In a message dated 11/05/01, twleiper@........ writes:

> Except you want the 5 HP engine to put away at about 1500 RPM with a nice 
> quite muffler, and run about a three to one belt/gear drive to get the 
> alternator up to
> the 3K to 4K rpm range. In that configuration your 5 HP engine is more like 
> a 2 HP engine, and it will run for a very long time and very efficiently.
> A standard 60 amp alternator will deliver 750 watts, and you could always 
> get an old cop alternator that does twice that. Diesel cars also have 
> beefed up electrical systems. In any case, with plenty of battery storage, 
> 

       Since we are considering fairly high power systems, providing two 12 V 
storage batteries for a 24 V system and two 750 W alternators to charge them 
would give a better match to the downrated 5 HP engine. This might be a 
better option than using 24 V alternators. (1500 W at 12 V = 125 A. If you 
are use a C/5 battery drain (discharge in 5 hr), this requires > 625 AHr 
storage = very large battery.) Could be more practical to use two 12 V 
batteries in series of ~300 AHr. It may be better to keep the current down by 
increasing the voltage. Getting good connections and low cable loss gets more 
difficult as the currents increase. You also have to allow for battery life 
considerations. 1,500 W is probably OK for the computer and other equipment 
being considered, but it is not a lot of power to run a whole house as well.

       There is a lot of useful information on a variety of inverter systems 
and equipment, mains, solar and generator assisted for driving a wide variety 
of loads at:- http://store.yahoo.com/wind-sun/index.html 

Regards,

Chris
In a message dated 11/05/01, twleiper@........ writes:



Except
 you want the 5 HP engine to put away at about 1500 RPM with a nice 

quite muffler, and run about a three to one belt/gear drive to get the 

alternator up to

the 3K to 4K rpm range. In that configuration your 5 HP engine is more like 

a 2 HP engine, and it will run for a very long time and very efficiently.

A standard 60 amp alternator will deliver 750 watts, and you could always 

get an old cop alternator that does twice that. Diesel cars also have 

beefed up electrical systems. In any case, with plenty of battery storage, 

you would just size things for your average anticipated load.



       Since we are considering fairly high power systems, providing two 12 V 

storage batteries for a 24 V system and two 750 W alternators to charge them 

would give a better match to the downrated 5 HP engine. This might be a 

better option than using 24 V alternators. (1500 W at 12 V = 125 A. If you 

are use a C/5 battery drain (discharge in 5 hr), this requires > 625 AHr 

storage = very large battery.) Could be more practical to use two 12 V 

batteries in series of ~300 AHr. It may be better to keep the current down by 

increasing the voltage. Getting good connections and low cable loss gets more 

difficult as the currents increase. You also have to allow for battery life 

considerations. 1,500 W is probably OK for the computer and other equipment 

being considered, but it is not a lot of power to run a whole house as well.



       There is a lot of useful information on a variety of inverter systems 

and equipment, mains, solar and generator assisted for driving a wide variety 

of loads at:- http://store.yahoo.com/wind-sun/index.html 



Regards,



Chris