Hello OldMiniBikes'ers!
I am working on a double top secret project right now and I am trying to figure a solution for running an alternator/generator as a way to charge a battery. I am thinking a small 12v lead acid battery powering LED's...but want no maintenance as far as external power to recharge the battery. And NO! I am not a Tecumseh guy! This will be run from a hopped up Briggs 5HP engine with a billet flywheel. I have no problem fabbing brackets to run this either off the PTO or the jackshaft (less appealing option!). I could run a jackshaft clutch and run it off the jackshaft as an option.
A 12v lead acid battery needs between 13 and 14.4 volts to properly charge. I have seen some small windpower systems that produce the correct DC voltage, I just don't know if 200 watts is enough! Regulators for these are also available so I don't boil the battery!
I have also seen some alternators from larger garden tractors that could work, but I would need to convert it to DC and it may take too much power to run.
I got to thinking about this after seeing "thejoker"'s listing for the Tec alternator that runs off the recoil. I believe those run directly to the lights and not a battery.
Thoughts? Help? Is this idea crazy enough to border on genius?
I am working on a double top secret project right now and I am trying to figure a solution for running an alternator/generator as a way to charge a battery. I am thinking a small 12v lead acid battery powering LED's...but want no maintenance as far as external power to recharge the battery. And NO! I am not a Tecumseh guy! This will be run from a hopped up Briggs 5HP engine with a billet flywheel. I have no problem fabbing brackets to run this either off the PTO or the jackshaft (less appealing option!). I could run a jackshaft clutch and run it off the jackshaft as an option.
A 12v lead acid battery needs between 13 and 14.4 volts to properly charge. I have seen some small windpower systems that produce the correct DC voltage, I just don't know if 200 watts is enough! Regulators for these are also available so I don't boil the battery!
I have also seen some alternators from larger garden tractors that could work, but I would need to convert it to DC and it may take too much power to run.
I got to thinking about this after seeing "thejoker"'s listing for the Tec alternator that runs off the recoil. I believe those run directly to the lights and not a battery.
Thoughts? Help? Is this idea crazy enough to border on genius?