No experience w/ that unit, Simon, but it's well to study SouthWest Wind Power's warranty, returns and repair policies. For their smaller units, SWWP typically requires you to box and return the entire unit for service, at your expense, and they'll fix it when they get to it. Which may be months. SWWP has left a trail of frustrated customers around the globe -- they seem not to understand that people who rely on wind turbines need them fixed NOW. I believe some other manufacturers, like the KISS people, will FedEx you parts anywhere.
I've taught classes in offgrid living, wind power, and renewable energy, and the bullet points under "Choosing a Wind Turbine" go something like:
A) It will break. Get used to that; learn to diagnose and fix it yourself. It's not hard.
B) Shop companies, not power curves. A broken wind turbine has an output of ZERO. A good company will not act surprised or blame you when their product breaks; they will have a full range of parts on hand; and they will get them out to you next day, no questions asked.
C) Warranties matter. Out-of-pocket repairs will quickly double the installed cost of a wind machine. At least.
Another thing to look at is governing and shut-down mechanisms. The AirBreeze claims to use a "Patented electronic torque control", which sounds like ad-speak for "alternator braking". Be aware there are serious downsides to this method, and that in a strong blow, you might not be able to stop the blades. (Chucking the tail of your mainsheet unto the rotor is an effective backup plan.
)
In case you haven't guessed, I'm no fan of SWWP. If they spent half as much time & money on engineering as they do on marketing and self-congratulation, their products would be a lot better.
Connect with Facebook
