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The hydrogenerator POD 600 is THE innovating solution for sailing boats unable to fastened an hydrogenerator on their transom for technical, mechanical and aesthetic reasons.
Tested since 2014 by a few privileged sailors, this version has been able to demonstrate those useful advantages :
- invisible
- no complicated handling up and down
- easy start-up
- electrical output is the same compared to classic models
The hydrogenerator POD600 is delivered with a 100 mm aluminium leg; it will find its place under the hull of the boat to insure an on-board electrical output with the utmost secrecy.
- Reference : PK-POD-600
Switching on with the ON/OFF button Ideal in original equipment InvisibleOutput: 120 W from 5 knotsQuietTwo-years warranty
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Pack composition
Hydrogenerator
Nominal power 600 W
Converter
Max output power 600 W
12 Vcc or 24 Vcc autodetected
48 Vcc in option
Input for solar panel 8-50 Vcc / 14 Amps
Aluminium leg
100 mm
Propeller
240 mm
Other accessories supplied
1 ON/OFF relay with swerved connection to the navigation desk
1 bag with connectors
2 pre-assembled plugs and their cables
2 fastening rods
2 rubber soles
1 stainless steel back plate inside
Technical characteristics
Output at 5 knots
10 Amps in 12 Vcc (120 W) with the 240 mm propeller
Maximum using speed
15 knots with the 240 mm propeller
Compatible batteries
Lead battery
Lithium
Other : contact us
Dimensions and weight
Hydrogenerator
5 kg
Converter
1,5 kg
Three-phases cable
length 5 meters
2 pre-assembled plugs with their cable
1 meter length
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Output power curves
Watt
Speed in knots
Choosing The Propeller
The propeller supplied in standard with the POD600 pack is the 240 mm model which allows to produce 8 Amps at 5 knots. It is the more “universal” model guaranteeing the energy self-sufficiency on most boats with a negligible drag.
To produce at higher speed to minimize the drag effect, the 200 mm diameter is available as well as the 200 mm with manual variable pitch propeller.
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General Questions
Mechanical installation
Eletrical Installation
Do I have to put a fuse on the electrical installation of my hydrogenerator ?Indeed, every battery bank has to be protected by a 50Amp fuse or thermal circuit breaker.How much time will the Watt&Sea hydrogenerator take to fully load the batteries ?The output power curves are available in the products descriptions. Generally our customers use the hydrogenerator from 8 to 12 hours in 24 hours to be in complete autonomy.My cable from the hydrogenerator to the converter is longer than recommanded in the manual. What are the consequences ?If the length of this cable is less than 10 meters, use a 3 x 1,5 mm² section.
Above 10 meters, use a 3x 2,5 mm² section.What kind of solar panels can I connect to the Watt&Sea converter ?The solar panel’s maximum voltage must not exceed 50V and the intensity must not exceed 14 Amps. When the hydrogenerator no longer generates power (ex : lifted, boat is moored) the converter automatically takes into account the solar panel’s charge.
Please note that the solar panel will be taken into account by the converter when the hydrogenerator is not used only (lifted up or not sailing)The cable wires going out from the hydrogenerator are not numbered. How can the order of the connection be right ?There is no need to take into account the color or the number of the three-phase cable connection.Can I connect a 12V battery and a 24V battery at the same time on the converter ?No. The 2 outputs of the converter and the battery banks must be at the same voltage.Can I use Lithium-Ion batteries with the Watt&Sea converter ?Yes you can. Actually there is no need to set it up especially. However we suggest you to check in the battery manual that the recommended voltages are not under Watt&Sea’s converter (i.e. 14,3V / 28,6V) In case there is a difference between the two voltages, you can set it up with the free software available in the download section (homepage menu).
Lithium-Ion battery management system’s often requires to be able to stop the prodution sources, for safety reasons. Then, the relay (see « accessories » in the homepage menu) has to be used to short-break the hydrogenerator when you need to stop the production.Is it possible to load several banks ?Yes there are two outputs on the converter, in order to charge 2 batterie banks. However the 2 banks must be the same voltage ! (12V or 24V)Can I stop the energy production without lifting the hydrogenerator up ?Yes, it is possible if you set up a relay (see « accessories » in the menu) on the three-phase cable. This relay ON/OFF will short-break the hydrogenerator if you want to stop it. This action will strongly slow the propeller.Can I use the Watt&Sea hydrogenerator simultaneously with the engine ? (engine alternator load at the same time with the hydrogenerator’s one)No. The Watt&Sea converter will consider that the batteries are full, and stop the hydrogenerator production. It is better to lift the hydrogenerator up when you use the engine.
If it is not possible, then you have to use an ON/OFF relay (see « accessories » in the menu), to be able to cut the power easily.Can I let the hydrogenerator in the water when the batteries are fully loaded ?No, except for the 600W POD. We recommend to lift the hydrogenerator up when the batteries are fully loaded, as the generator will be on freewheel generating some more noise and giving more possibilities to meet an UFO. If you wish to let the hydrogenerator in the water, then you can set up an ON/OFF relay (available in « accessories »), to be able to cut the power easily.Does the hydrogenerator convert alternating current to direct current, to load the batteries ?Yes. This is the converter role : it converts the three-phases power and regulates it in order to load the batteries.Why should the converter be mounted vertically ?The vertical installation of the converter will allow a good natural convection to cool the converter down. Indeed the warm air going from down to up, will circulate better along the aluminium lines of the converter box, when this one is vertically fitted to allow a better evacuation of the inside warm air. If fitted horizontally, the converter may heat more than it should and could be damaged.
