Sunforce 44444 12Volt 400Watt Wind Generator
July 14, 2010 by SolarInfo
Filed under solar panels
| Brand: | Sunforce | ||
| Average Rating |
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The Sunforce 44444 400 Watt Wind Generator uses wind to generate power and run your appliances and electronics. Constructed from lightweight, weatherproof cast aluminum, this generator is also a great choice for powering pumps or charging batteries for large power demands. With a maximum power up to 400 watts or 27 amps, this device features a fully integrated regulator that automatically shuts down when the batteries are completely charged. The 44444 is virtually maintenance free with only two moving parts, and the carbon fiber composite blades ensure low wind noise while the patented high wind over speed technology guarantees a smooth, clean charge. Assembly is required, but this generator installs easily and mounts to any sturdy pole, building, or the Sunforce 44455 Wind Generator 30-Foot Tower Kit. The 44444 uses a 12-volt battery (not included) and measures 15 x 9 x 27 inches (WxHxD). more info
Needs steady wind to produce any power
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
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.
Great for the right site – made in USA – about the output…
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
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!
Great Product Better Than I Expected
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
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.
Totally dude
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Super. I like to write reviews with little to no context either. We have so much alike.
Complete Waste Of Energy & Money
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
Folks, unless you live in one of the very few windy locations and most of those places are rural, what good is a wind turbin for $2,000+?
I can charge batteries for pennies, charge my shaver, my boat and RV batteries with utility power at 12 cents per kwh. Also, consume 120 or 240 power for the same cost. Yes, in the long run it adds up but I don’t have to maintain the power supply either.
Wind energy is a long way from being feasisble to own and maintain let alone sell it’s power to the grid.
confused
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
All your thoughts are very interesting and helpful if you have a BS in electrical engineering, however, for me I was just confused. Like most Americans, my husband and I want to find realistic alternative energy and have been tossing about the idea of a wind generator for our home to subsidize what we get from our electric company. None of the reviews I read gave me any indication as to whether or not the wind turbines advertised here were worth the price. Come on people, remember some of us have our BS degrees in sciences that do not require a lot of math or calculus.
Needs Hurricane
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
Nice generator BUT as it says, you need 28mph sustained wind at the generator to get the advertised power. I have had mine for 3 years and have yet to have it run for more than a few minutes, and I live in a very breezy area. Buy a windmeter for $30 and measure your area because there are not too many places in the country that get this sustained high wind enough to make one of these useful. The windmill only begins producing even just a little bit of power once above 20mph which is still a lot of wind. You also need a long heavy inductrial 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.
Check the Power Curve
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
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.
2nd correction
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I am writing to help people understand about voltage(V), current(I) and power(W). First off, the max voltage and the current that the wind generator is rated at is probably in the form of Voc and Isc which stands for voltage(V)open circuit and current(I)short circuit. Voc is measured in parallel but Isc or current can ONLY be measured in series or in-line with the the source, NEVER in parallel. To get an accurate Isc reading you must “short” or close the circuit with the measuring device as the load of the Generator. Unless you have an AMP clamp, current transformer(CT) or some other way to measure higher current, you can’t get an accurate measurement. Most multimeters can measure current BUT most CAN’T measure more than say 10 Amps. Anything more then that will usually result in a burnt fuse or worst, a burnt meter. This also describes how they got their figures(Watts and Amps). Under Voc and Isc the voltage can be about 21V and the current could be about 20-25 amps. Only under a load will the voltage go down to aprox. 13-14V and the amperage will also drop accordingly. The way they got their voltage, amperage, and wattage figures are in of course perfect wind conditions and typically will be much less on average. Therefore the figures are correct but they will never be seen unless you measure them in the perfect wind conditions under zero load as stated above. As for the Amperage, unless you have all the necessary charging equipment you dont want to see more then say 6-10 amps going to a wet cell battery anyway because you can overcharge or damage your battery or batteries, maybe even explode. I hope this makes scence and helps some people. I dont own this Generator but I would buy it if i had more wind where i live.
Watts=Volts X Amps
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
27 Amps X 14 Volts = 378 Watts therefore 2-3 amps is unacceptable if batterys are low, unit is either defective or way over rated…. unless batteries were almost full then 2-3 amps is normal since regulator is tappering down voltage,
Works great if you add a longer tail and add 6 blades
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
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.
It looks Nice,but….
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
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….
Sunforce 44444 12-Volt 400-Watt Wind Generator
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I mounted my wind generator to the top side of the house that I am renting. The house happens to be in an area where there is a lot of wind on windy days. I did have some problems finding materials to mount to the side of the house. I could not find a 2″ O.D. tube that the generator would fit onto. I did find a 1-3/4″ O.D. tube that is used for electrical purposes. The tube is galvonized steel, light weight. I used some gasketing to make up the 1/4″ that was needed to securely fasten the generator to the tube. I then cut an extension cord and wired one end to the leads on the generator. I ran the remaining 50′ into the basement through a hole in the foundation that I drilled. The generator spins up and works! I am waiting for a windy day to start generating some electricity
Wind Generator
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Well I bought this for my fish house and it works great. I bought the stop switch and AMP meter as a extra purchase, but it was a great add on. The product directions are quite detailed and explain everything excellent.
Wind Power Peace of Mind
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I hate windy days. But now i can capture some of energy blowing about so its a good trade off. As for the the wind mill its self it is all that it claims to be.
Don’t depend on it keeping up with demand on an off grid system unless you live in a vary windy zone or on top of a mountain. Keep in mind the tower kit can be made from standard supply’s found at the local building supply or lumber yard it will save you a bunch of cash. I have added a solar panel to the battery bank just to keep the energy flowing.OK its not much bigger than those lawn ornament wind mills but at least its doing some good, so in my mind I’m doing good things in the battle of energy needs –DJJON
Buy a Solar Panel instead!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
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.
great, very easy to install and set up
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
made my own tower and installed windmill on top, have it about 30 feet and it works great, runs my ice box just fine, would buy more if i had the money
People who buy are test subjects
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
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.
Best deal in town
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is my 2nd one that I purchased for saving electrical power.When it moves, you don’t hear it.it is Just a wisper.One windy day can charge my 12 volt batterys.Follow the instructions and you have it made.I give it a 5.