This set up is quite common for the sailboat fulltimers. We see them on a lot of boats along the intracoastal waterway. Good idea for them , they can leave the thing up all the time and use the power for the boats batteries and electronics. However 400w is not much actual power for a rv these days.
I'm thinking this is more of a West Coast thing. We traveled through Quartszite and only saw two RV's with Turbines. Both I talked to and both were using the Air-X models which come with a built in battery monitor.
Another guy I spoke with in California who siad he had his AIR-X for over 5 years swore by the thing. Here is what you have to remember. You dont use this as your only means of power. He also had 3 solar panels so when the sun wasnt shining, the weather had usually turned bad and the wind had picked up.
The best of both worlds in my mind. Also, out West, the winds usually pick up each and every night when most of us are in using the computers or running more lights. A wind turbine will generate power all night long while you're sleeping.
We camped beside the guy in California (Boondocking near the Imperial Dunes) and I can honestly say we never heard the turbine once. Most of these newer models are whisper quiet.
Here is the way I think of it. If you do alot of camping beside a lake, the ocean or anywhere there is usually a slight breeze, the turbine would be a great addition to your Alternative Energy source.
The Air-X models are only $600 and include the regulator. This is nothing compared to a good solar panel which at it's peak will only produce 130watts. The Air-X will produce 400 watts at its peak.
Remember, the turbine will still produce power even if the wind is only slightly blowing, it just wont be the 400watts. Much like a solar panel will still work early and late in the day, just not at it's peak like around noon
PapPappy wrote: I often wondered why people didn't mount a smaller version on the front of the RV, so that it would be generating while driving down the road. Seems as if it would be a good idea...and you'd get the batteries all charged up when you got to where you were going....and maybe even when you were there, if wind was working well!!
Don't your batteries already charge while driving down the road? They should.
Plus it would consume as much fuel energy as it would produce.
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