Sunday Morning Coming Down

[WXYZCIENCE]

Well our decision is final, the 403, (screaming banshee) sang it's last dirge.

We finally snapped. Like a bar room brawl. "TAKE IT DOWN!", shouted Bill, as a bottle whistled past his ear. And Scott yelled, "No more noise" I walk away from that well worn kill switch, feeling powerless.

52 feet up there, the air is pretty thin. Scott watches as Bill winches it down, slow, steady.

A silhouette, the end of an era.

Almost a year in service and the wear on the unit is apparent. Lots of bearing and blade wear.

We learned a lot. The flex of the blades can be seen in this last rite.

Quiet now, well on with it, building a windmill a new fashion way. Joe.

[whirly to rise]

Hello I was hoping to find just such a unit. what voltage is she. and would it be possible to aquire this unit from you?

[electrondady1]

i am convinced this is the same windmill sold at canadian tire stores for $699.00 cdn.dollars plus 15% sales tax.it's great to see a large retailer going into r.e. but it seems like a poor choise of product on their part. as i have heard nothing good about these units from the members of this forum.

[WXYZCIENCE]

We tested this windmill! These are the facts. Rated 12v-400w. Never saw more than 200 watts ever. Noise level, very high! Crazy furling spin around. Yet I am astonished how many people want them. They are sold at Canadian Tire ( same product different name? ). If you are putting it on a sailboat, in the south sea or a cabin high in the Andes, to charge a small system, it might work for you. My advice. (:0) Wish we could have asked that question of this board before we acquired it. Check around before you buy! Maybe look at building one yourself. That is what I am up to now. Building a big one. Joe.

[whirly to rise]

I have a freind with one, I'm aware of the problems, I believe it will work for what

I'm doing. What would you want for it ?

[zapmk]

screaming banshee is puttin it mildly this is the 24 volt Air X unit I have





In turbulent wind these things will spin around like crazy, they definitely need some good clean air. Thank god for slip rings. seen 100 watts maybe tops out of it.

 -Zapmk

[hydrosun]

I've got a 5 year old Air 403,24 volt. When I first got it it would start regulating at 20 mph and scream like a  banshee. I noticed the amp meter only going up 10 amps and then going down as it regulated. I contacted the factory and got  a new set of blades that were set at a slightly more forward angle. This caused it to delay bending until the wind got closer to 30 mph. Meaning it screamed a lot less often at my site. I still haven't seen anything close to 400 watts. Someplace I saw the results of some independent test by Paul Gipe showing the lower than rated output of the 403. But the newer AirX was even worse. It seemed to start electronically slowing the output before the blades bent to limit the noise, but also limit the output to about 200 watts. That was an early model AirX so he wasn't sure if  some things were changed on later models.

I've also seen my unit spinning 360 degree hunting the wind.  I've thought of putting up something more efficient but not sure if it would be worth the effort with a marginal location like mine.

Chris

[WXYZCIENCE]

Like I said I can't understand why people want them. Sorry mate this one is already spoken for. Joe.

[hiker]

toss a bigger tail on there if you want it more stable.........

[kenputer]

I have an air-x up and have seen it go to over 30 amps at 12 volt but very seldom,CTC don't have the 403 just the air_x.One thing for sure it gets people interested in wind power,I started out with one and now my garage is filled (over 20) with PMDC motors,blades,tails,meters,welding gear,pipe,wire,batteries..........

kenputer