Could a strimmer run an alternator? (Darwin Award opportunity?)

Amulet

Amulet

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I need power but don't have space for a generator. It would be easy to permanently install an alternator in some corner. Could one munge a strimmer so that its motor had a short splined shaft to plug into an alternator through a hole in the side of the cockpit (rather like a blender thingy)? Would the power and rpm match? I could easily stow a strimmer motor with a bit of a prong of shaft. I'd like to be able to create a charge of about 30 amps.

I don't really think this is a serious question - unless someone fairly expert says it's OK and easy!
 
Most smallish strimmers will generate enough power but, as TQA says, they're rather noisy and you'd need to construct some sort of bracket to hold the motor in place. Maybe not the best idea.
 
It's one thing to mount the strimmer engine and alternator together to make a miniature generator. Been done before on the forum, I believe, there was a very long thread about it which I didn't read. But the idea of a loose engine with a protruding shaft which you take out of a locker and insert into a hole in the cockpit side (and then hang onto while it runs?) seems positively bizarre :)

Pete
 
Electrically it should work quite well in that the alternator will be spinning at high speed. Even witha standard 14v regulator The battery charge current will drag the engine speed down so the volts so the current so that it will level out at its best power possible from the engine. However as said noise will kill it even if you can mount the engine properly.
So think about a sound proof box with lots of ventilation. (a contradiction in itself) Ultimately your inboard engine with big alternator should give similar power for less noise and cost. good luck olewill.
 
Thanks, it is certainly not an imminent project. I certainly imargined a secure mount. Those who worry about noise have not heard my Farymann main engine!

This horrid little beast has has a pathetic little alternator in the flywheel and no way to attach another. Hence the problem.
 
Actually for driving an alternator I think you would need an engine with a long stroke rather than the short stroke high reving strimmer engines
So a lawn mower engine might be better ,plus the govenor might be pre fitted ,so it would run at a constant speed, with less revs, so less of a "scream"

You would need to mount the shaft to a pulley which would belt drive the alternator

Another advantage is that every so often you could use it trim the weed growth & have nice lines on the hull -like a lawn
 
Amulet said:
Thanks, it is certainly not an imminent project. I certainly imargined a secure mount. Those who worry about noise have not heard my Farymann main engine!

This horrid little beast has has a pathetic little alternator in the flywheel and no way to attach another. Hence the problem.
Click to expand...

What is preventing you attaching another pulley to the flywheel with standard alternator mounted on the boat.Couldnt see any pictures of the engine.

Jim
 
Amulet said:
Thanks, it is certainly not an imminent project. I certainly imargined a secure mount. Those who worry about noise have not heard my Farymann main engine!

This horrid little beast has has a pathetic little alternator in the flywheel and no way to attach another. Hence the problem.
Click to expand...

What is preventing you attaching a pulley to the flywheel with a standard alternator mounted on the boat.Couldnt see any pictures of the engine.

Jim
 
About ten years ago I made a bracket to fit an alternator to my Yamaha Malta outboard. It did do the job and I also did get a lot of funny looks from nearby boats when I had it running on the pushpit rail.
 
Amulet said:
Wow! Do you know anyone who actually has practical experience of it?
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No, I just followed the thread a few years ago and this, I believe, was the result of it.

I expect it works exactly as you would expect as both components are what you know- a small four stroke air-cooled engine and a proper car alternator.

It will be noisyish but it will get juice into your batteries quickly.
 
Poecheng said:
It exists: thesupercharger.co.uk
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Sadly, It looks as if their claims must be taken with a pinch of salt.

Quotes below from the "Advertising Standards Authority":

"...the ad breached CAP Code (Edition 12) rules 3.1 (Misleading advertising), 3.7 (Substantiation), 3.11 (Exaggeration), 3.33 (Comparisons with Identifiable Competitors) and 3.38 (Other comparisons)"
Click to expand...

and

"The claims must not appear again in their current form. We told the advertisers to ensure they held supporting documentation for their claims and to ensure their claims were accurate and that any product comparisons were appropriate."
Click to expand...

Looks as if they took no notice of these judgements.
 
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