What's that Lassie? You say that RogerN fell down the old
rec.crafts.metalworking mine and will die if we don't mount a rescue
by Sun, 8 Feb 2009 03:17:57 -0600:


I've been thinking about mounting an automotive alternator on a small
gasoline engine to make a portable battery charger with respectable output.
The purpose would be to charge auto batteries when there are no outlets
around. Of course you could do the same thing with a generator and battery
charger but I think you can get perhaps 70 amps or more from an alternator.
It would have been nice this winter when we had the ice & snow storm and the
battery was weak on the seldom driven 4WD diesel truck. Also could be
useful for camping and boating, could recharge the trolling motor battery on
the lake, etc...

RogerN

You want the booklet "alternator secrets". I think I got mine from
Lindsey publications.

I built just what you described without it, but it would have been
easier with it. I put a large pulley on the engine shaft to add
flywheel mass. The donor engine was from a lawn mower, and it was
hard to get started with out the blade attached. Keep the RPM up to
keep the torque down. The engine shaft bearing wasn't made for a side
load. I used a large delco alternator with a built in regulator.

Grab the right kind of auto AC compressor and you can have portable
air too, if you have a horizonal shaft engine.

--

Dan H.