600 WATTS, 600 BUCKS

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I mounted doe Air 303 on a freestanding pole buried in cement. If I had to do it over again today, I would put guy wires on it, but there have been no problems and the client is satisfied (it is only on a 20foot pole). I installed a switch at rite bottom of the pole to stop rotation in the event maintenance is required, and then ran the wires into a disconnect switch. With the self-regulation, the charge went right into the batteries from there. The battery bank was topped off within a couple of days and there has been a state of undercharge since.

There's a lot about the Air 303, and its successor, the Air 403, that make them attractive for the homeowner who has modest power requirements and a site with some wind resource available. I like the lightweight, easy installation and self regulating features, not to mention the fact that they are virtually maintenance free. Keep in mind that the smaller the unit is, the faster it has to turn to put out the same amount of power as a larger one. This can lead to overheating and premature wear, as was a problem with the Air 303. It appears that Southwest Windpower has made several changes in the Air 403 that should make it a more reliable machine-only time will tell. The folks I know who have added this machine to their systems have been pleased with the results. There are several models by different manufacturers that are slightly larger and not much more expensive. Many of them have a stronger track record after years of operation and are worth investigating.

Final Thoughts
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Keep in mind that anything that is up in the air and moving at high speeds can be dangerous. Even the machines that are supposedly maintenance free deserve a visual inspection at least once a year to make sure nothing is rattling loose.

Some concerns my clients have had about adding a wind system include noise and aesthetics. As for noise, I've worked with several owners of generators from the small Air 303 to a Jacob, 3,000-watt generator on a 60-foot tower. The only time noise has been an issue is when the generator was mounted on a building.

Admittedly, some people don't like the looks of renewable energy systems. I think they're attractive and show something about the character of the person who will take power into his or her own hands. I'm amazed at how often I'm asked to hide a system. Be proud! By accepting the idea that a battery is like a bucket, and renewable energy systems the sources that can fill it, you will become exponentially more aware of your potential to minimize your impact on the planet.

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