Customer Reviews

Sunforce 44444 12-Volt 400-Watt Wind Generator

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

First of all, this wind generator's output is preset to 14.1 volts (for charging batteries, you know. The preset can be adjusted from 13 to 17 volts, by the way). 14.1 volts divided into 400 watts is 28 amps, so the specs are correct as stated in the product description. Remember to always keep in mind the differences between 120 volt AC current and 12 to 14 volt DC current -- it's really important on this alternative energy stuff.

Naturally, you are only going to get close to the 400-watt maximum output with a steady 28 mph wind. But the unit won't "go up in smoke" at that point as some reviewer said -- all wind turbines have built in cut-out system that prevent them from going over their rated output and being damanged. C'mon, folks... the people who make these things are not dummies.

But it's true that there are not many places in the world where you get 28 mph winds blowing on a regular, continuous basis. The suggestion of other reviewers to figure on getting maybe a 15 mph average wind speed with output from the wind generator of 50 to 60 watts at 2 to 3 amps is a realistic evaluation of what most people can expect out this or any other small wind turbine on a fairly regular basis. On days when you've got more wind, you luck out and get more power is all.

That's why, for most people, the first alternative power choice is amorphous solar panels (they continue to work on cloudy days and with partial shade) because you can rely on the sun on a day to day basis more than you can on having a good steady wind consistently. The manual for this product states that the blades should start turning in a 7 mph wind, which is just a good breeze. The product manual is *outstanding* by the way, the most complete I've ever seen for any product and indicates the integrity and honesty of the company who makes these units. They obviously want their customers to have success with their product. You can view the manual in PDF format at the Sunforceproducts.com website at:

http://sunforceproducts.com/prodinfo/manuals/AirXManual.pdf

Anyone considering this purchase or looking into wind power in general should thoroughly check out the manual. Wind power can be wonderful in the right location and in many other places it can be *combined* with solar so that you get power from the sun when it's shinning and power from the wind when it's dark (the wind often blows well at night) or when it is really cloudy/stormy (that also usually means good wind).

In this era of everything-is-made-in-China it's great to see a solid product that is price-competitive like this one which is actually made in the USA by Southwest Windpower Inc. of Flagstaff, Arizona. When I get around to adding some wind capability to my existing solar panel setup, this product would be a good choice because a 60-watt solar panel will run you around the same price. So you can add 60 watts of wind for about the same cost as adding 60 watts of solar -- and with a hybrid system you get to take advantage of both alternative technologies. Think outside the oil barrel!

I have this wind generator hooked up to
8 6 volt deep cycle batteries powering my 2 bedroom
off grid home. we run 2 televisions dvd players and compact
flourescent lights for bedrooms and kitchen without
having to turn on our generator. We dont have a microwave,
and our refrigerator runs on propane. But after using our loud
generator for 2 months at $15.00 for gas on a daily basis, The machine
will pay for itself quickly, The noise is minimal.The sounds it makes reminds me of birds chirping. You could not use it to run vacum cleaners
washer dryers and things like that but if you need a little energy for
lighting and small appliances this wind generator is great.

6 years ago, I bought my first Air-X ( that's the model with the Southwest Windpower brand on it, this is their product) which ran for 2 years, then had a minor failure, fixed under warranty. It then lasted about a year, and the circuit board failed yet again. Again, it was warranted. The next failure, however, was not. So, I bought a kit from SWWP to "update" the turbine to the new "Air Breeze". That lasted 2 months, and it utterly melted down inside. It was a toxic swamp of caustic material from the insulation and other materials inside, which had gotten hot.

That was fixed under warranty and lasted ... a month. Then, I bought one of these. It was installed temporarily for about 4 months, and then moved to replace the dead Air Breeze (failed yet again, 3rd time). It lasted a month, and it too, melted down inside. Yes, the same location, the same load, the same everything the original one made 3 years without major issue, has now been through 4 rebuilds in a year and a half. In fact, I have had no significant use ANY of the generators since the original Air Breeze conversion. They have either sent me parts, or replacement generators (takes up to 2 months to get warranty fixes) and every one of them has failed the first time any significant weather system has come through. The Sunforce branded model worked through 4 months in a semi-sheltered area, and weathered ONE storm. It was taken down, stored for 2 months, and reinstalled in the original location for my first Air-x, and it died when the first rainstorm came through, as it melted down and the insulation or whatever it is, is literally dripping out the bottom of the unit, which is still on the tower. I'm not taking it down until I figure out what to do with it.

Basically, the maker started out with a decent product, somewhere along the lines, they have 're-engineered" it, and now it's garbage. Sad to say. The original was excellent and would still be in place if several years of running hadn't just simply worn out the front casting where the bearings ride. Each of my conversations with tech support has been a matter of just flat out insult, as they continue to claim they have no idea what's wrong, or that it's "my location". The original Air-X not only survived, but continued to work through a once-a-century windstorm that made national news. Nothing since it has been able to survive a single storm with 30-40 mph gusting.

Nice generator BUT as it says, you need 28mph sustained wind (should say 40mph) at the generator to get the advertised power. I have had mine for 4 years and have never had it get up to charging, and I live in a very breezy area and sometimes very windy. Buy a windmeter for $30 and measure your area because there are not too many places in the world that get this continuous sustained high wind enough to make one of these useful. The windmill only begins producing even just a trickle of low-voltage power once above 20mph which is still a lot of wind. You also need a long heavy industrial electrical cable as well as a tower and can either build your own or buy theirs. Either way, you'll spend another several hundred dollars and lots of time. I have solar also and would recommend one of those instead, unless you live in an extremely continuously windy area.

We have been involved with this product from the mid 90's. Initially the manufacturer (Southwest Windpower) had potted regulators inside the nifty cast aluminum housing on their 303 wind-machines. After installation the machine ran great (except for the unbelievable noise from the blades) for about 2 weeks until the uncooled regulator overheated and self destructed. We were living off the grid in a very remote part of Samoa at the time and literally depended on the output from our wind turbines and solar panels. We had a lot of experience with older types of permanent magnet wind generators and spruce (wood) blades. Our older Redwing generators never gave us any trouble except for the necessity to periodically replace the brushes. Southwest Windpower was contacted after our early debacle and this was the beginning of many overseas phone calls and 99 email correspondence over 4 years, fighting with them to stand behind their product and do some actual real world testing of their product. These people had a great idea but the bugs were not worked out and we were their unwitting test subjects. Jay Yaeger, Dave Snowberg, Sean Hickey: all Southwest Windpower muckety mucks get a big thumbs down for their lack of followup and support.
Initially Southwest Windpower was coerced into sending us replacement parts. Later after much wrangling we did mange to have the company send us updated versions/replacement machines. Many, many hours of troubleshooting for them, pulling wires, dismantling our installation, re-installation...etc. We installed these and guess what : more overheating and failures. In one long distance telephone conversation with Jay Yaeger at Southwest Windpower I asked him if they did any wind tunnel testing to be certain these machines would stand up to hours and hours of use. I asked if they did wind tunnel testing to check for vibration and blade noise. The response was NO!!! He told me they were not set up to do this. My interpretation over the years: this company, as well intentioned as they may be, are using us (the consumer) to test their product for them. Whilst they are using their consumers to this end, they offer very poor support and excuses.
This is all, of course, historical review of the product. It could very well be that this company has evolved (thanks to its early failures) and is now acting more responsibly.
My advise to anyone purchasing this product is to be certain you have the warranty parameters with your vendor clearly delineated.

I have had one of these generators for a while. It did not work for me so I bought 6 blades and put them on and it works great now. I have found that by adding a battery at the base of the tower it works the best. My main battery supply is about 125 ft from the tower and by putting a battery at the base of the tower the generator will fill the battery at the base and that battery will tranfer the power to the other batteries. If one has their batteries far away from the tower,then the lost in the wire when the generator reads the battery will keep it from completely charging the far away batteries. Hsydrogen appliances sells the 6 blade kits to add to this generator, and gives advise on how to make a better tail for it. They have there blade kits on ebay under wind generator. The tail can be built from information on their web site.
I have not tried hydrogen appliances wind generator yet, but will one day.

My remote cabin uses the dc power to run lights and radio. One can even buy dc light bulbs that work great.

I installed this unit to reduce the use of my generator for my off-grid RV. The power output is so insignificant that it will never pay for itself. Unless you live in an area with non-stop 20/25 mph wind, it will never do the job. Think of how long it takes a 2-amp trickle charger to bring a battery up to full charge. This puts out less than 2 amps on a windy day. I purchased a Kyocera Solar KC130TM - 12 Volt, 130 Watt Solar Panel With Junction Box. The solar panel had an immediate impact on my bank of batteries. I watched my battery bank go from 12.1 volts to 12.9 volts in less than an hour. The cost of the solar panel and charge controller was less than half of the wind generator/tower combination with a much higher life expectency.

Purchased My first wind generator a month or so ago,and found that the shaft was turning inside the front bearing as unit would not start up in less than a 25mph wind,rma'd back to amazon (there the best) and no thanks goes to southwest,8 days for a reply....slow to say the least...anyhow I have my replacement unit,and it does spin up easier,however the output is nowhere near the rated 27amps,I am seeing 2-3 amps barely @ 30mph winds,so to close,I'm gonna keep this one,just for the fact that its here and it looks cool up on the pole,but in the future I think I will just keep expanding my PV array,seeing 5+ amps from 7 sunforce 15watt panels in winter sun....

Go to the Sunforce website to view the manual and check the power curve. The stated 400w output is at 28mph. The output at a more typical 15mph is 50w or 3.5amp considering the 14.1vDC regulator setting.

I mounted this turbine in my back yard on the recommended schedule 40 galvanized pipe at about 20' high. My location does not get consistent wind from one direction which is the only way this turbine will spin. Even in gusty conditions of 15-20 mph the turbine rarely spins more than a few revolutions and has not produced any measurable power after a month. If you don't have a steady wind from one direction this turbine will not produce any power at all. You would be better off with a vertical turbine or one with larger blade surface area. The specs say 8 mph start up, that means a consistent 8 mph wind from a single direction. For the money you would be better off with a single 80 watt solar panel.