Aldi 800w generator - latest views

David WE Roberts · 2011-07-07T19:44:41+00:00

Aldi have an 800w (peak) 650w standard generator up for £59.99 this Sunday.I've Googled back and got mixed responses.Caravan discussion sites seem anti, but in 2009 this NG was cautiously in favour.I am considering this as an emergency power supply to the motorhome when wild camping.However I wouldn't want to incinerate an expensive Electroblok by using a £60 generator with dodgy output.So:(1) Is the output smooth enough to feed into a 240V input for a caravan or motorhome?(2) If not, is there something reasonably priced to put between the generator and the socket?Honda is the quality answer but kicks off at around £1,000.I note the references to farm sales but I suspect that farmers use the robust generators in a pipe frame not the suitcase generators which are easier to stow inside a camper or caravan.Kipor is a cheap(ish) alternative but still at around £300 for a 1Kw peak 900w standard genny it is around 5 times the cost of this.Hmmm.......any way of linking the output of 3 of these together?That would give 2.4kw (peak) 1.95kw (standard) of generating power for just under £180 which does compare favourably with £400 for a 2Kw generator from Kipor.All I really need is something to recharge the batteries without having to run the engine.So with 2 * 100 amp hour batteries to charge from 50% to 100% I would need 100 amps for an hour - well, lets say 50 amps for 2 hours.Amps = watts/volts so300 watts at 12 volts should give 25 amps charge current - 4 hours running.600 watts at 12 volts should give 50 amps charge current (if the system would take it) - 2 hours running.All in all, a 600w generator run for a couple of hours in the morning should be a reasonable alternative to a solar panel on the roof, given that 100w of solar panel can cost £300 without the controller or fixing kit.So , what does the team think?CheersDave RP.S. there must be a reasonably simple way of combining different 240V inputs or the whole concept of solar feed in just wouldn't work.

Jul 07, 2011 43 Replies

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NT 15 years ago

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.

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Fredxx 15 years ago

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

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NT 15 years ago

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.

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