"generator" from alternator and motor

[eagle19952]

Found it... This is not something totally new.  It can be done.  New question - how much hp to run a bus alternator at full load?  And, where can I get a quiet diesel engine?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzIf6ifjwN8

quiet...not gonna happen
hp. for an alternator:
a 100 amp alternator would be about 1400 watts output , or about 2hp, figure 50% efficiency that would suggest you need 4hp at maximum load.
google answered these ??'s
double for 2 alts
and double again for 170 amp....

[Iceni John]

You say you have eight golfcart batteries.   That's exactly what I will have when I buy my real house batteries (I'm presently using some old 8D starting batteries to test everything, but they're ready for scrapping now).   2000 watts of solar panels will very nicely charge eight GC2s at about a 13% charge rate, the maximum for FLA batteries.   1000 watts of solar will charge them at half that rate.   PV now is well less than a dollar a watt for grid-tie panels, and a decent charge controller or two costs less than an inverter generator.   With solar you will be charging your house batteries all the time the sun is out, from dawn to dusk each day, whether you're driving or parked.   Silent, exhaust-free, maintenance-free, breakdown-free, essentially free use after the initial purchase, completely automatic, minimum 25 year life, shades your roof from the sun  -  what's not to like?

Just an idea . . .

John

[Geoff]

What's not to like?  The entire roof covered with solar panels.

--Geoff

[chessie4905]

Here's some generators to peruse

http://www.harborfreight.com/engines-generators/gas-engine-generators.html

[Lin]

Their are a lot of good things to say about solar panels.  What concerns me most though would be having to park in direct sunlight when it's already warm weather.  That would mean I would need to run the generator for the AC, while if I was parked in the shade, I might get by with opening the windows.  It sort of depends on where you are and what season.  Here in the desert, I think in terms of heat though. It would be nice to have solar panels that do well in shade.

[chessie4905]

Mount them on a trailer, park it out in the sun, and run power cable to coach that is parked in the shade.

[86102A3]

You may look at military surplus, find a genset with a bad head and good engine. The 5 and 10 kW military genset are usually Onan air cooled diesel that run at 1800 rpm. I can see where you are going with your idea. The only drawback that I can see, is that you will be reliant on your inverters all the time. This will require rather hearty inverters to run motor loads. The motor starting currents are hard on inverters, and if it's not well sized, cooled and of good quality I would not be sure how long it would last. Just some thoughts to throw into the mix. Believe me I am all for non conventional set-ups and trying new things. If you decide to go this route, keep us updated. I have not completely settled on my systems yet, so I am still keeping my options open.


Jeff LoGiudice
Tampa, Fl.
1986 TMC 102A3
1999 Reliabilt 6V92TA
Allison HT740

[sledhead]

I have looked for a quiet small engine and have not found one if you rent a small honda 3000 watt or a 7000 watt inverter genne from a rent all it is unreal how quite these things run . under 60 db's that is regular conversations ??

I have the honda 7000 watt genne it is amazing and if I did not have the 12 k diesel power tech in a hush box ( not near as quiet as the honda ) all set up with the remote start . and all the work two change it out + the problem of the GAS engine of the honda  I would change it , but then I would have to install a gas tank for it . so that is not going to happen

I had the 3100 watt Champion inverter genset and it worked great but used a lot more gas then the honda and was way way loader then the honda but again the price was 1/3 of the honda

the honda I have now ( and added a WIRED REMOTE START that worked every time )

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/honda-eu7000is-generator-with-electronic-fuel-injection/81958

why can't I get this in a diesel genne

my 2 cents worth

dave

[bobofthenorth]

Found it... This is not something totally new.  It can be done.  New question - how much hp to run a bus alternator at full load?  And, where can I get a quiet diesel engine?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzIf6ifjwN8

Nobody ever said it couldn't be done but I repeat - when you get all done you'll have something that looks like I built it.

As for the quiet small diesel - good luck - someone has recommended the air cooled Onans - I can assure you that isn't the answer if you're looking for quiet. I've got one of them and when I start it up you can hear it 3 counties over.  Its a great engine - damn near bullet proof but quiet wasn't invented when they built that engine.

No to belabour the point but I exercised my little Champion yesterday afternoon - 1200 meager Canuck-bux complete with remote start and it all comes in a package 2 x 2 x 2 feet.  3100 watts in a neat compact frame on wheels.  Good luck matching that for under $1000 US in a homebrew package.

[luvrbus]

Bob, the Champion is a good generator,I bought a 3000w from Costco when we were building the restaurant in Phoenix and ran it 12 to 15 hrs a day for 6 months all I did was change the oil every 50 hrs it never missed a lick.LOL the H/F wasn't so good it lasted about 1 month and after 2 replacements they gave me money back     

[bevans6]

A HP is 746 watts, zero losses.  So if you said 2 hp per 1,000 watts of eventual output, you would be close.   My thought was to be able to run my 4024 at up to 4KW I would need around 8 hp.  My idea was to get an engine that could produce 8 - 10 hp at around 1200 rpm, big flywheel, two 200 amp 24 volt alternators and just let it idle.  I had a friend who was going to do this with a fuel injected computer controlled engine out of a wrecked honda he had, he said he could set the idle speed to whatever he wanted with his diagnostic programmer and it would run at that speed up until it was overloaded, self governing.

[Iceni John]

I've heard of people using Volkswagen's small TDI diesel engines for home-made generators.   Apparently they run them at a fast idle, just fast enough to prevent coking and glazing problems, and they can run for hours on a single gallon of fuel with a moderate load.

John

[Iceni John]

My thought was to be able to run my 4024 at up to 4KW I would need around 8 hp.  My idea was to get an engine that could produce 8 - 10 hp at around 1200 rpm, big flywheel, two 200 amp 24 volt alternators and just let it idle.

Maybe a Lister or Listeroid, or even a Bolinder?   Imagine firing up a Bolinder in a campground  -  now that would attract some serious attention!

John

[eagle19952]

Maybe a Lister or Listeroid, or even a Bolinder?   Imagine firing up a Bolinder in a campground  -  now that would attract some serious attention!

John

yes..none of those will get you run out of town...

[Oonrahnjay]

I've heard of people using Volkswagen's small TDI diesel engines for home-made generators.  Apparently they run them at a fast idle, just fast enough to prevent coking and glazing problems, and they can run for hours on a single gallon of fuel with a moderate load.

John

      I have seen a factory-made generator based around one of these.  It was made by VW to be a mechanical engine (no ECM, etc.) - otherwise the TDI was externally very much like my car engine.  I never saw it run - the guy who owned it let it sit outside for a few years and everything on it rusted up and many parts fell off.