Posted: 7/6/2007 7:12:14 PM EDT
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In the book "Deep Winter," the main character makes a generator out of an alternator, an old Briggs and Straton enigne and a power inverter. Probably would have gotten the alternator and B&S engine for free off of a Craigslist and bought an inverter for about $20.00 so maybe in real life you somebody could make this for under $50.00 if they were a good scrounger. My Question: Has anybody here made one of these? If so could you share pics, power output etc. etc. Thanks |
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In the real world, you'd probably also need a battery to stabilize the alternator's output voltage. This arrangement is quite popular in the off-the-grid community - makes a good way of supplementing the solar panels during extended periods without sunlight. A 5 HP engine is good for about 60 amps DC - Attempting to pull much more current than that usually stalls the engine. Automotive alternators aren't particularly efficient at converting engine power to electricity, although the "large frame" versions (commonly used in utility vehicles) are somewhat better in this regard. |