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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

110v ac from auto alternator

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Bill

09-19-2003 10:20:22




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I remember years back I had bought a unit to get 110v ac from an alternator. Just read an article yesterday about someone using a car alternator and powering it with wind to get 110v ac. Wondering if anyone has any plans or diagrams for doing this. Also can one use an alternator with an internal regulator or not? If not can anyone give me an idea of what year and model auto would have a suitable alternator for use?

Thanks..
Bill

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ShepFL

09-20-2003 14:17:05




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 Re: 110v ac from auto alternator in reply to Bill, 09-19-2003 10:20:22  
Bill -
Just as others have said an alternator is a high current DC power unit. However, by adding some batteries and a DC to AC converter you could have a small AC generator with battery backup.

The addition of a DC to AC power converter allows 120 VAC devices to be powered. See the link for more ideas. For more on wind power pop over and visit www.homepower.com.

NOTE: In my previous life (before marriage, mortgage, kids) I was a hermit so I still tend to carry those tendencies. My wife even discarded my plans for house to run on 12VDC ;)

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Paul Janke

09-20-2003 06:39:00




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 Re: 110v ac from auto alternator in reply to Bill, 09-19-2003 10:20:22  
An alternator puts out DC, not AC unless you get inside and bypass the diodes. Then you have high frequency three phase AC. I once hooked a speaker up to the AC to try to determine the frequency. You probably know what 60 cycle hum sounds like. The alternator output sounds just like a siren, far above 60 cycles.



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MarkB

09-20-2003 03:58:02




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 Re: 110v ac from auto alternator in reply to Bill, 09-19-2003 10:20:22  
Years ago I remember reading in a Popular Mechanics or similar magazine how to build a gas-powered generator using an automotive alternator. Basically you bypassed the regulator and spun it fast enough to get 90-100 volts DC. Good enough to run a drill motor or trouble light, but not really useful. (Brush type motors will run on DC or AC, by the way. Even ones that say "120 VAC".) You can do this with any alternator, even ones with internal regulators. Just figure out whether the regulator connects to the field ground or to the hot side. Tie the regulated side of the field (rotor) to battery or ground as appropriate.

You can't get 60 Hz AC out of a car alternator, even if you bypass the diodes. For one thing, it's three phase, and it's almost certainly not going to be 60 Hz.

With inverters going as cheap as they do today, I agree with Kenny: Hook an alternator up to battery, an use an inverter to get your AC. This also solves the problem of how to excite the alternator, since it's connected to a battery.

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TO-35Man

09-19-2003 16:02:25




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 Re: 110v ac from auto alternator in reply to Bill, 09-19-2003 10:20:22  
Some Delco Alternators can be converted to 110ac according to my local alt. shop it cost $210 to convert them now.
I once had ideas of running one on a floating paddel wheel in the creek behind my house.



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Kennyp

09-19-2003 13:01:48




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 Re: 110v ac from auto alternator in reply to Bill, 09-19-2003 10:20:22  
I once had the Delco on my (I think) 60 something Chevy hooked up this way. The older alternators had an external voltage regulator. All you did was unhook it and let the alternator voltage wrap up. If I remember, at pretty good engine speed, about 60 or 70 volts. Would run a drill motor OK. This is NOT 60 cycle AC, but much higher so don't even think about motors except AC/Dc type. The later ones with internal regulators would have to be stripped and rebuilt. For a wind charger I would suggest leaveing it 12 volt to a battery and then a 12 volt to 110 AC/60 cycle converter. They come in all sizes and are getting cheaper all the time.

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Slowpoke

09-25-2003 00:08:57




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 Re: Re: 110v ac from auto alternator in reply to Kennyp, 09-19-2003 13:01:48  
In the article that Bill refers to, the 110v ac is used to power a resistive load of a water heater. A few years ago I picked up a converter at a flea market and when I got around to see about using it, I read the label and found that it changed 12v dc to 110v dc. I suppose there were quite a few tools that were ac/dc at the time it was made.



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