Ken Powell wrote:

After seeing Howard's post about the prop hub from Great Plains
Aircraft I remembered an idea that I wanted to toss out for everyone.
In my quest for a lighter alternator I naturally reverted to what I
know - motorcycles.  Motorcycles use a small permanent magnet (I think
that I remember single phase but I'm not sure) alternator that mounts
the magnets to the inside of the flywheel and the coils to the engine.
Well, Great Plains sells this type of alternator (20 AMPS) that looks
like it could be mounted to the accessory end of the 13b.  It looks
like it would be a bolt on if the magnet disk (it's not a flywheel in
this application, just a round disk with magnets bonded to the inside)
it is not too thick.  This would be enough amps to keep Tracy's EFI in the
air a long time; I think that his EFI with fuel pumps only pulls about
12 amps in cruise (I have the info filed if anyone needs it).  Anyway,
either this or a motorcycle alternator may be a lightweight
alternative to those of us who would sleep better if our all electric
airplanes had a backup alternator, particularly one that is LIGHT (pun
intended!).  Someday I will pursue this idea, but I've got an airplane
to build first.  If anyone else has the time to check this out, please
share the how-to with pictures.

BTW Howard, great idea on the prop hub.

Ken P.

 
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