The Primus Windpower Air 40 24V Land Wind Turbine 1-AR40-10-24 was designed with sailboats and RVs in mind. The outside appearance and size of the Air 40 is the same as the Air 30. The main difference is that the algorithm of the Air 40 has reduced RPM’s designed to optimize performance in moderate wind speeds. As a result the Air 40 will operate in a much quieter fashion than the Air 30. Another feature of the Air 40 is that the angle of the blades was modified to reduce vibrations. The Air 40 is the recommended wind turbine for land applications with people in the vicinity. The marine version of the Air 40 is the Air Breeze model.
All Primus Air models include an red LED light visible at the bottom of the turbine’s body. The LED light will be solid when the turbine is producing energy. A slow flashing means the turbine is in regulation mode, which is when the turbine spins slowly but no energy is being produced. A fast flashing means the winds are strong and the turbine has entered overspeed protection.
The Primus wind turbines come with a built-in charge controller with a factory preset voltage to operate in 12, 24 and 48 Volt DC systems. The default voltage set points are optimal for most deep-cycle batteries commonly used in renewable energy systems. However, the factory values can be field adjusted to accommodate the charge set points for special battery technologies.
It is a wide spread notion that the higher the turbine the better the wind speed; this is true to a certain extend. However, it is not as critical when it comes to micro wind turbines like the Primus Air models. In some cases the additional wire, post, materials and installation cost to have a high turbine does not justify the increase performance. A typical height for these turbines is 30-40 feet above ground.
Since these micro-turbines are paired with solar panels in most systems, when analysing the turbine’s performance it is more important to evaluate the winter’s wind resource rather than focusing in the yearly average wind speed. If you are located in the USA or Canada, Primus Windpower has developed a neat tool where you can see a graph for your turbine’s production throughout the year for your specific geographic location.
When using the Primus generators in locations with very high wind speeds, the turbine can be connected in conjunction with a Morningstar Tristar charge controller which has and auxiliary input specially designed for dumping the excess energy produced by small wind turbines.
Primus Windpower AIR turbines come with a 5-year limited warranty; visit this page to see the complete limited warranty policy.
Features of the Air 40 wind turbines:
– Advanced microprocessor for reliable energy production
– Integrated overcharge protection
– Permanent mold cast aluminum body
– High-quality, field tested components
– Quiet operation, lightweight and easy to install
– Efficient energy production in light winds
– Plug and play battery connection
– For use in non-corrosive environments
AIR 40 Wind Turbine Technical Specifications:
Energy Potential: Approx. 40 kWh a month at 13.4 mph (6.0 m/s)
Swept Area: 11.5 ft2 (1.07 m2)
Rotor Diameter: 46 in (1.17 m)
Weight: 13 lb (5.9 kg)
Shipping Dimensions: 27 x 12.5 x 9 in (686 x 318 x 229 mm) 17 lb (7.7 kg)
Startup Wind Speed: 7 mph (2.2 m/s)
Voltage: 12, 24 and 48 VDC
Turbine Controller: Microprocessor-based smart internal regulator
Body: Cast aluminum
Blades: (3) Injection-molded composite
Alternator: Permanent magnet brushless
Overspeed Protection: Electronic torque control
Survival Wind Speed: 110 mph (49.2 m/s)
Mount: 1.5 in schedule 40 pipe 1.9 in (48 mm) outer diameter
Warranty: 5 year limited
Choosing a Primus wind turbine
Primus Wind Power manufactures five lines of wind turbines. All five are exclusively for battery charging with a rated power of 400W and are available in 12V, 24V, and 48V. The five turbine models are very similar in appearance but were designed with different applications in mind. Here is a quick summary to help you choose the right turbine for your application.
Air 30
The Air 30 is assembled with high wind blades and a high RPM charging algorithm. They are designed for remote high wind locations where access can be challenging, for example telecom towers or remote oil facilities. The Air 30 is made for land use only, for remote marine applications use the Air X Marine.
Air 40
The Air 40 is built in the same body as the Air 30 turbine, however the blades and the RPMs are optimized for a quiet operation. The Air 40 is a great wind turbine for land applications such remote cabins where people are in the vicinity.
Air Breeze
In short, the Air Breeze is the marine version of the Air 40 turbine. The cast aluminum body is painted with aircraft quality paint and is assembled with a marine grade O-ring seal and stainless steel fasteners. For boats and sailboats this is the right turbine to use, unless you want a quieter turbine, the Air Silent X.
Air Silent X
The Air Silent X turbine displays the same marine protection as the Air Breeze but comes equipped with blue carbon fiber blades for low sound emission.
Air X Marine
As mentioned above the Air X Marine is the marine version of the Air 30 turbine. Without question it is the right turbine for remote marine applications such as buoys and navigation lights.
