DIY generator

[Treeview]

Making a genset using a lawnmower engine and alternator isn't anything new.

This fella has made up some nice brackets to make a DIY build simple and stout.

Even if you don't buy his brackets he has, what seems to me, everything needed to know how to make a simple genset.

http://theepicenter.com/tow082099.html

More info:

https://www.theepicenter.com/towmenu.html

Tom

[bdosborn]

Very noisy but interesting. I looked at these years back and decided they weren't for me because of the noise. I've got a Yamaha inverter generator, which is the quietest generator you can get (at least according to the specs) and I still hate to run it because even real quiet sounds loud when camping.

Bruce

[working on it]

Nice brackets! I wish I had the tools to make those back in the 90's, when I hobbled-together two different generators like that. I made one from an edger first, then a lawnmower. They both worked, not well, and both were ridiculously "Rube Goldberg"-ish in appearance, but I was low on cash and I had spare lawn equipment (barely functional) and spare alternators (doesn't every gearhead?). I had just resumed dragracing (after a 27-year hiatus), with a semi-stock 327 engine and its 37 amp alternator. The output didn't keep the battery charged enough between rounds (I had started to add electric fans, Mallory C-D ignition (later MSD), and electric fuel pump (Mallory, later Holley). So I threw together the alternator generators. At first, using a 37 amp (spare) alternator, it barely helped. Then later, after I switched the car and the makeshift generator set-up to 63 amp alternators, it got better. About that time, I got involved with a group of racers as I moved up in classes ( and modded my car to go faster). It was pointed out that my charging set-up was weird and Inadequate for the job. I agreed, and got a 3500watt Coleman genny. Then later a 5000watt. Eventually, I retired the car from the street, after removing the alternator entirely, and having a 4.88 rear gear and full spool axle, it was unstreetable anyhow. I still have the 3500watt Coleman (I use it around the house all the time), but swapped my 5000watt genny for my friend's 2500watt Craftsman/Honda, which I mounted in the rear of my trailer on a slideout-swivel platform. But, if I didn't need at least the 2500watt output to power the A/C and other items (off-grid), and just wanted to recharge my trailer's battery (or car's), then I might just want to install this "cleaned-up" lawnmower-alternator-generator in a trailer. Just different enough for my tastes.

[Treeview]

Sure...in stock format, they're noisy. many people have quieted small engines by adapting car-size mufflers. he has a write-up about doing just that.

Some tree thieves have taken car mufflers and mounted them on their chainsaws so that they can fell and steal valuable trees without getting noticed. The saws look like racing chainsaws but instead of having tuned exhausts they have car mufflers bracketed up front.

This certainly isn't meant to be as good as a Honda, etc. genset by anymeans...but, it is budget and in the end does the same job.

Tom

[bdosborn]

Like I said, it's an interesting idea and appeals to the DIYer in me. However, it's hard to quiet a generator, just throwing a bigger muffler on it doesn't do it. There's tons or radiated noise from the engine itself. That being said, this would be a great application for someone with an off grid cabin or boon docking but it's not the best choice for a forest service campground.

Here's the cleanest DIY generator I've found, this guy has mad fabricating skills and uses a nice engine.



Cool Home-built Generator

Same guy built this nice pop up tear:



Sumner Teardrop

Bruce