DuoGen 3 User Manual

DuoGen-3 Water / Wind

Battery Charger

USER’S MANUAL

The Physics of Wind Generation

The power output from any wind turbine is largely dependent on two

factors, the prevailing wind speed and the swept area of the rotor.

This intercept area is governed by the length of the air blades - the

longer they are, the greater the potential power of the wind generator.

Unfortunately, it is not practical to fit large wind turbines on yachts, and

machines with rotor diameters of around 1 metre are the norm.

The amount of energy available in a wind stream varies as the cube of

its velocity - for example, there is over 70% more energy available at

12 mph than at 10 mph. Very low wind speeds contain very little energy,

so although a wind turbine may spin, it will produce little or no power.

With increasing wind speed output from the turbine rises exponentially.
Wind is a variable but occasionally very powerful resource, and sensible
sailors tend to avoid its worst excesses. Where possible, sailors will sail

downwind and anchor in sheltered spots, all of which reduces the energy

available to a yacht-mounted wind generator.

Given these constraints, a wind generator is unlikely to keep pace with
all electricity usage on a daily basis. It can, however, make a very useful

contribution to the energy budget.

Please note: some of the
illustrations in this manual
are of the original DuoGen
model, but the instructions
apply to both DuoGen

versions 2 & 3.

The DuoGen is different.

By deploying the water mode when you go cruising:

 The DuoGen taps into the wind power that the yacht’s whole sail area

intercepts

 This is many times greater than that of a yacht-sized turbine
 At typical cruising speeds, the DuoGen in water mode produces

enough power to run most if not all of the yacht’s electrics

 The DuoGen’s water mode is much more efficient than a wind

generator at sea

 and much easier to live with.

1

Welcome to DuoGen

Welcome to DuoGen

Welcome to DuoGenWelcome to DuoGen

CONTENTS

CONTENTS

CONTENTSCONTENTS

Congratulations on your purchase of the DuoGen water/wind
battery charging system for yachts.

DuoGen has been especially designed and precision

manufactured to provide the most practical and user-friendly

system currently available for renewable energy electricity

generation on cruising yachts.

DuoGen is a combined water and wind generator that can be easily
reconfigured to harness the kinetic energy in either a wind stream or
a water stream in order to produce electricity. DuoGen has been
specifically designed for use aboard cruising yachts where the wind
mode is operated in harbour or at anchor, and the water mode is
deployed when the yacht is under way or at anchor in flowing water.

The benefit of this dual mode system is that the owner has greater
potential for energy conversion than is possible with a single source
system. This is because the air stream intercepted by a yacht’s sails
when it is under way is many times the area intercepted by a typical
wind turbine. In a given wind speed, therefore, the amount of battery
charging power produced is usually far greater when a yacht is under
sail and a water generator is deployed.

1 The physics of Wind Generation

2 Welcome to DuoGen

3 Mounting Options

3 Installing DuoGen

4 DuoGen in wind mode

4 Wind mode outputs

5 Duogen in water mode

5 Water mode outputs

5 Adjusting the diving plane

5 Drag performance comparison

6/7 Electrical Connection with circuit

diagrams

6 Using a battery monitor

8/9/10 Deploying DuoGen in wind

mode

9 The upper tower clamp

11 Self furling

12/13/

Deploying DuoGen in water

14/15

mode

16 Maintenance and repairs

16 Spare parts list

16 Contact details

17 Regulation

DuoGen brings the benefits of dual mode operation to the yacht
owner in a truly practical form. The change from water to wind mode
is accomplished in seconds without the use of tools and without
having to demount and reposition major system elements or electrical
connections.

When using your DuoGen, always exercise due care and operate the
equipment in accordance with the manufacturer’s
recommendations contained in this manual. DuoGen should then
deliver years of trouble free service.

This instruction manual contains important safety

information which will enable you to get the most from

your DuoGen. Please read this manual thoroughly prior

to the installation and operation of the equipment.

18 Commissioning

19 Performance and Expectations

20 Guarantee

20 Certificate of conformity

20 Your notes

21/22/

Appendix, / Universal mount

23/24

bracket installation

2

Installing DuoGen

Installing DuoGen

Installing DuoGenInstalling DuoGen

The DuoGen is supplied complete with a universal mount kit. This hardware has been
designed to offer flexibility of mount options. In most cases, the universal mount bracket is
simply clamped to the existing pushpit rail and the swivel foot at the bracket’s base is
through-bolted to the coaming or transom. Once in place, the universal bracket provides
the upper and lower mount points for the DuoGen.
Of course, yachts vary widely in size and form. In some cases, such as canoe stern yachts
or yachts with extended bathing platforms, some additional bracketry may be required.
Eclectic Energy has lots of experience of installing DuoGens, and can offer offer advice
and suggestions for achieving the best installation - a photograph or drawing with some
key dimensions such as freeboard and rail height & diameter will help us advise you.
The DuoGen should be placed either on or as close to the yacht’s centre line as possible.
This minimises the effects of heeling on the running depth of the water mode. However, in
practice, if the mounting is within 800 - 900 mm of the yacht’s centre line, the DuoGen will
perform well.
Once the DuoGen has been installed all subsequent operations and mode changes are
accomplished without the need for tools.
For information on achieving an optimal mounting on your yacht, refer to the dimensioned
mounting schematic provided in your Manual pack.
Universal mount bracket installation instructions are included in the appendix at the end of

this manual.

DuoGen is supplied complete with
standard mount hardware. In most
cases,this is sufficient to achieve
an excellent installation.

Other items you may require
include:

 Regulator with dump load
 Waterproof deck gland
 Spares pack
 Battery monitor or ammeter
 etc

Recommended spare parts
are listed on Page 16

Mounting Options

Mounting Options

Mounting OptionsMounting Options

3



DuoGen in Wind Mode

Air blade (10028)

Air hub, contains

Mortice pin

(80022)

Yaw arm

(90033)

sealed bearings

Conical connector

gear set and

(90044)

Drop-nose

pin, secures

drive shaft

(80023)

(80132)

The DuoGen has been carefully
designed to be as safe as
possible in operation. However,
all rotating machinery is
potentially hazardous.
In consequence, the equipment
should be operated in
accordance with the
manufacturer's instructions
at all times.

!

Recovery

lanyard
shackle

(10320)

Yaw arm

release
plunger

(90124)

Universal

mount tube

(10110)

Rail

clamp

(10124)

Drive shaft

(short: 90030

long: 90031

extra long: 90032

inner section only: 90083)

Tower with top

bearing

(short: 90053

long: 90054

extra long: 90055)

Upper tower

clamp 3 inch

(90106)

Strut assembly

(short: 90011

long: 90012

extra long: 90017)

C-bracket lock

screw set (80034)

C-bracket

assembly

Universal

swivel foot

(90051)

(80144)

Alternator mount

pins (90016)

Alternator
(12 V: 90025
24 V: 90026)

Alternator

yoke (90085)

All performance figures are indicative. Actual outputs may vary. E&OE

4

DuoGen in Water Mode



Adjusting the diving plane

The angle of attack of the DuoGen’s diving plane is adjustable by a few degrees either side of 0º or
hydrodynamic neutral.
The neutral point is found by aligning the mark on the diving plane and water impeller bracket.
0º should prove suitable in most cases.
Adjusting the diving plane in the minus
direction will cause the impeller to run nearer the surface and adjusting in the positive direction will cause it to run
deeper.
To adjust, slacken the M8 pivot bolt,
and loosen the socket cap lock screw below it. Re-position the diving plane and re-tighten the M8 pivot bolt.
Finally, re-tighten the socket cap screw to lock the diving plane securely in the new position.

Ensure that the bolt and lock nut are tightened firmly.

The DuoGen's water
mode is generally benign
in operation, but care
should be taken when
deploying the unit that no
swimmers or other
obstructions are in the
water beneath it.

!

Water bracket

(10310B)

Yaw arm
lock hole

Water drive bearings

& pin transmission

Water impeller

(10058B)

Diving plane

(10325B)

(90115)

Drag: DuoGen’s water mode

operates in the top 1/2 metre of
water, within the same wave as the
yacht. Amp for amp,drag from the
impeller unit is 30 % lower than that
of other towed units.

All performance figures are indicative. Actual outputs may vary. E&OE

5

Electrical Connections

Electrical Connections

Electrical ConnectionsElectrical Connections

Wiring diagram showing twin battery bank system with
charge splitting regulator and independent metering.

Connect the output cable to the battery bank(s) using

the suggested wiring diagrams for guidance.

Remember to observe the correct polarity.

RED to POSITIVE + and BLACK to NEGATIVE –

The DuoGen alternator is
fitted with 2 metres of 4.5
sq. mm. cable.

Use cable of at least this
cross -section to connect
from the lazarette area to
the batteries.

An in-line fuse is supplied, rated at 40
amps for a 12 volt machine and 20
amps for a 24 volt machine.
It is important that a fuse is fitted
close to each battery bank.

Where a battery monitor is

fitted

If your yacht is fitted with a
digital battery monitor, it will be
driven from a shunt installed
close to the batteries. Shunts
are typically about 100 mm long,
consisting of a brass bar with a
terminal post at each end.
One side of the shunt is
connected directly to the battery
terminal. All other connections
are made to the opposite side of
the shunt, which may be
connected to a busbar.
The shunt is most usually
connected in the negative line.
When wiring the DuoGen to a
system fitted with a shunt,
observe polarity and connect the
appropriate DuoGen output
cable to the non-battery side of
the shunt.
Again observing polarity, the
other DuoGen output cable
should be made directly to the
battery terminal or associated
busbar.
The DuoGen’s output will now
pass through the shunt and the
monitor will display a reading.
If the shunt is bypassed by
connecting both positive and
negative output leads directly to
the battery, the meter will fail to
‘see’ the DuoGen, and register
no output.
Note that where a battery
regulator is fitted, dumped
energy from the DuoGen will not
be seen by the battery monitor.

6

Wiring diagram showing single battery bank
with regulator

We recommend that the DuoGen is
permanently hard-wired. The cable
should enter the yacht via a deck
gland and connection made to the
battery wiring using a waterproof
junction box.

Electrical Connections

Electrical Connections

Electrical ConnectionsElectrical Connections

The DuoGen must always be connected to a battery
when in use, otherwise a dangerously high voltage
can be generated at the output cable.

Wiring diagram showing single battery
bank without regulator

The use of deck plugs and
sockets is not recommended.
These can become accidentally
unplugged, and the plug pins
then constitute a shock hazard.

If in doubt, refer to a competent electrical
engineer or the manufacturers.

7