Gas powered 12Volt charger

[Deleted member 9101]

Ok, so has anyone actually done this and made it happen or is this just academic?
I seem to remember a military 24vdc charger that was powered by a small petrol engine to charge 24 volt systems (radio truck batteries or something). I think you need a few more pieces like a charge controller, fuel tank, cage to hold it all together... might be easier to buy something already built.

I have seen one many years ago in Colorado while camping on BLM land. The guy had a tiller motor with a pulley on it and a GM alternator from summit racing. The motor has the built in gas tank, and you set the throttle by hand. The alternator does everything else, no different than when its in a car. I woudl imagine you could toss in a small 10" electric fan to keep things cool and it woudl be a done deal.


Hell, when something shows up with a motor I like on craigslist cheap I am going to build one to solve this...lol. If I can get a good running motor, and figure out the RPM's I need it shoudl be a very easy build.

 

[dwh]

Ok, so has anyone actually done this and made it happen or is this just academic?

It's been done a million times. These guys sell some parts for the DIYer:

http://theepicenter.com/tow02077.html

 

[Deleted member 9101]

It's been done a million times. These guys sell some parts for the DIYer:

http://theepicenter.com/tow02077.html

That website is awesome!!!

 

[magentawave]

I now use a 30 amp smart charger with my 1000 watt generator. This combination will take my batteries from 75 to 100 percent in a little over four hours. The alternator of the truck charges the bank slowly at best and only used as an addition when traveling. Perhaps a system could be used with an inverter to bring power to the charger, but this seems inefficient at best.

Are you still using this system to charge your batteries? If so, what is the brand/model of the 30 amp charger you're using with the generator?

 

[jwiereng]

as someone already mentioned, why not just get a 1000w or 2000w Honda with a battery charger ac to dc? Those Hondas will run forever, plus, you have the versatility of 110 vlt.

alternatively, just get a jumper cable and use your vehicle? I've idled for hours on end, and it didn't appear to use hardly any gas.

Yes, this seems like to most simple. I already have jumper cables packed.

as someone already mentioned, why not just get a 1000w or 2000w Honda with a battery charger ac to dc? Those Hondas will run forever, plus, you have the versatility of 110 vlt.

alternatively, just get a jumper cable and use your vehicle? I've idled for hours on end, and it didn't appear to use hardly any gas.

Yes. This seems to be the best idea. I already have packed the jumper cables. I think my 4Runner uses less than 2 litres per hour in idle.