Was wondering ( Gets me in trouble sometimes ) can a old/new car that runs fine be turned into a generator ?
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Old car/new life ?
- Thread starter BrotherJamey
- Start date
That was a model T.
Probably end up being cheaper, and waay easier, to buy a generator.
Do you mean to drive a generator/alternator in addition to the engine mounted and belt driven alternator? Like a tractor or truck style PTO that drives the actual generator/alternator? Any engine that can be connected to provide relative motion/rotation (between the magnetic field and electrical conductor), could drive a generator. However, the small, engine driven stock generator/alternator would not provide a significant power output. A hybrid vehicle, like the Chevy Volt, provides a more dedicated generator-motor set and higher output that has been used/demonstrated as a backup generator (but still a relatively low AC output due to the D.C. to A.C. inverter use/conversion).
Yes it can........will it need a bunch of work to make it useful, again, yes it will.......there are 2 ways to achieve this:
1) Use the engine of the car to create mechanical power which is then used to make electricity (via an alternator) that is run through a charge controller to charge and be stored in batteries. When power is needed then you draw the DC power from the batteries and invert it to AC (via an inverter) to run whatever it is that you want to run. Basically, you are using the car to replace the bladed of a wind turbine or a water wheel.
2) Set it up like a traditional generator......you will still need an alternator, inverter/voltage regulator at a minimum.........more advanced generators have a logic board that monitors load and throttles the motor up and down depending on the load.........
Seems like a very difficult way to do all of this when you can buy a brand new 19hp 540cc Briggs & Stratton engine for around $500.00
Sell the car for scrap and buy a generator
^^This^^
Well then, it has to be true......
