Mariah Power Windspire Reviews

 Check the web site at http://www.mariahpower.com - unless you are in an area with exceptional wind speeds the output is minimal. 

 

At 5 m/s (12 mph) wind speed the puts out between 100 and 150 watts. Using the commercial capacity factor of approx 0.35 (say 150*8760*.35/1000) you may reach 500 kWh annual production.

 

The unit base price is about 6,000 USD plus what ever else is required. The projected annual income at 10 cents per unit would be 30 and 50 USD.

 

The economic calculator on the Mariah site ignores capacity factor which is used in all commercial turbine calculations - of course an engineer is involved there for a buyer where you may or may not have that advantage. 

 

The unit is under testing at this time by the NREL (I believe it is NREL) to certify the capability of the design.

 I have seen these turbines in operation and recorded their performance first hand.  If you have wind, it is a really great product.  If not, then it is not for you.  Same goes for installing solar panels in Seattle.

I purchased a Windspire a few years ago. I've never been happy with the power output. Since then I have been through 2 inverters and due to a faulty shorting clip, the unit sheered off in high winds and the top had to be replaced. The last episode was once again after some heavy winds and the brake wouldn't kick off. After waiting several months for a replacement inverter, I installed it and had a great run of about 3 months before another windy day with high winds caused the brake to kick in and it never came off again. I've been trying to call Windspire, but apparently no one actually works there as I keep getting answering machines and no call backs.

 

If you don't mind poor tech support, a company that is in it just for your money, and a pretty bird perch, then go ahead and buy one. Otherwise, STAY AWAY! We'll see if my lawyer can handle the company better.

We are the dealers/installers for Windspire in SouthWest Michigan.  These are made for low wind, unlike what others claim, these deliver 1.2kW continuous AC voltage without additional inverters.  They tie directly into your electrical breaker panel.  No difficult electrical installation. 

 

They spin with ease and turn without and effort and are completely quiet.  Ice shedding and birds are not a problem.  Windspire looks like an antenna.  Check them out before you purchase a propeller type and see which type is best for you.

 

In SouthWest Michigan, Call: 
Eco-Friendly Contracting, LLC 
5268 Azo Ct., Kalamazoo, MI  48048 
(269) 598-1101  Fax (269) 206-3060 

We purchased and had installed two Windspires in May of 2009.  After shelling out a whopping $14,000 we had high hopes.  Our building site is situated on the side of a mountain with optimum wind conditions.  These turbines have never, I repeat never, produced more than 80 CENTS a month in power.  The company was notified in August 2009 of this problem.  They informed us that we had received "defective" (their word) turbines and inverters.  We were promised a complete replacement.  As of July 2010, nothing has transpired.  We've been handed off from one corporate stuffed shirt to another, all the way up to the supposed CEO.  Nothing...no replacement, no equipment, no electricity.  We have absolutely nothing to show for a substantial investment.  The company has supplied only vague explanations and broken promises.  Be extremely wary of this product and especially this company...if it were possible to award negative stars in this review, I would have done so.