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Air X Wind Turbine

Air X Wind Turbine

Possibly the biggest selling small turbine in the world, with SouthWest wind power claiming more than 140,000 units sold to 120 countries in the last ten years.

A new version, called the 'Air Breeze' has recently been launched, claiming reduced noise and improved efficiency. The Air X is not without its detractors of course, some of whom have already left comments at the bottom of this page.

Wind turbines

Swept area

The Air X has a blade diameter of 1.14 metres. This means it has a swept area, or capture area of 1.02 square metres. The swept area is all important when comparing wind turbines, since it directly relates to the amount of passing wind energy the turbine blades can intercept.

Air X power output curve

The graph below shows the power produced (in watts) for the Air X at different wind speeds, based on data supplied by the manufacturer.




Whilst the above graph gives an indication of the instantaneous power you might expect from the Air X turbine, working out annual power production is more complex. The only way to know for sure is by measuring your wind speeds using an anemometer for a period of time and then working out what a generator like this would produce. Luckily, we've invented something that makes this easy, called the Power Predictor!

Predict the power output of a Air X wind turbine using the Power Predictor data logging anemometer to record wind speeds and run a simulation of potential energy generation. Click for more info

The Air X wind turbine in action

Promotional video of the Air X, made by manufacturers South West Windpower.

video credit: swwindpower

Power output
Maximum power output of 400W. Anecdotal reports suggest that it does not perform well at higher wind speeds. There is no verified data on this as yet.
Cost
Around £400 plus shipping from US.
Our view
We have no direct experience of this turbine as yet, so if you have any views or reviews, please feel free to add them below and we will incorporate the information when we update.
Blade diameter
1.14 metres
Rated output (W)
400
UK grants available?
No
Warranty
THREE year limited warranty (this is unusual)
Voltages
12 Volt • 24 Volt • 48 Volt
Manufacturer
SouthWest Wind Power (USA)
Comments (6)Add Comment
0
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written by Sam Maggio, February 16, 2010
I bought an Air-X last year and installed it about a month later at about 30 feet height on a tower I designed and built. The Air-X started right up and then stopped. Many system checks revealed all was hooked up properly. I called the company I bought it from and tried to return it or get some assistance. I was told I was passed the return date and they could not help me. The Air-X became an expensive and a very high lawn ornament but nothing else. It provided no power to my off-the-grid, battery bank system. It sat on my tower fro months and did not spin. Another wind turbine I bought and installed on my property at a much lower height spins regularly and feeds my battery bank. I am very unhappy with this Air-X product and hope that some day there will be an aftermarket blade assembly and/or aftermarket parts to make this wind turbine of value. Right now it is useless.
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written by R Flett, January 18, 2010
I have had an air industrial for 5 years. It has survived the Orkney climate ok although I switch it off in high winds(the ability to switch it off without burning it out is a great feature). It does not really deliver the quoted power but is satisfactory. Being light it is easy to lower for inspection. It is better than the Rutland 910 I had before. Recently One of the blades broke. This was cause by corrosion on the hub cracking the blades at the fixing holes. This was my fault as The turbine had not been looked at for 5 years. Overall it has given good service and I would buy another.
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written by phil hayward, December 18, 2009
smilies/sad.gifOnly good in steady strong wind. Noise it makes stalling in gale force winds can be heard a mile away - literaly. Two have failed, several times, by blade screws coming undone, jumping off its tower, breaking its casting. Probably OK if you don't have real violent winds.
0
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written by koko, November 29, 2009
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written by Alistair Goodlad, September 10, 2009
This is piece of junk. I've had one installed in a high wind maritime area for the last year and a half. I don't believe it has functioned for more than two weeks in that time. I have sent it back twice to the for repairs under warranty and once the thing just blew off its slip rings. To be fair the company replaced it - the replacement doesn't work! Definitely a waste of money.
jerrycox
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written by jerrycox, June 08, 2009
Do NOT buy one of these machines under any circumstances!!!!
They produce the most terrifying noise as wind approaches gale force - this is what the Blitzkrieg must have sounded like. They are totally unreliable - regulators, bearings (rotor and yaw), stators and blades constantly failing. The only time I got anywhere near the claimed 400w was in a steady wind of 28mph - lucky to get 100w at 15mph! This is the sort of rubbish product that gives renewables a bad name. I was so happy when I finally threw it away!!!! Only good thing I can think of is that 3-year warranty was honoured.

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