Aldi 800w generator - latest views

Not that I've looked, but I would have thought someone would make a frame consisting of a petrol engine and an alternator, specifically for this sort of task. Something like an older Lucus alternator (with embedded controller, rather than a modern one controlled by the engine management unit) would probably work well. Even on my decades old mini, that could output 45A peak (and 32A on tickover), and there were probably larger ones for larger cars. It contains all the smarts for charging regulation, and doesn't care about clean power input (which is mechanicanal in this case anyway).

They have inverter outputs, designed to generate just a very slightly fractionally higher voltage than mains, so they feed back into it the rate they're generating. You can't use them without having a working mains supply - they're deliberately designed to switch-off if the mains goes away. Apart from having no voltage to regulate against, you don't want something back-feeding a dead supply network and electrocuting someone who might be working on it.

Reply to
Andrew Gabriel
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FWIW one way to make these charge lead acids is to make only 2 cells, eg in ice cream tubs, or really something more robust but similar size, run a meaty 6v relay in self oscillating mode, and use a good sized transformer with its priamry removed as a choke. Between that lot you get a slow switched mode upconvertor with minimal hassle. The

2 cells are stored in unfilled form: the water and soda (or whatever youre using) are stored in a separate containers.

The advantages of a switche mode convertor are simplicity of battery construction, and simplicity of plate replacement. The electrical output of one with no lead acid connected is lethal.

You can run one off a single cell in principle, but you'd then need to rewind both relay and transformer, and every circuit connection becomes resistance critical. There are several variations on the theme, 2 cells and no primary on the transformer are probably the simplest.

NT

Reply to
NT

Have you built one of these? Surely a standard switching boost regulator would be far better than a relay!!

Reply to
Fredxx

Electronic ones are more energy efficient and silent, but how many diyers could make one? Relay based switched mode convertors are extremely simple. I did forget to mention add snubbers on the relay.

NT

Reply to
NT

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