TANAKA KOGYO GENERATOR

[Hoosier Greg]

Does anybody know anything about them. It's the one that has a 2 cycle motor attached to what appears to be a car type alternator..
I helped gentleman with his insurance claim yesterday and he gave it to me free. It runs and charges ,But it does need little TLC .Cute little thing.

Although I am coming up with the Tanaka co.on google I can not seem to find this particular Generator on their listing.
Thanks
Greg

[brian_bp]

Is it possible that this is a Tanaka engine, but the generator set was assembled by another company - or custom by an individual - so that it isn't really a Tanaka generator set?

[Hoosier Greg]

Thanks for your reply Brian.
No I do not think so. The little machine looks too professionally made. It has all the right colors all the instructional stickers. Here's the particulars..

AC 110-115 V

DC12V

Output 400Va -what ever that means..
___________
120W

It seems to me as though I have seen one of those jobs on another thread. The fellow that posted the picture was from Australia .Might not have been the same model but it was close..

Right now I am in high haven. Because I can charge my battery and run my TV for penny's and it is quite. Except little on the stinky side with the little two cycle motor .. That could have been due to running it too rich..

Thanks again. Greg.

[brian_bp]

Thanks for the info, Greg. I suppose that it could be the product of one of the Tanaka operations other than the one in the U.S., or it might just be old enough that there's no longer any reference to it on the U.S. site.

"VA" is presumably volt-amps... the product of multiplying the voltage (in volts) by the current (in amps). For AC power, if the two are in phase (which happens with purely resistive loads and is called a power factor of 1), that's equal to watts. Some loads (such as motors) force the current to be out-of-phase with the voltage; the alternator may be rated in volt-amps because that's what's limiting it, even if at 400 VA it's not getting as much as 400 W out.

I don't know why it has both 400 VA and 120 W ratings... perhaps the first is for AC output and the second for DC output (but most people would just rate the DC in amps). It is common for portable generator sets to have much lower output power capability in DC than in AC.

Were you thinking of Lawnmower engine into a 12V Generator (Links)? I didn't see a Tanaka in there, but there is a Wattagan YM400, which might have a Tanaka engine... although that model appears to be strictly DC output.

[Hoosier Greg]

Hi Brian.
Sorry for the late response ,computer virus.

I was thinking more like the one the supertroll posted in your link. Except mine is AC/DC as you noted and not a modern in appearence as the wattagan..
Thanks for the other info too.
Greg.

[jrw]

I found this . Is this what you have?
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Business-farmi ... 450240.htm

John

[Hoosier Greg]

Jrw.

The one in the link appears to be a newer model. Mine has the carrying handle on top ,it is colored in the Japanese Orange. The generator is not shrouded like the engine is.. Hard to guess what mines age might be ,but if I had to I'd say it has the 70's look ..

I'll try to post a picture of it today..
Thanks for the link.
Greg.