SunForce 600 vs AirBreeze?

[Al - s/v Persephone]

I've been considering buying an AirBreeze for my 300ah battery set-up, due to its apparently good reputation for low-wind performance and quality.

However, I notice the SunForce 600 seems to offer higher power at a lower price from a 9-year-old Canadian company.

Does anyone know (preferably from experience or operation) about its:

(1) noise levels vs AirBreeze;
(2) supposed 4.5kt start-up speed;
(3) marine durability vs AirBreeze; and
(4) company ability to stand-up for what appears to be a good warrantee.

I realize that the extra power costs an increase in weight. (20lb AirBreeze vs 50lb SunForce) Can anyone tell me what the blade diameter is? (Not in the user manual PDF.)


Thanks

Al - s/v Persephone

 

[Finally Free]

The manual says rotor diameter is 4.3 feet so each blade would be about 2 feet.
I have also been looking at this 1 instead of the KISS I originally started looking at. The power curve seems good and at $630 (excluding mounting pole) the price is good. If you need the place I found that price, send me a private message as I don't like to post business names.

 

[Rich Stidger]

I just bought replacement blades for my Air-X 400 and according to the vendor from whom I ordered, the blades for the Air-X and Breeze are identical. My manual for the Air-X 400 claims the diameter is 46". The Breeze could be slightly different because I know it has a different hub. Each blade is about 21.5" long.

You probably know that Southwest Windpower, the original manufacturer of Air-X sold their wind generator line to Primus Wind Power. Here is a link:

http://www.solar-electric.com/primus-wind-power-generators-turbines-accessories.html

Also, there is a company called SPRECO on the other side of the pond that is making replacement blades that are claimed to be much quieter. They ought to be quiet for over 3X the price. Here are links to them:

http://www.emarineinc.com/products/SPRECO-Silentwind-Silent-Power-Blades.html

http://www.bluemarinestore.com/silent-power-blades.html

And finally here is a link to a U-tube video that gives evidence to the quietness of these wildly-priced blades.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ-5vwOMMOE

Me? I bought the original Air-X blades. I was conflicted for a couple of days but in the end I just couldn't bring myself to spend over $400 for a set of blades. YMMV.

 

[Tom J]

The manual says rotor diameter is 4.3 feet so each blade would be about 2 feet.
I have also been looking at this 1 instead of the KISS I originally started looking at. The power curve seems good and at $630 (excluding mounting pole) the price is good. If you need the place I found that price, send me a private message as I don't like to post business names.

I've heard good things about the KISS. Last time I was in Bimini, three of the four wind generators I saw there were KISS. The owners all said they bought them from the same place (Hotwire in Tarpon Springs, FL.), and were happy with them. Many of the KISS components are off-the-shelf items (Delco, I think), and the whole unit is owner repairable.

 

[capta]

You may want to consider a more expensive windgen. The AirX & Breeze are two of the noisiest windgens and will definitely make you no friends in an anchorage. I do not know the SunForce 600, but if it's a 3 blade unit that looks similar to the Air units, I would be very careful.
After 3 years cruising the Caribbean it has come down to just a few of the more expensive units that actually work as advertised for any length of time and do not create so much noise that others in an anchorage dread your arrival. I know folks who can tell the wind speed by the noise and vibration their units make. At 15 to 20 knots they cannot hold a conversation in the cockpit in a normal voice.
In this case you definitely get what you pay for.