I'm hoping to install one in the new year for a customer but as yet we've not put one in. No reason why the Proven won't be a very good turbine in the right location, although the 25 meter mast would be beneficial.

Sorry I can't help just yet.

Paul

We have one. Trouble is that it's still lying on the ground due to Proven being unable to send men and equipment at the same time! It was to go up on 24th November, then on the 27th they arrived but without a winch. Rearranged for Monday, 1st, but on Sunday that changed to today. But on Tuesday it was changed to Thursday and now the snow is coming so they probally wont be here then either.
Based on impression rather than an actual working turbine I reckon the product looks like it should do the job but everything else about Proven is needing a serious shake up. Time will tell!

I have 2 x 15kw going up on Friday (fingers crossed) but electricals next week or week after.

Are there any other viable competitors to Proven that manufacture Micro wind turbines in Europe?

Yes there are a few, however the current exchange rate isn't helping the imported models much at the moment.
Fortis ( European market leader ) make a 5 and 10kW machine that are very good and usually much better value for money than Proven, also maintenance free over the 20+ year life span......In theory!

No decent 15kW alternatives that I'd install though. Although it goes without saying, always avoid the Chinese cheap and nasty systems.

Paul

Don't forget to talk to your DNO before going ahead with any plans for turbines of this size. You need their prior agreement to connect at this size.

2 x 15kW now up and finally safety tested for connection to the National Grid.
Running quite well as far as I can tell, and we have had lots of people calling in to wish us well now that they are finally spinning!

2 days later and the wires have melted on one of them in the control box (isolator) inside the building. I have put the brake on and will have to ring them again monday morning!
Feels a bit like a string of unfortunate incidents and delays with this project.
At least the mortgage keeps coming down!

for the larger turbines, segen do 11 and 20 kW machines.

Gaia manufacture a very good 11kW wind turbine that may well out perform a 15kW Proven in low to medium wind speeds.

Yes its the Gaia that has the amazing power curve. don't let looks be deceiving. it is a large turbine reduced in size, rather than a roof top turbine being made larger. for higher than 7m/s wind speeds the westwind 20 is a good machine. i know that segen sell both as i got my iskra from them and that runs really well. we have had about 50kW a day for the last week which is really good.

Dominic,

How did u find the room for the inverters etc.?

Are they both working?

The inverters are lined up inside the workshop on the wall - i will take a photo soon and put it on here. They are a bit of a pain because i can't push workbench etc. hard up against the wall now, but to be honest the whole studio needs rearranging and a really good tidy up (although I have been trying to do this for months now - ongoing project!)

Both turbines operational now.
Dodgy wiring inside the isolator box as supplied by the manufacturer - looks like it was done by an apprentice or something. The insulation on the wires was clamped in the terminals instead of just the copper, so it was making some connection but not properly and the wires overheated and melted then short circuited. Bit worrying if these are going into schools etc.

I have started a spreadsheet with weekly meter readings, so in 12 months time I should have some reliable info for anyone that would like it. If I had more time I would take a daily reading and record the windspeed as well (met office approved weather station at the school across the road,see: http://www.moorside.staffs.sch.uk/weather/index.htm )
I believe you can set it up for a PC to log the data but maybe that can be something for the future.

We installed a 15KW Proven turbine in March. All went well for a few months until it failed its 3 month check. The blades were replaced and all seemed OK until December when we were told to turn it off. As we did so we found a sheared bolt on the ground! The turbine has been turned off for 6 weeks and more pieces are falling off. Proven seem helpful enough, but noone has been to look at it. Our installers are really really unhelpful and seem powerless or unwilling to do anything.
Does this experience ring any bells with anyone else, or are we just very unlucky?
As it stands I would certainly not suggest that anyone puts up this turbine.

The company you purchase something from (not necessarily the manufacturer) has the responsibility of ensuring that it is of merchantable quality. Clearly if it falls apart after three months it isn't. This is a strong argument for buying the mill from the company that is going to install it because that way there is no dispute as to who's fault it is. Even if it's a design fault the company that sold it is ultimately responsible not the manufacturer.I believe you can ignore them if they refer you to the manufacturers warranty as that does not effect their responsibility.

I wouldn't let someone else look at it until you have written to the supplier formally notifiying them of the problem. If you do I believe you may loose the right to reject the mill outright. If they don't come and fix it promptly write again giving them 10 days "reasonable oportunity" to rectify the defects before you do anything. It's my understand (have the CAB confirm it) that after giving the supplier reasonable oportunity to rectify a defect you could then pay someone else to take it down, send it back and go after the supplier to recover all costs. Hopefully it won't go that far but don't let it drag on without taking some action as you can be "deemed to have accepted" goods after a time. You can try an get the manufacturer to help before it goes that far but ultimately responsibility lies with the company that sold it to you or installed it depending on the nature of the problem.

As promised here are some pics. Any questions please ask.

The Proven will survive those speeds but i don't know anything about Westwind.