2018 Wind generators

[Franziska]

Hi,

I am looking into a 12v wind generator.
Since last time I researched its been a while and the market seems to have evolved since the Air x marine entered it.

The main options seem to be:

Silentwind
Superwind
Rutland 1200
Air x Marine

I was almost set on the first one but read mixed reports with regards to longevity.

The Rutland 1200 seems to be new on the market and I had not heard of it the last time I looked.
Still in a test by Sail Magazine it seems to have very good output over a large wind range that seems a big plus to me.

Can anyone share their latest experience regarding quality&output on these contenders?
Are there any good cheaper marine alternatives I may have overlooked?

Price is a big concern, but I also know the phrase, buy cheap buy twice.

Thanks so much,

Fran

www.ladyrover.com

[GordMay]

Eclectic Energy ‘D400' ?
➥ Micro Wind Turbines manufactured by Eclectic Energy Ltd | D400 Wind Generator

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Eclectic Energy ‘D400' ?
➥ Micro Wind Turbines manufactured by Eclectic Energy Ltd | D400 Wind Generator

Started with a Windbugger, then a KISS, now a D400. Much more expensive but worth it. KISS, for the money, is a excellent choice.

[Anders]

Don't have a windgenerator but hear and see many makes when we med moor in Greece. The only make that gives a decent output and is quit enough that I would want in on my boat is the d400, all the others are to noisy, silentwind is less noisy than the dreadful airx but i would not want it on my boat or a nearby boat.
Unless you have some very specific requirements would add more solar if you have space for it before buying a wind generator, you can get a lot of solar for the price if a wind generator.

[Franziska]

Thanks, we have solar but want wind as well :-)
Sometimes you have wind but no sun and the other way around. Do you mean the Eclectic D400 or the Silentwind D400?

[Tellie]

The SuperWind350 by far is the best built wind generator.

[LoudMusic]

From a very brief review of stats for the SuperWind 350 and the Eclectic D400, it looks like it'd be great to have one of each

The SW 350 seems to start outputting usable quantities of power at a lower wind speed, but caps off at 350 watts. The E D400 takes more wind to become useful, but cranks out huge amounts of power when the wind is really blowing.

My question is, if you're running the typical 12v house battery do you want a 12v or 24v wind generator? One has to convert up to charge the battery while the other has to convert down. I don't know enough yet about the charging process to know which is prefered.

[Tellie]

The D400 is a good unit but a side to side comparison to a SuperWind350 and there's no comparison on build. Everyone of the SuperWind350's we had here during Irma made it through 100+ mph winds, many that were never turned off during the storm.

[Bleemus]

I have a Superwind 350. Built like a tank and it self furls in high winds. Highly recommend but you do need over 12 knots of wind to get any useable amps out of it.

[Anders]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Thanks, we have solar but want wind as well :-)
Sometimes you have wind but no sun and the other way around. Do you mean the Eclectic D400 or the Silentwind D400?

Eclectic D400 is the one I mean. It's very quit, also heavy and expensive but I believe all windgenerators with a decent output are expensive.

[Tellie]

Originally Posted by Bleemus

I have a Superwind 350. Built like a tank and it self furls in high winds. Highly recommend but you do need over 12 knots of wind to get any useable amps out of it. Attachment 163981

Yes they are built like a tank. These generators were originally meant for the military and brought into the sailing market as an after thought. We had one three years ago take an accidental swim for about an hour. We just rinsed it off with fresh water and it's been working still three years later.

[boom23]

Do not get SilentWind.

I had two and both were problematic since install. They were noisy and needed very frequent blade balancing.

The D400 is MUCH better.

[Franziska]

Great comments so far! Thanks!

Silentwind and AirX are out.

Superwind and D400 are still in. Do both come with a regulator which can also handle the solar?
Are they brushless?

Anyone using the Rutland 1200?

[Bleemus]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Great comments so far! Thanks!

Silentwind and AirX are out.

Superwind and D400 are still in. Do both come with a regulator which can also handle the solar?
Are they brushless?

Anyone using the Rutland 1200?

SW350 comes with a controller but only for the wind gen. I have a Victron controller for solar that is awesome.

It has brushes. Expected brush life is twenty years. Takes five minutes to change if needed.

[Mike OReilly]

I’ve had a Silentwind for must be six years now. Works great. Have had zero problems with it and have done almost zero maintenance. Output is pretty much to published specs. Much better than my old Air-x, and many magnitudes quieter.

It isn’t “silent” — no windgen is. But mine sits just aft of my cockpit, on a ~12’ mast. Most of the time I don’t even notice it. I carry on normal conversation with it running in 20+ knots. No need to raise my voice. More than a few boat lengths away and it is completely silent (this, based on me going around and asking anchor mates — most were even unaware we had a windgen).

I considered a D400 and a SW350 when making my decision. Both seem like excellent choices for noise and output. I would have gone with a D400, but it is a lot heavier, and quite a bit more expensive. I forget why I didn’t choose the SW350 — price perhaps...