Cheap home made generator

Any update regarding this?

 

I built one like this but mine is also a welding machine.

 

ON the alternator dropping voltage you might examine the ballast resister, this controls the field strength.
Oft times they resist down to provide 9 volts or less. too much less and the field drops out, too much voltage and the field is putting out more than it is designed for.
If they are weak their voltage can drop off rather quickly with heat.
In older cars some times it's a porcelain block and in boats it is often a special wire .

 

First, before anyone posts to let me know, I do realize this thread was started in 2005.

But, I don't think I have ever had the opportunity to use the following emoticon, on this forum (or any forum, for that matter):

 

My Honda gx200 powered ACdelco DR44G alternator welder is fully functional.
It's current configuration is to be a welder but it could be a battery charger with a universal voltage regulator.
Note:
To be a 12 or 24v battery charger you don't have to convert the alternator to external rectifier and external field power.

 

I decided not to reinvent the wheel and bought one of these



I also have one of these older DC 6, 12, 24V sets. These antiques are cheap as chips, you could buy 5 for under a grand if you wanted redundancy. They output up to 20A @ 12V I use mine as a battery charger. For the trucks if need be or the big offgrid 12V battery set if need be. I picked mine up for $70 as is, it had a clogged carb, and easy fix.

 

My welding alternator still works, but it needs a bigger engine.

 

On any system I've had, if I have a regular generator without a 12-volt DC output, I run a battery charger on one of it's AC circuits for keeping my battery bank fully charged.
I fire up my engine /alternator it's on continuous overcast days when the solar panels don't get enough light. I tried the lithium ion batteries made for boats, don't waste the money. They have no depth of charge.

 

I have had good experiences with LiFePo4 batteries. You just have to understand the curve. They deliver a near constant voltage then fall off rapidly, whereas lead acid discharges both voltage and amperage at the same time. Lithium also will withstand total discharge more times than lead acid and certainly has many more charge cycles. My 4 have a 10 year guarantee to still be at 80% capacity, time will tell. They also are finicky in their requirement for proper charge voltage.