Can I Use My Car as a Generator?
- When to Use a Car as a Generator Whether you are looking to have emergency power during major storms or blackouts, or you just want to be able to operate some electronics, setting your car up to work as a generator is very simple and cost-effective. ...
- Power Inverters ...
- Advantages of Using Your Car as a Generator ...
- Disadvantages of Using Your Car as a Generator ...
Can I use my car as a generator?
Yes, you can charge your electric car with a generator. Even though it might sound too good to be true, you can actually use your generator to charge your vehicle in case you are in an emergency. Since generators are designed to serve as backup power sources anyway, they are able to perform the same way as the main power source in your house.
Can I make a generator from a car engine?
You cannot turn a car engine into an electric generator, you could power a generator by using a car engine. The output of this lash up and the electric devices in the houses would vary greatly as to how many houses. Your question is similar to asking how high is up?
How to use a car alternator to make a generator?
Overview
- Source the parts you will need. ...
- Attach motor to base
- Attach alternator bracket to base (be sure to properly align pulleys)
- Attach alternator to bracket, install belt and tighten
- Attach cables to positive and negative terminals on the alternator. ...
Can I charge an electric car with a generator?
An electric car can be charged with a generator that is powered by diesel, but you will need about 10 to 15 liters of diesel in order to charge an electric car fully. You must ensure that your generator has a high fuel capacity if you are planning to use it for charging an electric car.
How to use a generator?
How to keep gas from accumulating in car?
Can you use a 12V invertor on a car battery?
Do power inverters require mechanical understanding?
Does a car have a bigger fuel tank?
Can you use a car as a generator?
Can an inverter power a whole house?
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Can I use my car as a power generator?
If you leave the engine running, and you have an appropriate outdoor extension cord handy, then it's perfectly safe to run electronics in your home with a car power inverter.
Is a car engine a motor or generator?
Motors take power from Power grids and electrical supply while generators take power from steam turbines, water turbines, and internal combustion engines. The electric motor gives outback EMF to the circuit while the generator gives EMF to the load connected. Motors are used in automobiles, elevators, fans, pumps, etc.
How much electricity do cars generate?
Even though most car batteries are only 6 or 12 volts, a 12-volt battery can produce as much as 600 amps.
Is a car engine more efficient than a generator?
The most modern production engines are currently around 30-35% thermal efficiency so use that as a benchmark. That generator they have there is likely closer to 20% thermal efficiency so it's already worse than running your car.
Can a car alternator power a house?
A standard car alternator is only 50–70amp at 12v. This is only about 4 amps. There are very few device in your house you can power this way. You would need batteries for load balancing.
What motors make good generators?
Brushless DC motors (BLDC) or permanent-magnet synchronous motors (PMSM) are pretty much the same thing and are the best to use as generators. They generate AC, so they require a rectifier on the output.
How many volts does a car engine produce?
A car battery should read a minimum of 12.6 volts, and when your engine is in operation, the battery should record a voltage value within the range of 13.7 – 14.7 volts.
How many watts can a car provide?
A 600 amp car battery can provide the power of 7,200 watts (600 amp x 12 volts). The average 12-volt car battery can have 4000-8000 watts.
How many car batteries would it take to power a house?
Number of Batteries A battery bank designed to power an average American household for three days would need to supply 90 kilowatt-hours of energy. The battery from the previous example can supply 2.4 kilowatt-hours, so this system would need 38 batteries.
How much electricity can a car alternator generate?
But nowadays, a single alternator can produce power up to 2500 Watt, depending on the power demand. The power that can be produced by an alternator is determined by the alternator rating. The output of the alternator ranges from 40 Amp up to 120 Amp. For high-amp alternator, it can generate up to 300 Amp.
Can a car alternator be used as a generator?
Did you know a car alternator can be turned into a generator with a little know how and persistence? The car alternator's role is to produce electricity for your vehicle. So, with minor modifications, the alternator will produce electricity for a home. It charges batteries and runs small appliances or lights.
Is an alternator more efficient than a generator?
Generators are considered less efficient. Alternators have a higher output than generators. Generators have a lower output when compared with an alternator. Alternators use only the required amount of energy and thus, it conserves more energy.
Is motor and generator the same?
No. An electric motor is a machine that converts electrical energy to mechanical energy. An electric generator is a machine that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy.
Are motors and generators the same thing?
Converting energy from one form to another is the key to understanding the differences between electric motors and generators. An electric motor converts electricity into mechanical energy, providing a power source for machinery. A generator does the opposite of this, converting mechanical energy into electricity.
What is the difference between engine and generator?
The primary difference is that engines produce mechanical energy while generators convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. Generators are often called gensets or engine-generators.
What is the main difference between a motor and generator?
The major difference between Motor and Generator is that a motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy, whereas the generator does the exact opposite. The motor uses electricity whereas the generator produces electricity.
How much power does a car motor have?
Let’s say your typical car motor has a maximum mechanical power output of 125 kW (167 HP), driving an alternator with a maximum electrical power output of 0.25 kW to 0.5 kW, via belt drive.
How much power does a gasoline engine produce?
If you did this, you might expect perhaps 50 to 150 KW depending on number of cylinders, etc.
What is the recommended speed for AC generators?
Jack one wheel up, take it off and fit a shaft with a belt drive to increase that wheel rate to something like 3600 RPM, the preferred speed for AC generators.
How does a piston engine life?
The life of a piston engine is almost exactly directly proportional to the capacity of its cooling system and the speed in rpm it operates at. How continuous the life is spent also matters, so you will get a lot more working hours from an engine which runs continuously than from one which is required to start and stop for short intervals. The heavy construction of the bearing systems on diesel engines also contributes to much longer life when used properly.
How does piston engine life relate to engine speed?
The life of a piston engine is almost exactly directly proportional to the capacity of its cooling system and the speed in rpm it operates at. How continuous the life is spent also matters, so you will get a lot more working hours from an engine which runs continuously than from one which is required to start and stop for short intervals. The heavy construction of the bearing systems on diesel engines also contributes to much longer life when used prop
Do cars have generators?
Sure, in fact most cars already have a small electric generator in them already, called an “Alternator”, to recharge the battery and provide D.C. power for all those electrical devices in the car.
Can you use a drive shaft to convert an engine to electric power?
What you are asking, though, is can you take the engine drive shaft and connect it to a much bigger generator to get the full power output of the engine to convert to electric power. Yes, you can do this… or you can just purchase one already made, sized appropriately for your house.
How long does it take for a car generator to run?
ULTRALIGHT – CarGenerator is just 16 pounds, versus typical generators that are 60 – 160 pound beasts. RUN-TIME – CarGenerator has a run-time of 50-80+ hours, where typical generators need to be refilled every 4-5 hours.
How long does a generator last on a gas tank?
A typical vehicle can provide power for 50+ hours up to 80+ hours on a tank. Compare this to a typical portable gas generator that needs attention every 4-5 hours because of its tiny little gas tank.
Can you hook up a car generator to a 59?
Nope, not unless you were planning on hooking up CarGenerator to a ’59 Studebaker. Modern cars are designed to handle all kinds of operating conditions, and at idle, the car’s computer makes sure its engine is adequately cooled and lubricated. Police vehicles and ambulances are typically idled all the time, and usually enter their second service lives at 100,000+ miles. If you need CarGenerator more than a handful of times per year, you’d likely be better off with a natural-gas-powered, hard-wired permanent generator at a cost of $5,000+ dollars. For everyone else, rest assured that your car is operating well within its design limits.
How much heat does a 48 HP diesel engine get?
Modern day automobile engines, are rather efficient systems. And the 48hp diesel engine that got 52 mpg simply didn't waste much heat at about 1200 RPM, which is what would have been a good point on the power curve to generate power for the house.
Can you use the heat produced by an engine to heat water?
The one point you should consider that you have not is to use the waste heat produced by the engine to provide hot water for the house.
Can hybrid cars be used with inverters?
Today, I might consider using a hybrid car, with an inverter off the drive battery, if I were interested. Then the car could manage the engine start/stop and charge cycles automatically.
Can you use multiple alternators on a generator?
If you size the generator appropriately then you can either do away with the alternator and charge the battery from the main generator or keep it, but you should not need to use multiple alternators as the losses reduce the total efficiency.
What are the advantages of a generator?
The main advantage is that the engine can power a light bulb running at idle speed and it revs up according to the load demand. This means you don’t have a ridiculous standby fuel consumption when the only load on the generator is light bulb or a small radio. Also, these units are very quiet, making them welcome in RV parks.
How much horsepower does an AC generator need?
You need to find an appropriate sized AC generator or alternator, about 75 kW (equals 100 HP) rated at a good RMP for the engine, say 3000 FPM. Or gearing to change the 3000 RPM of the engine to the rated RPM of the generator.
What is the output voltage of a generator?
Then feedback controls to control the throttle of the engine based on the output voltage AND frequency of the generator, which should be 120 volt 60 Hz.
Can you store gasoline in a generator?
Plus, as a home generator, STORING gasoline for all the time it takes to wait out an emegency situation needing it, might end up in a no-start condition for your power plant due to old gas. You could hope that fuel stabilizer would be the answe,r but only time will tell.
Is it a good idea to run a generator?
Not a good idea. You will save a lot of time and money by just buying a home generator and replacing the transmission on your vehicle. The cost of running a vehicle engine alone would put me off this plan. I do have a good friend that runs a sawmill with a straight 6 Chevy engine though. He’s had that configuration for over 20 years and it still operates. The secret to his fuel economy is the one barrel carburetor sitting on his intake.
Can you use an alternator to generate electricity?
If you mean use the alternator ON the car engine to generate electricity for the home, don’t bother, it isn’t big enough to produce enough energy. If you mean to use the engine to turn a generator big enough run your home, that’s gonna be expensive and difficult like the other posters say.
Can you use an inverter to power a house?
No a good way to power up an entire house, but you could at least run a few lights that way.
Why use a small ice generator?
Using a small ICE generator at it's maximum continuous RPM reduces the fuel consumption than Using the engine to power the drivetrain....... Plus you really don't need a bigger larger engine to be used in serial hybrids. You need relatively a small ICE to run the generator than the size of the ICE you have to use in parallel hybrid to produce the same power!
What type of engine is used in hybrid cars?
Most hybrid cars manufactured today use a combination of the electric motor and combustion engine to power the wheels.
What is hybrid car?
Thank You for explaining. What I've actually meant is , a hybrid has a combustion engine. And it is fitted to a transmission box. And an electric motor too is used but both the engine and the electric motor is used to propel the vehicle. Instead of using the engine through a transmission box to power the wheels , what about removing the transmission box and instead, fitting an electricity generator and that generator charge the batteries. So that the vehicle is propelled by the electric motors, the engine act as the generator, which doesn't power up the wheels instead generate electricity to charge the battery. Isn't this system more efficient as well as more performance worthy as it misses all the lags of a piston engine? Plus weight and complexity is reduced as there is no transmission, and ride quality too improves. And I've further heard of fuel cells which uses ethanol.... Thank You.
Why are electric cars so expensive?
Electric cars are more costly because of the battery. The Li-Ion batteries are expensive . The other parts like the motors are cheaper than the piston engine and transmissions. Another reason for not showing a financial success because the battery needs a long time to charge , much longer than filling a fuel tank . So, the electric cars are mostly popular in traveling day to day short journeys. So those who travel long journeys often do not trend to buy electrics. These issues resulted in invention of hybrid technologies. Out of the 2 hybrid systems, the series and fuel cell hybrid types are more efficient and more performing. ( despite the buying price) . Fuel cells....how many types of fuel that can be used in fuel cells? What are the present issues of using fuel cells in cars? Do fuel cells are better in charging the car battery than the piston engine with generator? What about using a fuel cell with electric motors in a car without using a battery ( or using a law capacity 1 just to have a smooth ride, instant acceleration)? [Ex : Honda FCX Clarity]
How much power does a micro gas turbine have?
The mid-mounted 70 kW (94 bhp) micro gas-turbines can generate a combined 140 kW (188 bhp) to charge the batteries and extend the range of the car to 900 km (560 miles) ...
Can you make a car with an engine?
You can't just pick out "an engine" to make a "fully electrically powered" car. You must have some practical way to generate the electricity which is used to either drive the car or to charge a battery, and car manufacturers have chosen the beast they know the best, the internal combustion engine.
Is a car more fuel efficient?
A car can be made much much more fuel efficient but then it may be lacking some features such as acceleration, comfort, top speed, safety, headlights, passenger space, doors, reverse, a starter ( rather than a crank ), entertainment system, etc. Consumers want all that and manufactures sometimes do add in extra accessories for enticement. It usually is a balancing act to determine the wants of the consumer years ahead of actual production and hope that the needs do not change.
How to use a generator?
Some common ways to use your car as a generator: 1 Back-up during outages for sump-pumps, lights, and refrigerators 2 Camping amenities like fans, blenders, radios, and more 3 Operating electricity and battery dependent medical equipment like CPAPs, powerchairs, oxygen machines, and more 4 Running portable TV’s and streaming devices while tailgating
How to keep gas from accumulating in car?
Use long extension cords so you have ample separation from the vehicle. Ensure the car is parked 15 feet or more away with exhaust directed away from people or spaces where gas can accumulate. Keep inverter off, plug in your items, then turn the inverter on. Keep flammable gases and liquids away from the inverter.
Can you use a 12V invertor on a car battery?
These devices do come with a 12V cigarette lighter connection for smaller appliances, but you can’t rely on the 12V connection to power larger items. That’s why the invertor should be wired directly to the car battery with supplied heavy gauge wires.
Do power inverters require mechanical understanding?
Easy to use – a power inverter does not require mechanical understanding to use, allowing anyone to connect and run a power inverter with ease
Does a car have a bigger fuel tank?
Runtime – your car has a much larger fuel tank and will run much longer than a portable generator
Can you use a car as a generator?
Yes, you can use your car as a generator. After a few simple and quick connections, a car can become a generator for emergency situations or become an alternate power source while camping, tailgating, or other activities.
Can an inverter power a whole house?
Limited power – power inverters cannot produce enough power to connect and operate an entire home. Whole-house back-up generators can provide emergency power that kicks in automatically if power is lost to your home. These generators can run most home appliances and electrical devices with ease. Whereas, using a power inverter requires prioritizing only the most important necessities.
