I switch it off ‘exon’ mode before making coffee.

We have a little Nespresso machine also. It has a similar heating profile but the element is somewhere between 1-1.5KW. I haven’t bothered to properly profile it.

So how many machines will my 13 kva generator run at once?

I'll have to get a bag of coffee beans so everyone can put one in each ear while it's running. [biggrin][bigwhistle]

DL

[Homestar]

What are the requirements of the bean machine? I wont start a war by asking the brand...... [bighmmm][tonguewink]

Its a mid range unit that grinds the beans and makes a good coffee - better than a lot of cafes but I think most of it comes down to the beans - cheap in, crap out.

Will be fitting a 2500 to 3000 watt inverter to run it - only takes a couple of minutes to make a brew so the lithium battery and the solar should cope fine with it. It’s the only item I really need to run off 240 volts and a luxury at that - but Stan is a build above all the others I’ve done so deserves to have this IMO. 👍

[BradC]

So how many machines will my 13 kva generator run at once?

Enough to keep a number of blokes with waxed moustache and man buns employed.