With our residential wind power system ratings, you can compare residential wind turbines side by side using our Head To Head tool.
You can compare 17 different models from 13 brands in ten categories such as warranty, power, voltage, turbine construction, and price. You can also read the individual reviews of each brand below.
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 HvacRepairGuy. 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!
This brand is made in China by Salutwin for sale on Amazon but it only has a minimal guarantee. They offer a vertical turbine with a 450 watt power production capacity at 12 volts. It features electromagnetic braking and can survive in 100 MPH winds. The turbine has a very low startup speed at just 2.9 MPH and generates usable power with a wind speed of just 5.6 MPH. The unit comes with a MPPT charge controller but the blades are made of fiberglass which is cheaper but not as durable as brands that use carbon fiber construction.
This brand is made in Taiwan and can be purchased through their website or on Amazon but their guarantee is not very good when compared to other brands. The DA-1500 is a horizontal turbine with a 1500 watt power production at either 24 or 48 volts. It is pretty quiet during operation with a noise rating that is less than the hum from a refrigerator. The unit comes with a MPPT charge controller but it does not include the batteries which are required for the system to work.
This brand offers horizontal upwind turbines through a network of factory authorized dealers. The Excel 10 model has a 8.9 kw rated power output and features autofurl overspeed protection where the turbine blades are folded back to protect the unit from excessive wind speeds. The units are really quiet with a noise level that is less than a normal adult conversation. The Excel 15 model has a 15.6 kw rated power output and the brand offers a variety of tower options. The units do not require any routine maintenance and they are backed by a very good warranty.
This brand is made by Sunforce Products Inc and they are available worldwide. They offer a small off-grid turbine that is sold at many hardware and home improvement stores such as The Home Depot and Tractor Supply. They have a rather small (400 watt) capacity that is sufficient for 12 volt battery charging applications such as a small off-grid cabin and they are relatively inexpensive. The units feature an integrated charge controller and an auto braking system that protects the turbine in winds that are 45 mph or more.
This brand is made in China for sale on Amazon but it only has a minimal guarantee. The FD-600w is a horizontal turbine with a 600 watt power production at 12 volts. It is pretty quiet during operation with a noise rating that is less than the hum from a refrigerator and it is very inexpensive. The unit comes with a MPPT charge controller and is made of nylon fiber with an aluminum fuselage with stainless steel fittings which resists corrosion.
This brand is made in China and offers basic horizontal downwind turbines that are designed for off-grid installations. They can be purchased directly through their website or Amazon store and they are backed by a pretty good guarantee. The ECO-400 units come with a PWM charge controller that automatically shuts down when the batteries are fully charged. They also offer hybrid wind and solar kits that are reasonably priced and can provide either 600 or 800 watts of power.
This brand is made in China for sale on Amazon but it only has a minimal guarantee. The Model 1 is a vertical axis wind turbine for off grid use but they do not produce enough power to be practical in a home or cabin.
This brand is made in China and can be purchased at The Home Depot but their guarantee is not as good as some of the other brands. The 70701 model is a horizontal wind turbine for off grid battery charging applications with a 2 kw maximum power output. The units include a MPPT charge controller and are for 24 volt batteries but they are a rather expensive option.
This brand is made in China for sale on Amazon but it only has a minimal guarantee. They offer a vertical turbine with a 600 watt power production capacity at 24 volts. It features electromagnetic braking and can survive in 100 MPH winds. The turbine has a very low startup wind speed and generates usable power with a wind speed of just 5.6 MPH. The units are relatively inexpensive but they do not provide everything that is required for the installation such as the batteries.
This brand is made in China for sale on Amazon but it only has a minimal guarantee. The turbines have carbon fiber blades which are strong and durable. The 12 volt 400 watt kit includes a 30 amp hybrid charge controller and the kit is designed to be added to a solar panel system while the 24 volt 1000 watt kit is for a stand alone wind turbine. The turbines produce power with a wind speed of just 3 mph and, with their electromagnetic braking, the turbines can survive wind speeds of up to 89 mph.
This brand is made in the USA by Ryse Energy and they are sold through a dealer network. The Air 40 wind turbines are horizontal downwind units designed for off-grid applications but they only produce about 40 Kilowatt hours of power per month and so their usefulness is rather limited as the average US household uses about 800 per month. They feature electronic torque controlled overspeed protection but they do not offer a kit that includes a charge controller and battery bank.
These turbines 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. The Skystream 3.7 model is a grid tied system that can produce 2.4 KW of power and they can be purchased directly from the manufacturer. They are backed by a good guarantee.
This brand is made in China and can be purchased on their website or Amazon store but their guarantee is not very good when compared to other brands. The 500 Watt turbine uses a MPPT charge controller and can be used for either 12 or 24 volt systems but the units are somewhat louder than other brands. The 800 Watt turbine is a horizontal turbine for off grid 12 volt systems while the Lantern model is a vertical axis wind turbine with a built-in charge controller. The Lantern model has a limited usefulness as it only has a maximum 100 watt power output.
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 made in the USA by Royall Products LLC and the units can be purchased directly from the manufacturer.
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