Home wind turbines are a great way to supplement your renewable energy needs. Whether you’re already completely off-grid or you’re partially tied into the grid, adding wind energy is a great way to utilize clean, free, renewable energy!
To make the selection and comparison process easier, we have compiled this list of the 7 best home wind turbines. These are relatively small and suitable for home use in the suburbs or in larger areas on farms or smallholdings.
The 7 Best Home Wind Turbines:
| No. | Home Wind Turbine | Rated Windspeed | Rated Power |
| 1 | Pikasola 3 Blade Wind Turbine | 13 m/s | 400 W / 12 V |
| 2 | Dyna-Living 3 Blade Wind Turbine | 13 m/s | 400 W / 12 V |
| 3 | Pikasola 5 Blade Wind Turbine | 11 m/s | 200 W / 12 V |
| 4 | Missouri General Freedom II 11 Blade Wind Turbine | 7 m/s | 2000W/12-96V |
| 5 | Automaxx 3 Blade Wind Turbine | 14 m/s | 1500 W / 24 V |
| 6 | InstaBreeze 5 Blade Wind Turbine | 14 m/s | 2000 W / 48 V |
| 7 | Marsrock 3 Blade Wind Turbine | 13 m/s | 400 W / 24 V |
What are the Benefits of a Home Wind Turbine?
There are many benefits to using a home wind turbine. These include:
- Reduced electricity cost: aside from the initial investment and some maintenance, wind energy is completely free. Adding it to your home will reduce your power bill and, over time, you will recoup your initial investment too.
- Renewable energy source: wind energy is a clean, renewable energy source that does not rely on finite resources like fossil fuels.
- Eco-friendly power: wind energy is a clean energy generation process. There are no pollution and no carbon dioxide emissions.
- Energy generation in poor weather conditions: wind turbines will continue to spin and produce energy in rain and snow, as long as the wind is blowing. These conditions are limiting for solar power, so a wind turbine is a great way to supplement your power supply during these times.
- Tax exemptions and incentives: depending on where you’re located, you may be eligible for tax breaks and property rate reductions when you add renewable energy to your home. If you generate more than you need, some locations will allow you to sell it back to the grid.
Check out this video from Modern Off Grid DIY on YouTube for a great snapshot of how a wind turbine can work for you in the right location:
[youtube video=”JUj_tS_Soh8″]
Who Can Benefit from a Home Wind Turbine and What to Consider?
A home wind turbine will benefit anyone living in an area where there are suitable windspeeds. However, there are some important factors to consider before investing in a home wind turbine:
- Average wind speed: home wind turbines require a minimum wind speed to operate and a minimum average wind speed or rated wind speed to be effective. Do some research into the average wind speeds in your area. Websites like Windfinder are a good place to start.
- Installation Requirements: different home wind turbines have different installation requirements. Look into the height they need to situated, if they need to be freestanding or if they can be attached to an existing structure or building, the size of the safety buffer needed around them and the weight and size of the turbine itself. These will all impact the viability and functionality of a wind turbine on your property.
- Local laws and regulations: some areas have specific regulations that may impact your decision. These include restrictions on where a wind turbine may be erected and regulations around the visual and noise impacts of a wind turbine in a residential area.
- Accessibility and maintenance: aside from the initial investment and installation costs, take into consideration the ongoing logistics and costs of servicing the generator. An easily accessible turbine, like those erected on the roof of a building, will be easier to service than those located on a very high, stand-alone mast.
- Power system capacity and requirements: if you’re adding a turbine to an existing renewable power set up, like a solar array and battery bank, make sure your charge controllers, batteries and inverters can handle the extra power input. Upgrade any under-rated components before tying in the wind turbine, to ensure that the rest of the components are protected.
Our Selection Criteria
We have selected the home wind turbines on this list based on the following:
- Rated Windspeed: for a wind turbine to be effective, it needs to run at it’s rated wind speed, which is the average wind speed needed for it to produce the rated power output. We have looked for home wind turbines that operate at a range of different wind speeds, while not requiring extreme winds to be effective. Windspeeds are indicated as meters per second (m/s). 1 m/s is equivalent to 2.23 miles per hour (mph).
- Rated Power: the rated power output is the power the wind turbine will generate at its rated wind speed. The rated power you will require depends on your energy needs and the energy capacity of your existing system. We have chosen home wind turbines that fulfill a range of different power needs, from 200 watts to 2000 watts.
- Number of Blades: the number of blades determines how efficient it is at low wind speeds. Turbines with more blades can operate at lower wind speeds and have a lower cut-in wind speed, which is the speed at which it will begin to spin and generate power.
- Blade Length: Similar to the number of blades, the length of the blade also impacts the efficiency of the wind turbine and how well it will work at lower wind speeds. We have included the length of the blades here so you can compare them.
- Extra Features: Many wind turbines and wind turbine kits come with additional hardware like charge controllers, wind speed meters, and amp readers. They also come with various specifications that are useful to know upfront, like weatherproofing and UV resistant coating. We have looked for options that have good extras and indicated these here so it’s easier to compare options.
The 7 Best Home Wind Turbines
#1: Pikasola 3 Blade Wind Turbine 400W/12V
Rated Windspeed: 13 m/s
Rated Power: 400W / 12V
Number of Blades: 3
Blade Length: 23.4 In / 59.44cm
Extra Features: MPPT Charge Controller, UV and anti-corrosion coating, electromagnetic braking, automatic yaw adjustment to face the right way, wind speed meter
Description: The 400W/12V Pikasola 3 Blade Wind Turbine is a horizontal axis turbine. The blades are made from nylon carbon fiber. The AC generator is a three-phase permanent magnet synchronous motor, with a high-performance NdFeB permanent magnet.
It comes with an integrated voltage regulator and an MPPT charge controller. It also comes with an Anemometer for measuring wind speed.
Price it on Amazon:
What the Amazon Reviews Say (3.9/5):
Pros:
- Excellent customer service
- Efficient for an affordable price
- Comes with a wind speed meter reader
Cons:
- 5 blade unit suggested for lower wind speed areas
- Assembly can be confusing
- Low power output – better supplemental power
#2: Dyna-Living 3 Blade Wind Turbine 400W/12V
Rated Windspeed: 13 m/s
Rated Power: 400W/12V
Number of Blades: 3 (5 blade version also available)
Blade Length: 23.64 in / 60 cm
Extra Features: MPPT Charge Controller, copper and Teflon components for heat resistance
Description: The 400W/12V Dyna-Living 3 Blade Wind Turbine is a horizontal axis turbine. It comes with an MPPT Charge Controller. The internal components are copper and Teflon, for improved heat resistance in high temperature operating conditions. The AC generator is a three-phase permanent magnet synchronous motor.
Price it on Amazon:
What the Amazon Reviews Say (3.6/5):
Pros:
- Easy to assemble and put up
- Puts out a steady supply of power
- Solid construction and materials
Cons:
- Needs winds over 30 miles per hour to charge
- Charge controller prone to breaking
- Doesn’t reach 400w charging mark
#3: Pikasola 5 Blade Wind Turbine 200W/12V
Rated Windspeed: 11 m/s
Rated Power: 200W/12V
Number of Blades: 5
Blade Length: 23.4 in/40.08 cm
Extra Features: MPPT Charge Controller, wind speed meter, electromagnetic braking, anti-corrosion treatment
Description: The 200W/12V Pikasola 5 Blade Wind Turbine is a vertical axis turbine. It comes with an MPPT Charge Controller and an Anemometer for measuring wind speed. The AC generator is a three-phase permanent magnet synchronous motor. It utilizes electromagnetic breaking.
The blades are made from Nylon Fiber and the metal components are anti-corrosion treated. The vertical axis design and double bearings reduce vibration and make it quieter.
Price it on Amazon:
What the Amazon Reviews Say (2.7/5):
Pros
- Can be mounted hanging upside down
- Can rotate clockwise and anticlockwise
- Low start-up wind speed required
Cons
- Can’t mount turbine in standard suburban sized yard
- Manufacturer does not include installation requirements on the product page
- Controller sometimes faulty upon arrival
#4: Missouri General Freedom II 2000W 11 Blade Wind Turbine
Rated Windspeed: 7 m/s
Rated Power: 2000W/12-24-48-96V
Number of Blades: 11
Blade Length: 31 in/79 cm
Extra Features: Galvanised for rust resistance, utilizes additional copper for efficiency
Description: The Missouri General Freedom II 2000W 11 Blade Wind Turbine is a vertical axis turbine. It is rated to operate at wind speeds up to 125 mph.
The blades are made from Nylon Fiber and the metal components are galvanized/anti-corrosion treated. The vertical axis design and double bearings reduce vibration and make it quieter.
Price it on Amazon:
What the Amazon Reviews Say (2.9/5):
Pros
- Works well and solid fabrication
- Bearing life rated to 14 years
- Blades guaranteed for lifetime use
Cons:
- Does not make rated power
- Certain models shipped with faulty rear bearings
- Generator housing known to crack, not covered under warranty
#5: Automaxx 3 Blade 1500W/24V Wind Turbine
Rated Windspeed: 14 m/s
Rated Power: 1500W/24V
Number of Blades: 3
Blade Length: 24 in
Extra Features: MPPT Charge Controller, integrated automatic braking system, UV protection and weather-resistant seals
Description: The Automaxx 3 Blade 1500W/24V Wind Turbine is a horizontal axis turbine. It comes with an MPPT charge controller and an amp meter display box. It also has a manual braking switch. The blades are made from Polypropylene and glass fiber.
Price it on Amazon:
What the Amazon Reviews Say (3.2/5):
Pros:
- Incredible customer service
- Very quiet turbine
- Bluetooth Connectivity
Cons:
- Can’t handle rated wind speeds
- Some units delivered in poor condition
- Blades prone to breaking
#6: InstaBreeze 5 Blade 2000W/48V Wind Turbine
Rated Windspeed: 14 m/s
Rated Power: 2000W/48V
Number of Blades: 5
Blade Length: 43.3 in / 110 cm
Extra Features: maintenance-free design, UV Resistant and powder coated for weather protection (does not come with any extras)
Description: The InstaBreeze 5 Blade 2000W/48V Wind Turbine is a horizontal axis turbine. Its blades are made of UV-resistant plastic and glass fibers and the generator housing is powder-coated aluminum. The generator has cooling fins and the no-maintenance slip ring design allows the cables to slide and not twist.
Price it on Amazon:
What the Amazon Reviews Say (3.7/5):
Pros:
- Works well at high wind speed (40 to 60 mph)
- Manufacturer responsive and support good
- Puts out good power at high wind speeds
Cons:
- Low power output at low to moderate windspeed
- Needs counterweight because it is front-heavy
- Some customers received the wrong unit
#7: Marsrock 3 Blade 400W/24V Wind Turbine
Rated Windspeed: 13 m/s
Rated Power: 400W/12-24V
Number of Blades: 3
Blade Length: 25.6 in / 65 cm
Extra Features: MPPT Charge Controller, UV and anti-corrosion coating, electromagnetic braking, automatic adjustment to face the right way
Description: The Marsrock 3 Blade 400W/24V Wind Turbine is a horizontal axis turbine. It comes with an MPPT Charge controller and is made from Nylon fiber and die-cast aluminum. The generator is an AC three-phase permanent magnet ac generator. It has integrated electromagnetic braking.
Price it on Amazon:
What the Amazon Reviews Say (3.4/5):
Pros:
- Very quiet turbine
- Easy to install
- Well built
Cons:
- Needs 4.5 mph / 2 meters per second to start
- Charge controller heats up and needs additional cooling at high wind speeds
- Needs 10 meters per second / 22 mph to be effective
Conclusion and Our Top Picks
In conclusion, there are loads of great home wind turbines on the market. The abundance of choices and the many factors to consider before you invest in one can make it tricky to find one that will work best for you.
As a fairly sizable investment, it is best to consider all your options and make sure that your location and system are suitable for a wind turbine before you make the purchase and do the installation.
Top Pick #1: Automaxx 3 Blade 1500W/24V Wind Turbine
The Automaxx 1500W/24V wind turbine with 3 blades makes our top pick because it offers great value for money. It comes with an MPPT charge controller with Bluetooth connectivity and an amp meter display.
The turbine blades are made of lightweight polypropylene and glass fiber with protective seals and UV protection. It also has an integrated braking system for protection during very high wind speeds.
We love that it is one of the quietest models available and Amazon reviews were very happy with the customer service. All in all, it sounds like a winner to us!
Top Pick #2: InstaBreeze 5 Blade 2000W/48V Wind Turbine
We love the InstaBreeze 5 Blade 2000W/48V Wind Turbine for its simplicity and hardiness. It doesn’t come with many extras but the actual turbine and blades are very good quality.
If you’re tying it into an existing setup and you already have the charge controllers and other hardware, this is a great option. It is also UV and weather resistant and designed with minimal maintenance in mind.
The Amazon reviews were very positive about the manufacturer being helpful and responsive, as well as the fact that it works well at very high wind speeds.
Useful Resources
Windfinder: Wind Forecasts and Wind Maps
DSIRE: Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency
MindsetEco: 7 Best Solar Charge Controllers
US Dept. Energy – Wind Exchange: Small Wind Guidebook
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a home wind turbine?
A home wind turbine is a small wind turbine suitable for use as part of a home renewable energy system. They work in the same way as any wind tubine but on a smaller scale. Check out the full article for more information on home wind turbines.
Can you install a home wind turbine on the roof?
Yes but it depends on the type of turbine. Some turbines can be installed on buildings and others require standalone installation on a tall mast or pole that is situated away from other structures. Check out the full article for more information.
Are home wind turbines noisy?
Noise is always a consideration, especially if it will be located close to buildings and outdoor areas used by people. Some turbines are noisier than others and most manufactures provide information on the noise level produced by the turbine. Read the full article for more information.
