Blue water for miles. The wind and sun on your face. Pulling into a choice anchorage after a safe and rewarding passage, knowing there’s no need to run a generator.
Who wouldn’t want to spend more time on the water enjoying the natural quietness of your chosen anchorage, without giving up the electrical amenities of home? With American Power Systems, Inc.’s new line of 24V and 48V lower-RPM turn-on high output alternators, you can minimize charging time and get back to the sounds that you went to sea for in the first place.
Built in the same ultra-compact case size of APS’ 160A x 48V high-RPM HPI alternator, the HPI series is now available in 60A, 90A and 130A models with lower turn-on RPM, allowing charging to begin at low engine speeds.
With today’s emerging 48V (or 51V lithium) battery systems, the capability of the batteries to absorb high kilowatts of energy has vastly improved over 12V and even 24V systems. (See Output in kW by high output alternator models chart link.)
“If you need to rapidly replenish your battery banks, our new lower-turn-on alternators give you more options,” said American Power Systems, Inc. President & CEO Amy Lank. “Even if you’re far from shore, you can quickly re-charge and then quietly run off your batteries without the droning noise for hours on end of an AC generator. These alternators can turn your engine into a powerful DC generator.”
Before releasing any new product to the market, APS tests it to industry standards for durability to ensure they meet our threshold for superior quality, reliability and performance. This rigorous process helps APS feel confident in their real-world performance because of how meticulous we are behind the scenes during their development.
In our product development phase, APS uses what is known as a “saturated dwell” test, which requires the alternator to reach equilibrium steady-state temperature for a set length of time before values are recorded.
During APS testing, the alternator is placed in an enclosure heated to 100°C (212ºF) while running. Once the temperature consistently registers 100ºC, our testing engineers apply the load and record the data taken at the various RPM levels. This “hot box” output curve, alongside the ambient (23ºC) curve, is what you will find on APS alternator spec sheets that are available for download on our website.
Benefits:
Others may share data from “sweep tests”, which are performance snapshots taken at one point in time. A sweep test is simply a 30-second machine test to see whether a product is meeting the specs to which it was designed. However, the environment in which the test was performed does not replicate the real-world sustained temperatures to which the alternator may be subjected during actual use. It also will not show sustained maximum output over a longer period of time.
“It’s crucial that you evaluate a company’s testing standards closely when comparing products to make sure you get the performance you’re expecting,” Lank continued. “Before APS releases a product, we make sure that it’s going to perform like we say it will. Our end users know our seal of approval has the highest standards behind it, which ultimately leads to a satisfied customer.”
While the 60, 90 and 130 HPI Series alternators feature enhanced output at low RPM, they still feature the same compact, lightweight design as the famous 160A, and are tested to the same standards for extended service life.
For mechanical and technical specifications, including output curves, please download data sheets at the following links:
For marine customers, APS partners with Ocean Planet Energy (OPE), which specializes in the design of powerful and efficient energy systems for maritime needs. OPE’s experienced team understands that every energy system is unique. Because of this they assess desired system functions, electrical loads, space and budget limitations in order to determine the energy storage requirements (battery capacity), recharging options (both renewable and non-renewable), energy monitoring needs, and the safe configuration of it all.
Ready to get started? Contact Ocean Planet Energy by clicking HERE >>.
