Generators

[PunaLover]

Little late to the party, but if you're normally on a 12v system or just need some additional 12v power and you're a scrounger and a do it yourself kind of person, there's a few youtubes that show you how to make a generator out of a lawnmower engine and a car alternator, both of which you can find for next to nothing if you look around. Alternators can be found on any old broken down car or junkyard. It's not really hard, the main tough part being the base which in this case is made from metal, but could also be made from good ol' plywood for those of us who don't like metal work.

With the items shown here you could make a 75 amp (75 amps x 12 volts = 850 watts) generator for free. If you're really lucky you might find a used 100 amp alternator which would juice up your batteries pretty quick. Won't keep your fridge running but it will charge your 12v batteries for cheap and keep the lights on and basic items operational especially if you're normally on solar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBgrudl761k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGveUczEIQM

[MattKarma]

24V. 12V is for sissies. ;-)

Also you will find that running a generator with batteries means you don't have to run it all the time, and the max output becomes the rating of the inverter.

[PunaLover]

12v sissy here

But the disadvantage of 24v is you have to convert it back down to 12v to use all the stuff made for your car power outlet. Or run them off one of your two 12v batteries making an uneven discharge.

Or am I missing something?

[microage97]

You need a 24V to 12V step down transformer. I have one rated at 720 12V that runs my water pump.

[tada]

I think the advantage of 12volt is there's more stuff built for it in offgrid or the RV catalogs that you can just plug-in. But the disadvantage is you need fatter more costly copper wire to handle the increased current??