This is a specification page. Better Generation do not sell this product.
Ampair have a long track record in making small turbines for the British yachting industry, such as their 100W and 300W models.
The newest addition to their range is a 600W machine, aimed at the home market, which they say in a moderately windy location will generate up to a quarter of the electricity needed for an average three-bedroom semi-detached house.
It has a furling system that means unlike other turbines it doesn't cut-out at very high wind speeds - blade efficiency is decreased automatically so that generation can continue.
The Ampair 600 is also one of the turbines being tested in the Warwick Wind Trials.
Wind turbines
Swept area
The Ampair has a blade diameter of 1.70 metres. This means it has a swept area, or capture area of 2.27 square metres. This is all important when comparing wind turbines, since it directly relates to the amount of passing wind energy
the turbine blades can intercept.
Ampair power output curve
The graph below shows the power produced (in watts) for the Ampair at different wind speeds, based on
data supplied by the manufacturer.
The green line shows the actual output that the wind turbine achieves at the given wind speed,
according to the manufacturers.The dashed line in the graph shows the theoretical maximum energy that this turbine could extract from the wind,
according to Betz's Law (59.3%). At a typical wind speed of
5 m/s, the Ampair is extracting
90 Watts of power from the wind, which is an efficiency of
51.58%.
How efficient is the Ampair?
Wind turbines can only convert some of the energy in the wind into electricity. The graph here shows how efficient the
turbine is across the range of wind speeds you might get.
The orange line in the above graph shows the efficiency ranging from 0 to 1. The grey line is the previously mentioned maximum efficiency - The Betz Limit. If this limit is exceeded, the manufacturer's claims are not to be trusted!
While these graphs give an indication of the instantaneous power and efficiencies you might expect from the
Ampair turbine, working out annual power production is more complex.
Read more about the
Power Predictor
Power output
Around 75W-100W at 5 metres per second, and in excess of 700W-800W at 12.5 metres per second, with a maximum power of over 1000W. The graph below is based upon the 24V version of the turbine, there are also other versions designed for mains connection.
Cost
The Ampair 600 is £1500. The cost of mounting depends on the situation, varying between £220 and £1650; around £600 would be average. The appropriate inverter is £300. Installation should be £800-£1000. All these costs exclude VAT.
Our view
Ampair are being commendably cautious about their output claims, and their data is from real life field tests (unlike certain other manufacturers). Please feel free to add a comment below if you have any feedback about this machine.
Blade diameter
1.70 metres
Rated output (W)
600
UK grants available?
Ampair are fully accredited for DTI Clear Skies / Low Carbon Building Fund governmental grants where these are available
Voltages
24 Volt • 48 Volt
Manufacturer
Ampair Ltd
Country of origin
UK
Generator type
Permanent magnet
Governing wind speed (m/s)
14
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