Sunforce 44444 12-Volt 400-Watt Wind Generator

The turbine is well made and appears to be a quality product. It can generate a lot of amps, in the corresponding high ambient wind. It can theoretically generate 25 A. But it will be a rare event in almost any electrical system that will permit 25 A continuously. why? It will quickly cook the batteries if that current is not lowered to the usual 12.5-13.9 V system voltage unless a concomitant high load is placed in that system, like a continuously running fridge.there are a few limitations that I think prevent this turbine from an otherwise being a very good wind generator. First, it has an internal regulator that will electromechanically brake it once the system voltage reaches 14.1 V. It will stay in brake mode for several minutes and then the internal regulator will release the rotor and the blades will rotate again until the system voltage hits 14.1 V and it brakes itself again. This prevents the turbine from delivering the energy most efficiently when there's lots of wind. It will essently keep cycling in the on and brake state to prevent the batteries from overcharging. A smarter design would have been to make a regulator that slows the rotor to the point that the system voltage stays at 14.1V instead of completely stopping output.So, I gave it 3 stars as there is a way to circumvent this issue. I wired it in parallel to a diversion heat sink that's set at 14 V, so the turbine can spin at max capacity and the internal regulator will never brake the turbine as everything over 14V will be converted into heat. For example, if my boat batteries are at 13.1V, it will take about 5 A to reach 14V in them, and if it's very windy, the turbine output can be 12A so the 8 A excess current is diverted to the heat sink and the charging doesn't stop with the internal brake.Lastly, after having a U.S. made turbine on our boat, I have to say this Chinese one is better in that it tracks the wind exceptionally well - even when the boat heels > 25°Hope this info helps someone

PLEASE READ before buying this generator:I just bought and installed this new 400 watt 12 volt wind generator to the side of my home using 1 1/2 inch electrical pipe. It seems to fit the lower part of the generator better than 2" pipe.With everything secured to the house and 20 feet above the roof top (as manual recommends. My home is under 1 miles from the Ocean and we get a lot of wind. This was my reason to buy it. The generator works but 2 problems I found so far is loud vibration noise as it turns fast and low voltage output (only 1 to 6 volts) measured with a fluke DMM with moderate winds, as the 3 blades turn with a 10 MPH wind. With a 12 volt deep cycle battery, you need 12 or more volts to charge it and this only happens when wind speeds are over 20 MPH. In other words, if you have a fully charged 12 volt battery and want to at least maintain a trickle charge on it to run your DC to AC inverter udring power outages, this generator fails to produce a trickle charge even with the wind blowing and the blades turning. It seems you need a LOT more wind speed to get anything out of it. Not a good design! I tried to add rubber pads between the house and the pole but it is still noisy, so much noise thatthe entire house vibrates and keeps me awake on very windy nights. If you live in an area with constant 20MPH wind or more blowing most of the time and have this generator mounted (in cement deep in the back yard) and with guide wires to keep the top from swaying in the wind) then it should work for you and is a good deal for the cost. If I knew the problems associated with this wind generator, I would have bought a few 120 watt solar panels instead. Solar cost more but makes NO NOISE and puts out a higher voltage even on overcast days, compared to this wind generator that need over a 20MPH wind constantly blowing to maintain a battery charge. If you are running the battery to a DC to AC invertor, use solar panels instead. Yes, they cost 2 or 3 times more per wattage but are more reliable in the long run. I do not work for a solar company, I am a retired QC electronics technician and the facts mentions are true. Remember there will always be more places to get Sunshine or day light than constant high speed winds blowing most of the time. Knowing what I know now, I would have gladly spent 2 or 3 time more to get solar power of the same wattage output that is so much more reliable on a consistent basis. To be fair, maybe it is only this manufacture that makes a crappy wind generator? Shop around, maybe you can find a company that sells a wind generator that outputs 12 volts with less needed wind force. Good Luck KJ6MUK 73'sGlenn from San Francisco, Ca.

This is a brilliant wind turbine. In strong winds, it has a brake that engages, which is fantastic.

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.

Works Great