Posted: 7/11/2016 9:30:30 PM EDT
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Thinking about putting together a generator for my travel trailer. I have a few gas engines around ranging from 2 to 7 HP. Was thinking I could run a one wire (self energizing) alternator to a 2500 watt inverter.
All the ones I have seen online have a battery but I don't want to have the weight of a battery to lug around. Why would I need it if I use a self energizing alternator? What amperage alternator should I be looking at? |
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Not putting it IN the RV. It will be a protable. |
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You want loud and inefficient power conversion?
Fuck that. https://www.amazon.com/Honda-EU2000I-Super-Inverter-Generator/dp/B005ND19AEhttps://www.amazon.com/Honda-EU2000I-Super-Inverter-Generator/dp/B005ND19AE |
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Quoted:
Alternators cannot function without a battery or electrolytic capacitor to dampen the diodes. I've got a Mechman 250 amp 6 phase alternator on a 6 HP Kohler right now with a 4kw inverter. Needs moar engine, but the 8d battery holds it up fine. Looks like I get a battery. Can it be a small 12v battery like maybe a motorcycle battery or do I need the amps and reserve capacity of a standard sized car battery? |
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Quoted:
Thinking about putting together a generator for my travel trailer. I have a few gas engines around ranging from 2 to 7 HP. Was thinking I could run a one wire (self energizing) alternator to a 2500 watt inverter. All the ones I have seen online have a battery but I don't want to have the weight of a battery to lug around. Why would I need it if I use a self energizing alternator? What amperage alternator should I be looking at? That's a lot of electrical engineering you want to figure out. Why don't you look for a used, old or dead generator and replace the engine with one that you have? |
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Quoted: Looks like I get a battery. Can it be a small 12v battery like maybe a motorcycle battery or do I need the amps and reserve capacity of a standard sized car battery? Quoted: Quoted: Alternators cannot function without a battery or electrolytic capacitor to dampen the diodes. I've got a Mechman 250 amp 6 phase alternator on a 6 HP Kohler right now with a 4kw inverter. Needs moar engine, but the 8d battery holds it up fine. Looks like I get a battery. Can it be a small 12v battery like maybe a motorcycle battery or do I need the amps and reserve capacity of a standard sized car battery? Or a bank of electrolytic capacitors. They're light and last forever. I went with the 8D tractor battery because my generator doesn't move. I just leave it at the farm, and the battery can run lights and the fridge for about 36 hours silently. |
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Quoted: That's a lot of electrical engineering you want to figure out. Why don't you look for a used, old or dead generator and replace the engine with one that you have? Quoted: Quoted: Thinking about putting together a generator for my travel trailer. I have a few gas engines around ranging from 2 to 7 HP. Was thinking I could run a one wire (self energizing) alternator to a 2500 watt inverter. All the ones I have seen online have a battery but I don't want to have the weight of a battery to lug around. Why would I need it if I use a self energizing alternator? What amperage alternator should I be looking at? That's a lot of electrical engineering you want to figure out. Why don't you look for a used, old or dead generator and replace the engine with one that you have? |
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Quoted:
Thinking about putting together a generator for my travel trailer. I have a few gas engines around ranging from 2 to 7 HP. Was thinking I could run a one wire (self energizing) alternator to a 2500 watt inverter. All the ones I have seen online have a battery but I don't want to have the weight of a battery to lug around. Why would I need it if I use a self energizing alternator? What amperage alternator should I be looking at? Harbor Freight generator $89.00. The Chinese figured everything out for you. |
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Many are direct drive spec engines with their own spoiler special crankshaft. Quoted:
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Thinking about putting together a generator for my travel trailer. I have a few gas engines around ranging from 2 to 7 HP. Was thinking I could run a one wire (self energizing) alternator to a 2500 watt inverter. All the ones I have seen online have a battery but I don't want to have the weight of a battery to lug around. Why would I need it if I use a self energizing alternator? What amperage alternator should I be looking at? That's a lot of electrical engineering you want to figure out. Why don't you look for a used, old or dead generator and replace the engine with one that you have? This. I have an old Coleman 3500 watt with a worn out Tecumseh on it. It is LOUD too. I was going to change the motor but apparantly this particular generator requires a taper on the shaft that is different than anything else ever produced by anyone but Tecumseh. I Really hate Tecumseh motors. |
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Quoted:
Harbor Freight generator $89.00. The Chinese figured everything out for you. Quoted:
Quoted:
Thinking about putting together a generator for my travel trailer. I have a few gas engines around ranging from 2 to 7 HP. Was thinking I could run a one wire (self energizing) alternator to a 2500 watt inverter. All the ones I have seen online have a battery but I don't want to have the weight of a battery to lug around. Why would I need it if I use a self energizing alternator? What amperage alternator should I be looking at? Harbor Freight generator $89.00. The Chinese figured everything out for you. I have one of those. It will not start the A/C. The A/C only requires 525 watts when running but the little genny lacks the power to start the unit. |
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Quoted: This. I have an old Coleman 3500 watt with a worn out Tecumseh on it. It is LOUD too. I was going to change the motor but apparantly this particular generator requires a taper on the shaft that is different than anything else ever produced by anyone but Tecumseh. I Really hate Tecumseh motors. Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Thinking about putting together a generator for my travel trailer. I have a few gas engines around ranging from 2 to 7 HP. Was thinking I could run a one wire (self energizing) alternator to a 2500 watt inverter. All the ones I have seen online have a battery but I don't want to have the weight of a battery to lug around. Why would I need it if I use a self energizing alternator? What amperage alternator should I be looking at? That's a lot of electrical engineering you want to figure out. Why don't you look for a used, old or dead generator and replace the engine with one that you have? This. I have an old Coleman 3500 watt with a worn out Tecumseh on it. It is LOUD too. I was going to change the motor but apparantly this particular generator requires a taper on the shaft that is different than anything else ever produced by anyone but Tecumseh. I Really hate Tecumseh motors.  |
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Sounds like the kind of thing you're likely to spend more on than a turnkey unit for something that doesn't work as well as a turnkey unit. And isn't as reliable as one, either.
If you want to save money on DIY, you might look into buying an inverter generator set with a dead inverter unit and seeing if you can repair it. Maybe burned out mosfets or somethings you can replace for a few bucks. Or you might just spend alot of time and a little money to wind up with something you can't repair. 
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