Idling your diesel for home power. - Page 4 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

pawoSD · #46 10-31-2012, 10:20 PM

Eventually I want to make a DC inversion power setup using a 617 when I retire my 300SD from rust. I was planning on putting it in a small building mounted with two 140A alternators on each side charging 2 large deep cycle connected to their own 3000watt inverters, with the two I could have two circuits. Setting the idle at max, so around 1200-1300rpm, I imagine would be plenty of power....

TheDon · #47 10-31-2012, 10:24 PM

I'm guessing attaching the engine to a generator head has been discussed before.

vstech · #48 10-31-2012, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

Eventually I want to make a DC inversion power setup using a 617 when I retire my 300SD from rust. I was planning on putting it in a small building mounted with two 140A alternators on each side charging 2 large deep cycle connected to their own 3000watt inverters, with the two I could have two circuits. Setting the idle at max, so around 1200-1300rpm, I imagine would be plenty of power....

do you mean two total alts, or actually two on each side of the motor? meaning 4 alts...

HF has the 3K/6Kpeak inverters for $208 this week...

they sell remote switch kits for them as well!

vstech · #49 10-31-2012, 10:57 PM

how would you use two inverters? how would the circuits be connected? ground is an issue, as is neutral... never shall the two mix!

pawoSD · #50 10-31-2012, 11:05 PM

Two alternators total, each separate charging its own deep cycle battery + inverter, which would be the two separate "circuits".

Engine would not be part of the electrical setup, it would have its own starter/glow battery + A/C float charter to keep that battery topped off..(as a single glow/startup uses a minor amount of power overall.)

The purpose for two would be to have them mounted on either side to cancel out forces on the bearings/crank pulley, plus the added power capacity.

I suppose this would be moderately complicated.

Silber Adler · #51 10-31-2012, 11:13 PM

The trouble with automotive alternators is that they are not all that efficient and don't last as long as stationary or even portable commercial generators.
2, 140 amp units is only 3900 watts, Will take about 8 hp to drive it.

cullennewsom · #52 10-31-2012, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

how would you use two inverters? how would the circuits be connected? ground is an issue, as is neutral... never shall the two mix!

Ground is not an issue. Bond the chassis to the chassis. Don't try and get 220 out of that setup though. They will not be synchronized.

pawoSD · #53 10-31-2012, 11:19 PM

3900 watts is plenty, and 8HP could be had easily with the engine at 1200rpm without lugging it. Could always use larger 200A units also.

Also for the durability part....this is a standby generator....it would probably be used less than 20 hours a year average....at at nowhere near full load 3900watts when in use....probably more in the 400 continuous/2500 peak range

vstech · #54 10-31-2012, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cullennewsom

Ground is not an issue. Bond the chassis to the chassis. Don't try and get 220 out of that setup though. They will not be synchronized.

ground is not an issue, unless you connect them to a panel with a grounded neutral bar... and tie the two together in the panel... NOT GOOD!
you'll likely smoke both inverters.

cullennewsom · #55 10-31-2012, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

d
HF has the 3K/6Kpeak inverters for $208 this week...

they sell remote switch kits for them as well!

pgringo · #56 10-31-2012, 11:24 PM

for charging any small modern devices, y'all may want to use a few of these:

Car Cigarette Powered 1000mA USB Adapter/Charger - Black (DC 12V/24V) - Worldwide Free Shipping - DX

i keep one in all of the vehicles, and i rewired the cigar lighter in the front of the benz to be powered all the time.

led lighting is the way to go for low power usage. i have a couple of camping lanterns which are led that i use for portable lighting. the other day i found one i had set down the evening before and walked away from, still on and working.

pawoSD · #57 10-31-2012, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

I'm guessing attaching the engine to a generator head has been discussed before.

That requires higher locked in RPMS, and a system to change the engine speed based on load. My solution not only allows the engine to run at the same speed the whole time (with slight load changes not being an issue) but it cleans up the power by using clean output inverters from a battery...excellent when powering mostly computer equipment/servers/networking as I would be doing. Plus dual circuits allows sensitive equipment on one bank, and load sucking on the other, such as a heater, fridge, freezer, etc, isolating each while using the same generator.

Its similar in concept to the way a higher end computer UPS with AVR works. Takes line power and cleans it up with a high end inverter and battery when needed.

pawoSD · #58 10-31-2012, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cullennewsom

Got a good laugh from that

And I agree, I rarely enter the chinese chemical scented establishment of HF at all anymore....not a fan of junk.

cullennewsom · #59 10-31-2012, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

ground is not an issue, unless you connect them to a panel with a grounded neutral bar... and tie the two together in the panel... NOT GOOD!
you'll likely smoke both inverters.

How is that?