Eclectic Energy Sail-Gen and D400 Wind Generator

June 2024 update - I have ordered some Sail-Gen repair parts from Eclectic Energy, who were very helpful, responsive and professional.  The parts arrived promplty andd the communication ws thoughtful and thorough.   Thanks Peter and Agnieszka!

I will disassemble the unit when I return to the boat and bring the housing and yoke home for repari/renewal, and will reassemble when I return next time.  

https://eclectic-energy.co.uk/products/sail-gen/

Sail-Gen

To the fine folks at Eclectic Energy in the UK, regarding the Sail-Gen:

Sakura was equipped with this rather cool power source when acquired.   It was noted in the survey that its 10/2 600v boat cable was too short, and required more slack.  I had intended to replace the cable to accomplish this.

However....the unit could not be removed, due to previously unnoticed collision damage that had broken a locking pin, leaving part of the pin trapped in a self-created void worn between two parts, fiendishly preventing their seperation. I did finally get it apart by further damaging a damaged bracket, whilst attempting to remove its press-fit threaded collar. 

At a minimum I need to replace or repair:

• The twisted yoke that holds the unit.
• The transom bracket
• The pin used to secure said yoke into said bracket.
• various nylon bushings, and other normal renewal parts.
• the cable

Will need to know the parts required, and their cost.   

Many thanks!

Dave

 

Hello Dave

 

Thank you for your message and the photographs.

 

This combination of D400 and Sail-Gen does work very well.  If you are aware of Jimmy Cornell, the sailing author.  He fitted this combination to his yacht Aventura 4 with which he completed a transit of the North West Passage.

 

There maybe nothing wrong with the D400.  You may wish to read the manual before unlashing the blades.  If the original manuals are missing they can be downloaded from the Eclectic website.

 

As you point out the yoke and c bracket assembly of the Sail-Gen have suffered damage.  It maybe possible to bend the yoke into better alignment as the alloy used is malleable.  In this case you would require a new c bracket assembly 90051 170.11 GBP.

 

If you choose to replace both c bracket and yoke this is part 90008 and the cost is 486.62 GBP

 

All prices are exclusive of shipping and any duties/taxes which may be payable.

 

If you wish to proceed, please provide a full delivery address and telephone number and we will provide a proforma invoice.

 

Note the output cable used for Sail-Gen is of an American manufacture and may not be easy to source.  Also, we would not recommend opening the alternator unless there is a compelling reason to do so.  This is to maintain the seal formed by the cable gland on the cable and the seal between the two parts of the housing.  Given this it would be better to extend the output cable using a waterproof connector or waterproof cable joining system.

 

I hope the above is helpful.

Best Regards

Peter Anderson

Director
Eclectic Energy Ltd
Tel: +44 1623 835400
Fax: +44 1623 860617

Registered in England: No. 3883495
Registered Office: Unit 22 Sherwood Network Centre,
Sherwood Energy Village, Ollerton, Notts. NG22 9FD, United Kingdom
VAT No: GB 738 1449 18
If you are not the intended recipient, please notify us and delete this e-mail.
www.eclectic-energy.co.uk www.duogen.co.uk

The unit, locked together by a piece of broken pin.

The void worn by the broken pin.
 

The broken pin itself, the hollow it wore into the bracket, and the broken press-fit threaded collar

The bent yoke.   One arm is quite distorted.  The unit still pivoted on its yoke.