DC generator

[Dale M.]

Most alternators need a field voltage "momentarily" to initially excite field... Once going its self sustaining....

Best, quietest and most efficient alternator system you already have with you... Its the one in your tow vehicle... You just need to connect it up to trailer.... See "charging while towing " thread...

Dale

[droid_ca]

I understand the best way is to stay connected to your tow vehicle for charging but the was not the question I have seen situation where at a deer camp you set up trailer in a area and the tow vehicles can't get to unless you start playing musical trailers that was why I mentioned the being able to charge up your neighbor as well....lots of good advice just not quit what I was looking for but I'm sure others will learn something so that is good too

[bdosborn]

I think it boils down to how hard core your camping is. There are some advantages to using a DC generator, that's why you find them on yachts and expedition vehicles. For them, its a matter of when, not if, that their charging system will fail and a single charge source could be a problem if you're in the middle of nowhere. Redundancy is standard practice for all their essential systems - tell me once, tell me twice, tell me three times... But there's not much justification for that much robustness on the casual weekend in the teardrop, especially when it's so easy to charge from the TV.

My problem is our diesel truck is so stinkin' loud that there's no way anyone would put up with me idling it for the hour or so it would take to charge the battery any appreciable amount. That's why I use the solar panels the most, they're quiet. That and because I think they're cool.

Bruce

P.S. I just added another 90 watt panel to the trailer yesterday, a thin *flexible* panel that only weighs 4 pounds. I stuck it straight to the trailer with 3M VHB tape. More to follow...

[Gladtobehere]

~~~~~ P.S. I just added another 90 watt panel to the trailer yesterday, a thin *flexible* panel that only weighs 4 pounds. I stuck it straight to the trailer with 3M VHB tape. More to follow...

I guess I need to get to the USA more often? How much does such a (90W ,4lb) PV panel cost and where do you get them?????? In my neck of the woods even a heavy glass panel is still in the dollars per watt range. and flexible panels are a ridiculous price.

[bdosborn]

you get them on eBay of course:

90 watt flexible panel

I tested the one I got and it was putting out 85 watts in full sun. Not bad...

Bruce

[droid_ca]

I live in between 2 mountain passes and come winter 3:00 its dark so that is another reason for the generator I'd like to be able to run it while I use some 12volt electrical devices and get a nice full charge

[Gladtobehere]

you get them on eBay of course:

90 watt flexible panel

I tested the one I got and it was putting out 85 watts in full sun. Not bad...

Bruce

Thanks.

Of course

[eamarquardt]

yep a voltage is needed to be supplied to the field portion of an alternator.

if I remember correctly a generator has magnets and a alternator doesn't

heck I'm so old I still use a Leiden jar.............

pete

Generators may or may not contain magnets.

Cheers,

Gus

[eamarquardt]

I live in between 2 mountain passes and come winter 3:00 its dark so that is another reason for the generator I'd like to be able to run it while I use some 12volt electrical devices and get a nice full charge

I'm thinking we need a pic tour of your area! I never knew it got dark that early!

Probably dark enough in a canyon to preclude any usable sunlight.
Sunrise Sunset
Dec 20, 2012 7:55 AM 4:20 PM

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/a ... =-11&day=1

Cheers,

Gus

[droid_ca]

McBride is small we are right in the middle of the Robson Valley 211 kms from Prince George and 178 kms from Jasper Alberta we have the Rockies on one side and the Caribou on the other there is less then 20 streets in town 1 gas station 1 bank 4 police officer (just got a new one) that we know by name 1 hospital 2 small grocery stores..We have world class helli skiing and some of the best snowmobiling
I started this

Ok enough getting side tracked as you can see there are mountains everywhere so we get a lot of shadow down here

[eamarquardt]

.............................we get a lot of shadow down here

Yup and I'll bet that you get a bit more snow than we do here near the coast in Southern California.

And heck, in such a small town who's gonna notice you are running a generator anyway.

Cheers,

Gus

[droid_ca]

yeah it is nice here I guess when people move away the first thing they miss are the mountains cause they are everywhere

[pete42]

How can you see anything with all those mountains in the way? ask a flatlander.........


pete

[droid_ca]

The thing that sold me were all the stars
hence wanting a DC generator so I can go see more of them

[eamarquardt]

The thing that sold me were all the stars
hence wanting a DC generator so I can go see more of them

You want a DC generator so you can see the stars with more lights burning? Haven't you heard of light and sound pollution?