Hand generator reaches 95 per cent

Following on from the small generator that we described in the March 2007 edition of Eureka, which we then said was “nearly 90 per cent efficient”, the team developing it for use in Third World companies has now reached 95 per cent efficiency

. Alexander Bushell, technical director of New Universal Products described the present generator as, “Modified heavily, in fact it is completely different”. The Uhuru Generator as it is now designated, measures 160mm wide by 150mm deep and 150mm high and acts both as a “Multi-functional power supply unit and an independent power generation system”. Bushell said that one power centre can be configured to power up to 20 2W “$100” laptops or power up to 30 LED spotlights. He was hand cranking it up and showing it able to power 10 such lamps at the British Invention Show. He said it produced 30W at present, “But we are hoping for 40W. We could take it up to 100W”. As well as having its hand cranked generator, it can also regulate other power inputs including solar photovoltaic panels and small wind turbines. In addition, it can be fitted with its own internal back-up battery. The company is currently looking for international partners to develop the product for sale, which they see as having great additional potential in the leisure market and as an emergency power source, for example, charging vehicle and marine batteries. info@newuniversalproducts.com