Prop Shaft Generator

[Dreamcatcher]

When the wind gets up, and we get moving, it pains me to hear my propshaft whirring away without being able to convert it into nice electricity in order to have cold beer. I know there must be such things as generators/alternators which we can run off the propshaft. Anyone able to point me in right direction?

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[MASH]

The search function will answer this question exhaustively...

But, in short, a trailing shaft is producing far more drag than a stationary one - engage gear or fit a shaft brake to prevent it turning and you'll go faster. You'll also avoid a great deal of unnecessary wear in your cutlass bearing and the gearbox.

If you still want a shaft generator you'll need to design and engineer a belt drive system with a clutch or some form of disengagement system to an alternator, and wire it all in.

Probably cheaper (and far easier) to buy a towed generator.