The Ampair Hawk 100W
The Ampair Hawk is a "low cost" 12 volt, land based wind generator for recharging lead acid batteries. The generator is driven by a quiet and efficient six-blade wind turbine, powering a permanent magnet alternator with DC rectifiers. The charging current is delivered via brushes and a slip ring assembly, allowing full weathercocking. Cable exits from the centre of the mounting pole. While operating, the HAWK produces continuous output. It has no thermal cut-outs or mechanical clutch.
All electrical circuits are weather sealed. The twelve-pole alternator generates minimum electrical "noise" and "hum" nuisance. A factory balanced turbine eliminates vibration and judder. A regulator prevents battery overcharging. The generator has a cast aluminium housing with stainless steel drive shaft and fasteners. The turbine hub, pivot shaft, wind direction vane and mounting pole are aluminium. External finish is black stoving and silver anodising.
Low Temperature Operation:
Plastic materials do not perform well in extreme cold, becoming brittle and breaking. This
applies to wind turbine blades, whether glass filled or not. Operation at around 0C should
not be a problem, but most materials are vulnerable at -20C and cannot be warranted to
survive Ampair's glass filled polypropylene blades, moulded with large sized fibres in a
compression process, are superior to nylon, carbon polymer or other plastics in this
respect. However, when Icing is also considered, the prediction of blade reliability is
even more difficult. Other materials are also suspect. Examples are Nitrile used in
exposed seals and "0" rings and basic PVC cable sheathing. For this reason
Ampair uses Neoprene and Vitron(tm) components where possible. Grease used in sealed
bearings allows performance to -30C or below, but component tolerances (ball and ring) can
lead to greater friction and increased wear causing reduced bearing life