Are wind power generators viable at home? My buying advice after months of testing

"I cover a lot of solar generators here, and they are all the rage. I've tested dozens of devices over the past few years and seen the technology go from strength to strength. But I often get asked, "What happens when the clouds roll in and the sun vanishes?" Living in the UK, the sun can be in short supply for much of the year."

"The Shine Turbine kit comes with everything you need -- the turbine, a stand, guy lines, pegs, and cables. Setting up the first few times took a bit longer than I expected, especially if you're trying to do it while it's blowing a gale. But as with most things, it does get easier with practice. There's also a knack to setting the guy lines out effectively, which took me a while to figure out -- a process that would have been a lot faster had I read the manual -- because I found the setup all shaky the first few times. But once you get it figured out, it's very robust."

"Once set up, you have options. You can let the turbine charge up the internal battery and then use that to charge your devices, or you can attach a power bank to the turbine. Your choice depends on how you're using the setup. Using the entire turbine as a big power bank makes sense for odd top-ups on the move, but in a base camp setting, it's better to charge separate power banks and use those, keeping the reserve in the turbine for backup on still days."

Solar generators have improved significantly over recent years, but cloud cover limits solar output, especially in the UK. Portable wind turbines offer an alternative for charging smartphones, tablets, and other portable devices. A specific portable model was used across seasons to replace various Jackery, Ecovacs, and Anker solar chargers. The Shine Turbine kit includes the turbine, a stand, guy lines, pegs, and cables. Initial setup can take longer in strong winds and requires learning to stake and tension the guy lines, but the system becomes robust with practice. The turbine can charge an internal battery or feed an attached power bank; separate power banks are recommended for base camp use, keeping the turbine reserve for calm days.

Read at ZDNET