The Newer Air-X Wind Gen - Still Too Noisy!

[barnakiel]

To Dave:

The thing I tried to point at in this thread is that the Air Breeze is:

- claimed to be less noisy than Air-X (note - it is also less powerful than Air-X),
- perceived (by myself and other people at our dock) as TOO noisy.

There is no doubt it is a good unit and an improvement on Air-X.

My doubt is: it is way more noisy than say Rutland or Aerogen, and may be too noisy to some users (it is to me and to other cruisers I asked).

To onestepcsy37:

I believe the report I linked to is from Practical Sailor, or a true copy of it. It ranks Air Breeze noise level (scale 1-5) at 3 vs. Rutland's 1 (I bet then Aerogen would fall at zero on this scale).

---

Everybody makes their own choices but I believe those of us who, on the basis of manufacturer's claims, chose the Air Breeze, may end up unhappy with the noise levels and so will possibly be some of their neighbours in the marina and in the anchorage.

b.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

I believe the report I linked to is from Practical Sailor, or a true copy of it. It ranks Air Breeze noise level (scale 1-5) at 3 vs. Rutland's 1 (I bet then Aerogen would fall at zero on this scale).
.

I don't dispute the fact that the Rutland 913, a 90-watt machine, is more quiet than the Air Breeze, which produces 200 watts. A 90-watt turbine should be more quiet than a 200-watt turbine.

Six-blade turbines, as a general rule, tend to be more quiet than three-blade turbines, and tend to operate in lower wind conditions. The problem is that they don't handle higher winds as well.

I own an Air Breeze, and find it noisiest when it's generating at the low end of its range, especially if the breeze is swirling. Get it going in a steady 15-20 knot breeze, however, and you can't hear it above ambient noise more than a boat length away.

I have discovered, additionally, that installation matters. I first installed my Air Breeze on a transom mast with temporary supports because I was waiting for a fabrication shop to build the structure for a solar panel array to which the wind generator mast would ultimately attach. Once the permanent structure was installed the generator was less noisy by a factor of two. Since then many people have expressed astonishment at how quiet the unit is. Indeed, yesterday I rafted up with three other boats to watch an air show, and the people on the farthest boat were amazed that they couldn't hear my generator at work. That's with just two 14-foot-beam sailboats in between our respective cockpits.

Finally, the claim that a "wind generator" isn't properly called a "wind turbine" if it only has three blades is preposterous. Those giant three-blade turbines that generate power in wind farms are universally called "wind turbines."

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by Bash

I don't dispute the fact that the Rutland 913, a 90-watt machine, is more quiet than the Air Breeze, which produces 200 watts. A 90-watt turbine should be more quiet than a 200-watt turbine.

Well, yes, but Aerogen makes 200 Watt turbines that are silent, and D400 is silent too, so it not the mater of the power.

It is the matter of design.

b.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

It is the matter of design.

...there's more to design than just noise reduction. The Aerogen weighs almost three times as much as an Air Breeze, and costs more than twice as much. Plus, it needs an external regulator that will cost half again what an Air Breeze costs.

Part of the elegance of the Air Breeze design is that there are only two moving parts. Add to that the fact that it's self regulating and that it handles high winds better than most other turbines, and you'll understand why so many cruisers are attracted to these units.

[onestepcsy37]

barnakiel - i still haven't made the choice between windgen and solar panel (can only afford one or the other) so i'm still in research/listening mode. maybe i'm going slightly deaf - my wife seems to think so - but we've been in anchorages with air-x equipped boats and had no problem with their noise. i'm still leaning towards solar panels, just because they're simple, and with that new charge regulator that gives them better overall output they appear to be an even better choice.

but svkokopelli did make one good point about the air-x. when you're down below it's a good indicator of when the wind is picking up....

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by onestepcsy37

... i still haven't made the choice between windgen and solar panel (can only afford one or the other) so i'm still in research/listening mode..

Wind vs. solar is like oranges vs. apples - they are not 'either/or' sort of choice.

Example - I have a 75 W solar that was our only (other than the alternator) power source for circumnavigation. And we made it OK. Would I go for a windgen? Off course, on top of the panel ... not instead!

The point is there are many sunless days, there are many windless days, but there are few windless and sunless days. And the kind of sailing you do, the conditions in your location -marina/anchorage will dictate your choices - it can be just the windgen or just the solar in some locations, but in most places of the world and in the kind of sailing I did (long ocean crossings) a mix of both seems the only way to go.

NB If going for solar it makes a lot of sense to go for a bigger panel and stick to a simple regulator - I know there are some good regulators that will do wonders, but they are pricey - probably the same dollars spent on a bigger panel will pay back in more AMPH and fewer things to go wrong. An adjustable support also makes a lot of sense - you can get a good couple of extra amphs by adjusting the angle just 2-3 times a day.

b

[DaveOnCudjoe]

Sorry to stray off track but does anyone use or have an opinion on the Fourwinds? Dave

[Bash]

Originally Posted by DaveOnCudjoe

Sorry to stray off track but does anyone use or have an opinion on the Fourwinds? Dave

I was impressed with the D-400 I saw at a boat show, although concerned about the weight. I wanted to see/hear a working unit in operation, however, and wasn't able to find one anywhere in the SF Bay area, even after contacting the US distributor, who if memory serves correctly was in Oregon. I ultimately convinced myself that I did not need 500 watts of wind power, since I already have 260 watts of solar. I basically went with the Air Breeze because it provided the amount of energy I'd need during an all-night passage with radar/fridge/freezer running.

Had I not been opting to go with a combined solar/wind system, I'd have found the D-400 more attractive.

[barnakiel]

The Fourwinds have never seen on a boat.

But by now I recall the German gizmo was the D400 windgen and the owners raved (available in the US). (Just note its weight before you jump, click & buy ;-)).

b.

[speciald@ocens.]

My Air-X has been back to the factory twice in 5 years almost doubling the original cost. I never run it late as it will keep us up. Its primary use is on long passages to keep our 12v. system charged (which supplies the elctronics).We run the genset twice a day to charge the 24v. house system, cool down the fridge/freezer, and make water when needed. As far as cost is cocerned the pole its mounted on cost more than the generator.

[KatKokomo]

Hi,
besides plenty of solar power, I have a Rutland 913 for 10 years constantly running, no great output but also no noise.
If I have to decide it again to buy a windgenerator...... probably not. I love my solar panels.

[cantxsailor]

Here's an experience.....MY Air X survived hurricane IKE even though the boat was washed up on shore and spent several hours slamming against the dock it was still attached to. The blades didn't come off or do anything else untoward and much to my surprise(as Im the one who built it) the mount didn't break . I will bet in that much wind the damn thing WAS noisy though. The leading edges of the blades looked as if they had been gently sanded. Hopefully this won't add to the "noise" some of you seem to be able to hear. I live within 20ft of mine and cannot for the life of me understand how y'all can hear it and I can't. I can/do however hear the "music" some have refered to so maybe it's all what we perceve as intrusive. I just ignore it and don't get too worked up about it. I certainly don't allow it to spoil my day..............m

[YOGAO]

Originally Posted by cantxsailor

...I can/do however hear the "music" some have refered to so maybe it's all what we perceve as intrusive. I just ignore it..............m

[SARCASTIC]Funny![/SARCASTIC]

One person's "music" is another's "dentist drilling without novocaine" - for hours and hours and hours -

PLEASE MAKE IT....STOP!

Fair Winds,
Mike

[Beausoleil]

I was talking to a gentleman from eMarine Systems (from Ft. Lauderdale, I believe). He said that Southwest WindPower (makers of the Air-X and the Air Breeze) are recalling early Air Breeze units because of slight delamination of the blades. Since the newer Air Breeze units are shipping with black blades rather than white, I'm guessing my unit is an early model.

New replacement blades of the newer design are available for about $100-110, and I'd guess SWWP would replace my old white ones for free, since it's making more noise now than when originally installed. I'll followup here after I contact SWWP.

So now, with black blades, the only way to tell from a distance whether it's an older Air-X or a newer Air Breeze is to listen...

[Dave]

Surely the replacement blades for the air breeze are also the newer, wider, quieter profile ??? If they simply replace with air-X blades that would suck. I look forward to your follow up.

Thanks, Dave