Generators

[kmcconaughey]

Here's Ryan's photos:

 

[sblunier]

I run a Generac "Wheelhouse" 8000W surge x 5500W constant, powered by a Briggs OHV 10hp. Has removable 5 gallon fuel tank and is set up like a 2 wheel hand truck, to make moving it around easier. Powers well, furnace, fridge, freezer, sump pump, and some lights/accessory outlets with no issues.

I bought a Generac load side transfer switch for $150 on E-Pay and have everything wired through it......nice slick way to do it and with circuit breaker protection for the individual circuits, 1ea. 240V and 4ea. 120V.

 

[sblunier]

Load side Transfer Switch:

 

[aschumacher]

I see that the engine direction was not what the generator wanted! Flipping the belt is a good idea but wonder if a thin metal plate where the belt crosses would help prevent fraying of the edges. If that is fired up now I bet that belt will be gone in 5 minutes.

 

[rmcshane]

Well, I guess I'm lucky then. It has ran for more than five minutes with that belt....

A plate is a good idea and could be incorporated pretty easily. Thank you for the suggestion!

 

[kmcconaughey]

Even a plate will eventually cause wear. When I first saw that I was thinking of some kind of roller between it. Perhaps a thin rod supported by a bearing on each end that could hold the belt slightly apart but not so much as to cause it to derail. Might be too complex though...

 

[aschumacher]

Ryan, is there some marking on the alternator that it has to spin in a certain direction? I did some investigating alternators, and in this case it doesn't matter what direction it spins. Now there is info about Phase changes and other stuff, but only if it is ganged with other alternators. Maybe you can spin it the other way and run a straight belt setup without any damage. May have to do with wear on the bearings? Remember this is an alternator (makes AC) not a generator (makes DC).

 

[kide]

That belt won't last.. If air moves through the unit with the fan running backwards so that its getting cooled, there shouldn't be an issue - and this is single phase, so the three phase rotation issue is null.

 

[jchamberlin]

If direction is important, and I'm assuming it is or Ryan wouldn't have built it the way he did; then a small, interposing set of gears would do the trick. The gears could be mounted on the generator assembly and removed with the generator. I would still like to see a spring-tensioned pulley clutch to engage and disengage the generator; again, it could be part of the generator assembly, or it could be mounted to the tractor's frame. If it is mounted to the frame, then it would make sense to keep the gears with it.

Just a thought (or two).

 

[rmcshane]

The only reason that it is spinning in that direction is due to the original engine rotating this way. Allen may have a good idea to try and I may do so before it is all said and done. I would like to be able to quickly disconnect the generator. Jeremiah brings up a good method with a spring loaded pulley, which would be fairly easy setup to do (if I reversed the direction of the belt). The generator does not "kick in" after initial start up until the tractor is well above a slow idle. After it kicks in, move up to full throttle and back down, it will continue to generate a low voltage. I don't think spinning it over at a low idle without anything plugged in will hurt the unit, but I could be wrong.

 

[aschumacher]

Ryan, if you look at the instructions for all the portable generators available, they say start the generator first, then plug in the load. So I guess you can run it at low RPM unloaded. I don't think there are any voltage regulators on these things, output depends on RPM (along with frequency) so I don't see anything to go pufffff.

 

[rmcshane]

Ok, thank you Allen. I figured that was the case but I thought I would question it first. I did run it a short while yesterday to charge up my cordless drill battery with no issues, so it looks like it will work so far. The real test will come when there is no power and a fridge full of food!

 

[jbaker]

Ryan if your really going to use it in a no power event to run the fridge remember,
The longer the cord run the thicker the wire needs to be and loss of amp occurs quickly thru exstenion cords.

Light bulbs are easy but a compressor on a fridge is much different

 

[aschumacher]

Ryan, you saying you are now on straight belt, orstill working with the figure 8 ?

 

[rmcshane]

Allen, no, Im sorry for the misinterpretation. I am still running the belt crossed.

Jeff. thank you for the information. I can get the Cub/generator as close as 5 feet to my refrigerator if need be, so hopefully it won't be too much of an issue.

Thanks to all for the suggestions so far!

 

[aaytay]

Ryan-
After looking at your pictures, it looks like you could just adjust the mount on that generator so that the back end of the generator is tipped downward slightly. This would keep the belt from rubbing on itself if the generator-pulley was at very slight upward angle. You may just be able to heat up the mount and "tweak" it a bit to make this adjustment.

 

[rmcshane]

That is also a great idea. Thank you for that.