Experience with Sunforce 400 Watt Marine Grade Wind Turbine

[SV Demeter]

Looking at this wind genny sold at Defender and wondering if anyone has any experience with it? Are they noisy? Price seems low so Im questioning the quality here?

Sunforce 400 Watt Marine Grade Wind Turbine / Generator

[Jon Neely]

I have learned you get what you pay for when it comes to wind gennys. If your serious in wanting one, I would spend the extra dough and get one that is quiet, efficient and reliable. I would be looking at Kiss as it seems to be the cheapest "good" Wind genny. I would look over rutland 914i, thats what I got. After spending time on a boat with a Kiss, it performs hands down better than the rutland.

[SV Demeter]

Agreed. So you like the kiss then? Is it quiet? Can it be left unattended or does it need to be tied off in high winds? When does it start making power?

[Jon Neely]

its pretty quiet. My 914i which is virtually silent up to about about 15knt then you hear a slight hum. But compared to silent wind, airx and air breeze... no comparison, those I consider pretty loud to REALLY LOUD. The kiss I was onboard with was very quiet.

[SV Demeter]

Understood. I knew the D400 was quiet but was hoping to keep the cost under 1500.

I intend to mount on the top of the mizzen so having to tie off blades is not practical.

Had heard good things about the silent wind but you say it's noisy eh?

[Jon Neely]

I have only had experience with one and it was in the SF bay. Its on a Tayana 37 SV Alchemy. Every time I would go out with Geoff the genny would not be running, I said whats the deal, he said the noise was bothersome and he didnt need the energy. Later that day he came on my boat with the rutland running around 10-15knts and he was shocked at how quiet the rutland was. He was attesting on how his was much louder his was, again the rutland is virtually silent.... really it is. Also he said that the Silent wind didnt really start outputting anything till 20-25knts, very similar to the Rutland, it start actually putting me in the +amps around 12knts when my solar is off. This is me not trying to bag on any brands, just first hand experience and tales from actual owners.
PS, the kiss has a cut off to stop the rotors and overload protection.
Cheers,

Jon

[SV Demeter]

Thanks. I need to keep researching. Think it was the super wind not silent wind I was considering. On off switch is ok as long as it really does the trick. I thought I heard of cases where there were thermal breakers that could over heat and allow the unit to spin out of control. Like I said I need to study these things a bit more. Looking for a supplement to our solar which is great just wishing for a bit more while underway to keep up with autopilot. We're very close with only solar now

[Jon Neely]

this is what he has:

Silentwind Wind Generator from Spreco