CHEAP DC GENERATER

[graydawg]

I have not seen this yet on this site, but for folks living off the grid and needing to recharge thir batteries, a used alternator from a car or truck hooked via fanbelt to a horizontal gas engines such as on the old blade type yard sidewalk edgers, if you use a vertical gas engine with the alternator laying on its back it will cause the bearings to wear out prematurely they are not designed to work but one way, make sure the engine and the alternator are turning the right way that they need to. I have built two of these rigs for my own use, one was stolen and the other I sold for a pretty penny. The better of the two I built from a 76 chevy C30 van ambulance alternator, the alternator was made by KELSEY HAYES and was rated at 130 amps, it also had a internal self exciting relay and voltage regulator and worked great with a 2 1/2 hp gas engine. I know GM's have a diode triode built in, someone may have more knowledge on what makes the best donor alternator. My next one will be with a brand new 18 wheeler alternator, because I've already got it, looking for a gas engine still, harbour freight has a cheap motor I'm tempted to buy for it. anyone feel free to give added tech support or advice that may help

[Dualfuel]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_jBlGgNd88
heres a 10si humming along...
DF

[Dualfuel]

The latest. Its a Briggs engine sold by Sears and Roebuck. I had it sitting in the tool bus for 5 years and finally decided that at least I could make a generator out of it.
The alternator is the 10si version that was sold on IH scouts. I have it belted up to spin backwards. Normally that would be a heinous crime but I really don't forsee this rig running long enough in one stretch to heat up enough to burn out the diodes. I wanted a compact looking unit I could put on wheels and use as a jump starter for things at the bush.
The funny muffler is a venture I am engaged in right now...I am trying to discover (emphirically) which type of plumbing will quiet these engines down enough to make them tolerable. Or if not quiet, then make them sound cool enough so that one would like to hear them. Ex. my 671 at idle is just perfect, and I could listen to that for hours.
DF

[Dualfuel]

This is the Yanmar 6kw diesel belted to a 55amp 10si. This engine usually will run at full load for 4 hrs with a tank of biodiesel. I normally will hot fuel it, and run it continously for 8 to 12hrs depending on what I am doing. I use it, batteries, and an inverter, to run my small cement mixer. Its cool because the generator can be remotely located with the mixer right at the work. I think much better when I the blaring rattle of the engine isn't right next to me while I am working.
The Yanmar has a block heater and can be started easily in the winter by hooking jumper cables to the block heater for an hour before starting. Once its warm it starts easily. This is the most trouble free small engine I have ever owned. Which says a lot if one were to look at all my vans, sheds, basements, etc. crammed full of small engines.
DF