cybervanner
Richmond, VA
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Joined: 09/25/2007
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I'm not one for using a generator when camping, I find them noisy and stinky. Generators are sort of like using a rock to hammer a nail in...they are all over the place, convenient, and cheap.
Well, despite this, I still must give credit to a friend who built a generator out of an old lawn mower I gave him. The lawn mower has a Briggs & Stratton Quantum engine on it. He removed the blade from the motor and installed a pulley. on the corner of the deck where the grass chute was, he installed an old alternator from a car, and put a belt between the lawn mower engine, and the alternator. He then connected a set of 8ga wire from the alternator to two gator clips.
A pull of the cord, and the motor is off and running, throwing a strong 80 amperes at the battery! Yes, the motor makes more noise than a nice Honda inverter generator...about as much as well, a lawnmower makes! It is however quieter than a contractor's generator, and since it charges up a battery so fast, you don't need to listen to it very long!
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AZCampinfool
Gilbert, AZ
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Joined: 09/06/2003
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Interesting idea. You certainly have to give him an "A" for ingenuity!! That being said, it wouldn't work for me, the DW has to have power to run the microwave and hair dryer, and on those hot AZ summer days, the a/c!!
Me, my wife & 2 DD's, plus the yellow camping labs
2001 GMC Sierra 2500HD CC 4X4 8.1L big block/Allison
2006 Montana Mountaineer 319BHD w/Trailair
IAFF-Local 2260 Mesa, AZ
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old guy
Oregon (pronounced Or e gun)
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Joined: 03/15/2006
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have to tell you this. my first generator was almost a set up like you discrbed. we used a 10 horse cement smoother motor, a 2x12 board and a car generator driven directly from the B&S motor. work very well. in fact we used it for several Elk hunting trips before I bought a honda 1000. sure charged up the batteries in a short time.
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Flyfisherman128
Broadalbin, NY
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Joined: 08/09/2005
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Like this
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tom_kat
way upstate new york/lake george area
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Joined: 02/28/2005
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I made one years ago it would just putt along and charge the battery's wasn't very loud at all unless you reved it up for a fast charge.it would put out enough currant at idle to slow charge.
1985 Class A Holiday Rambler Imperial 33 +1979 Class C Holiday Rambler Statesman 1000 = 24 ft
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2oldman
WA
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Joined: 04/15/2001
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cybervanner wrote:since it charges up a battery so fast, you don't need to listen to it very long! "A" battery. One battery. Most of us have several, so this idea, although clever, would be running far too long for most of us noise police.
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smkettner
Southern California
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Joined: 03/21/2005
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I would prefer not to camp in the same campground with someone mowing thier battery two hours a day.
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javaseuf
California's Gold Coast
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Joined: 03/30/2005
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smkettner wrote:I would prefer not to camp in the same campground with someone mowing thier battery two hours a day.
Steve
2007 Springdale 291RKL
2003 F150 King Ranch
2001 Dodge Van w/Wheelchair Ramp
1991 Palomino Mustang PUP
Eureka Timberline Tent
Yamaha IF2400isc
Yamaha EF3000iSEBC
"Politically Incorrect And Proud Of It" 
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geezer34nh
New Hampshire
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Joined: 10/22/2007
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I built one of these recently using a 110 amp alternator, a horizontal shaft with electric start that can be started from inside the coach. In the summer months takes about an hour to bring the batteries up. In the winter when using the heat it takes about 2 hours. Quicker and less fuel than the gen set. It is converted to run on propane. Back in the day when working at the family garage we built these with DC generators to keep the booster batteries up in cold weather. We had the AAA contract for the area and a cold snap would keep all 4 service trucks running 24 hours. These rigs let us charge the batteries between calls.
Brad & Lucy aka the Geezer & The Hedgehog
1990 Foretravel 38' DP
Kitty Kat: Earl
Whitey Ford the Explorer riding the car trailer
Navigation: CoPilot 9 on a lap top
ASE Master Technician
SAE
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Flyfisherman128
Broadalbin, NY
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Quote:"A" battery. One battery. Most of us have several, so this idea, although clever, would be running far too long for most of us noise police.
Most altenators put out between 60 and 120 amps most chargers do not.
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