HVAC For Beginners

Residential Wind Power System Ratings

A Repairman Reviews The Brands

With our residential wind power system ratings, you can cut through all of the sales hype and find value. Our simple rating system gives each brand a color code and a star rating. If the card is green, then, that is one of the top picks from HvacRepairGuy. If the card is yellow, then, that would be a budget pick from HvacRepairgGuy. If the card is red, then, the brand is not recommended by HvacRepairGuy. It truly is like you were taking a repairman shopping with you!

AEOLOS

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

This manufacturer offers both vertical and horizontal wind turbines that are backed by a good warranty. The vertical units are available in six sizes and can be purchased through dealers or directly from the manufacturer. windturbinestar.com

AEROCRAFT

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand offers five sizes of basic horizontal downwind turbines. Their website is not much help and does not have a stated guarantee for their products. aerocraft.de

AEROTECTURE

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

These units are custom built vertical wind turbines. They are only available in Chicago and San Francisco right now. They offer hybrid systems which combine solar panels with the wind turbine. The systems are modular and can be stacked on top of each other to increase power output. aerotecture.com

AIRDOLPHIN

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

These units are made in Japan by ZEPHYR CORPORATION. They offer horizontal upwind turbines with low mass carbon fiber rotor blades. The units have a power assist function that allows the rotor to start at lower wind speeds. They can be used for grid tied or off grid systems and are sold through dealers. zephyreco.co.jp

AIRFORCE

★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand is made in China and offers a wide selection of models but the V2 is our pick for their best. The V2 model is a vertical turbine with automatic control and electromagnetic braking. hopefulenergy.com

ALEKO

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand offers both horizontal and vertical turbines that can be purchased directly from them. Their website is not much help and does not have a stated warranty policy. alekogreenenergy.com

ANAKATA

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

These horizontal wind turbines are shrouded to enhance performance. They have low startup speeds and are available in two sizes. The units are backed by a good guarantee. anakatawindpower.com

ANEW

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand is made in Poland and offers an entry level package that can be a DIY project. They are for grid tie or off grid but are rather expensive. anew-institute.com

ARIA

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand is made in Italy and the Libellula series offers units for grid-tie as well as off-grid applications. Their website is not much help and does not have a stated guarantee for their products. aria-srl.it

AWS

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

These turbines are available in Australia. They offer a wide selection of both horizontal and vertical units that are backed by a good guarantee. australianwindandsolar.com

A & C

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

These units are available on six continents. The POWERMAX+ series units are available in either 20kw or 25kw models and feature variable pitch technology for enhanced performance through the range of operating conditions. They can be configured for either grid-tie or off-grid applications. acgreenenergy.com

BERGEY

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand features horizontal turbines in 1, 7.5, and 10 kw sizes. You can buy the systems directly from the manufacturer but they are pretty expensive for the technology you are getting. bergey.com

BORNAY

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

These horizontal upwind turbines are made in Spain and sold worldwide. They are designed to work in parallel with solar panel installations and can be used in either grid tie or off grid applications. Both of the applications require the use of a battery and the warranty on the units is not very good. bornay.com

BRITWIND

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

This brand is made in Britain and is available worldwide. The R9000 is a horizontal upwind mill that features a low cut-in speed of 3m/s and efficient brushless generator design. The units have a patented "electrobrake" braking system as well as reactive pitch control to maximize electricity production. They have a tilt down tower for ease of installation and maintenance. The turbines are backed by a good guarantee. britwind.co.uk

COLEMAN

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand is made by SUNFORCE PRODUCTS INC. They offer a small off-grid turbine that is sold on many home improvement stores. They are basic horizontal turbines and their warranty is not very good. sunforceproducts.com

CYGNUS POWER

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

These turbines have unique blade construction but their website is not much help and does not have a stated guarantee. cygnus-power.com

ECO-WORTHY

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand offers basic horizontal downwind turbines that are designed for off-grid installations. They are available online and shipped worldwide but their website does not have a stated warranty policy. eco-worthy.com

ENAIR

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand offers horizontal turbines that are made in Spain. They are available in three sizes but their website is not much help and does not have a stated guarantee for their products. enair.es

ENDURANCE

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

These are the state of the art wind turbines as they are designed for less than perfect wind conditions. Their motoring technology allows the turbines to be started at lower wind velocities and they have a dual caliper disc braking system to protect them in excessive wind conditions. They produce grid-ready power without the need for an inverter and are backed by a very good warranty. endurancewindpower.com

FINNWIND

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

The TUULE E 200 is for grid tie applications while the TUULE C is for off the grid. They are horizontal downwind units that are made and sold in Finland. finnwind.fi

FORTIS

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand offers three systems (1.4, 5, and 12 kw) featuring horizontal downwind turbines. They are made in the Netherlands and have a good warranty for that type of turbine. fortiswindenergy.com

GAIA WIND

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

These systems are manufactured in Denmark and feature downwind horizontal turbines. They have an internet connected control system for monitoring and are free yawing which allows for optimum efficiency. gaia-wind.com

HOME ENERGY

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

The ENERGY BALL units are available in two sizes and are unique horizontal wind turbines. Their website is not much help and does not have a stated guarantee for their products. home-energy.com

HUMMER

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand is made in China and is available worldwide. They offer a variety of horizontal turbines and can be purchased online. Their website is not much help and does not have a stated guarantee for their products. hummerwindenergy.com

INNOVENTUM

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

The DALI URBAN is a ducted horizontal wind turbine which is able to start at lower wind speeds. They are made in Sweden but their website is not much help and does not have a stated guarantee for their products. innoventum.se

ISTA BREEZE

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand is made in Turkey by ALTINEL ENERGY and is available worldwide. They offer four sizes of horizontal downwind turbines that can be purchased directly online. They use basic technology and the warranty is not very good when compared to other brands. istabreeze.com

JACOBS

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand is from WIND TURBINE INDUSTRIES CORP. and features horizontal tower mounted turbines in sizes from 10 to 20 kw. The standard warranty on the systems is not very good but can be extended. They are only sold through dealers and are larger than needed for most residential applications. windturbine.net

JAYSOLAR

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

These units are made and sold in India by JAY INDUSTRIES. They offer horizontal upwind turbines in sizes from 200 watts to 5 kw. The manufacturer's website is not much help and does not have a stated warranty policy. jaysolar.net

JETPRO

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand is made in Taiwan and features shrouded horizontal turbines. The shroud allows the unit to work at lower wind speeds and eliminates the tail on the unit. Their website is not much help and does not have a stated warranty policy. jetprotech.com

KESTREL

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

These horizontal downwind turbines are made in South Africa. They can be used in either grid tie or off grid situations and are available in sizes from 600 to 3000 Watts. They do not offer packaged systems but sell all of the parts that you need. The warranty is not very good when compared to similar units. kestrelwind.co.za

KINGSPAN

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

The KW6 models have a unique blade and hinge design to allow operation in all wind speeds. They are backed by a good guarantee but are horizontal turbines. kingspanwind.com

KLIUX

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

This brand is made in Spain and offers vertical turbines that are backed by a good warranty. The ZEBRA units have an output of 1.8 KW and a low cut-in speed of 3 M/S. kliux.com

LEADING EDGE

★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

These turbines are made in the U.K. and are sold worldwide. They offer both horizontal and vertical units in sizes from 50 watts to 2 KW. The warranty on the units is not as good as some of the other brands. leturbines.com

LUMINOUS

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

The WHISPER range offers horizontal downwind turbines. The brand is made in India and is available worldwide. Their website is not much help and does not have a stated guarantee for their products. luminousrenewable.com

MISSOURI WIND & SOLAR

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand offers a 1500 watt horizontal downwind turbine. The system is designed for off-grid use. The warranty is not very good. mwands.com

OKWIND

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand is from France and features six sizes of vertical wind turbines. Their website is not much help and does not have a stated warranty policy. okwind.fr

PRIMUS

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

The AIR 30 wind turbines are horizontal downwind units designed for off-grid applications. They feature electronic torque controlled overspeed protection but their website is not much help. primuswindpower.com

QUIET REVOLUTION

★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand is made in the U.K. and is available in the United States and Europe. The QR5 systems are vertical turbines which must be connected to a three phase power supply. (They are more suitable for Europe than the United States.) quietrevolution.co.uk

ROPATEC

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

These vertical turbine systems are made in Italy. They have systems for off grid or grid tie applications. The manufacturer's website is not much help and does not have a stated warranty policy. ropatec.com

SEOYOUNG

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

These turbines are available in two sizes. They are basic horizontal downwind units. The manufacturer's website is not much help and does not have a stated guarantee for their products. evsmotor.co.kr

SILENTWIND

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand is from RULIS ELECTRICA LDA and offers horizontal wind turbines. They can be purchased directly through their website but it does not have a stated warranty policy. silentwindgenerator.com

SKYSTREAM

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

These systems are from XZERES CORP. and are horizontal downwind turbines. The controls and inverter are built into the turbine assembly and are therefore easier to install. They offer a battery charge controller kit and are backed by a good warranty. skystreamenergy.com

SOMA

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand is made and sold in Australia. The units are available in two sizes (400w or 1000w) and as stand alone or grid tied systems. They use basic technology (horizontal upwind turbines) and the warranty is not very good. somawindgenerators.com.au

STATOEOLIAN

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

These vertical turbine units are made in France. They are available in two sizes and have a good warranty. gual-statoeolien.com

SUNFORCE

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand is available in North America, Europe and Asia. They offer horizontal down wind units for off-grid applications. The systems are sold at many home improvement stores but the warranty is not very good. sunforceproducts.com

SUPERWIND

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand is made in Germany and features a small (350 watt) off grid unit. The horizontal downwind unit is available for either 12 or 24 vdc battery charging. Although the system is not large enough for most houses in developed countries, it can be a good option for electrification of areas in developing countries. The units can be purchased directly online but the warranty is not very good. superwind.com

SVIAB

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand is made in Sweden by SWEDISH WIND ENERGY INDUSTRY CO. The VK240 is a 750 watt system for off-grid. The warranty is not very good when compared to other brands and it is available in only the one size which may not be big enough for your needs. home.swipnet.se

SWIFT

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

These horizontal upwind turbines can be building mounted or freestanding and used in grid tied or off grid applications. The brand is from RENEWABLE DEVICES GROUP and is sold to end-users as well as through distributors. The units are very quiet thanks to their patented circular diffuser ring but their guarantee is not very good. renewabledevices.com

TAIRUI

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

These units are made in China and are available in sizes from 300 watts to 20 kilowatts. They offer both wire-guyed and free-standing towers and the units can be either grid-tie or off-grid. They use basic technology and the warranty is not as good as some other brands. nb-tairui.com

THINAIR

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

The THINAIR 102 is a unique single blade horizontal upwind turbine. Their website is not much help and does not have a stated guarantee for the units. powerhousewind.co.nz

UGE

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

The brand offers low revolution turbines with low noise that are easy to assemble/install. They are vertical helical turbines that are backed by a good warranty. They are more for larger commercial type applications. urbangreenenergy.com

UNITRON

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

These horizontal downwind units are made and sold in India. They are backed by a decent warranty but they use very basic technology. unitronenergy.com

VENTERA

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand offers a hybrid system that combines a 10 kw horizontal tower mounted turbine with 2 kw solar panels. The VT10 wind turbine is for grid connection and produces 240 volt three phase power. venteraenergy.com

Windchallenge

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

These horizontal turbines are made in the Netherlands. They have pitching blades for enhanced performance but their website is not much help and does not have a stated guarantee for the units. windchallenge.com

WINDMAX

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand is from WINDMAX GREEN ENERGY CORP. and they specialize in hybrid systems (H SERIES) that combine solar and wind power production. They have an electromagnetic over-speed control instead of mechanical furling for better, safer operation. The V SERIES units are standard horizontal down wind turbines with auto furling for over-speed control. The manufacturer's website does not have a stated warranty policy. greenpower4less.com

WINDSIDE

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

These units are made in Finland by OY WINDSIDE PRODUCTION LTD and are sold in Europe and Asia through distributors. They offer six sizes of vertical turbines that are designed for off grid applications. The guarantee for the units is not very good unless they are purchased and installed by a professional. windside.com

WINDSPIRE

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

This brand features vertical wind turbines mounted on a hinged monopole for easier servicing. They have an integrated inverter for easier installation and are backed by a good warranty. They are sold through a dealer network. windspireenergy.com

WINDSPOT

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

These horizontal upwind turbines are made in Spain by SONYKO ENERGY and are available worldwide. The units can be configured for either grid-tie or off-grid and are available in 4 sizes from 1.5 to 15 kw. The units feature advanced over speed protection (variable pitch) but the guarantee on the units is not very good. windspot.es

WINGLETTE

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

These units are made in South Africa and are tower mounted horizontal upwind turbines. The WO3 units are designed for low to medium wind speeds and use a battery bank for both grid tie and off grid applications. The warranty on the units is not very good when compared to other brands. winglette.com