Chevy Power Story...sort of. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

BRL · 01-13-2021, 12:29 PM

Hauled a Honda generator to my sisters house in my very cool '69-60 miles away, some time before Christmas and gave it to her.

Power went out at 12:30 this morning here.

...not a problem.

I have a lawnmower powering an extra internally regulated GM alternator, that goes to an extra truck battery inside my cabin. (yes it's vented)

The setup powers an 800 watt-120v inverter, and I also have 12v car lights located in various places inside the cabin running directly off the batt.

Oh, and I have a wood stove in here and a RV stove/oven with full propane bottles up in the garage.

I'm doing alright if I do say so myself!

sick472 · 01-13-2021, 12:35 PM

Very Nice! Livin'-the-dream, so to speak.

How many amps can your system put out for the 120 volt side?

BRL · 01-13-2021, 12:37 PM

All I know is it's 800 watts and is powering my PC right now.

weq92f · 01-13-2021, 02:13 PM

.

LOL!!!!

Now ya got me thinkin'

I've got a lawnmower, an alternator, some wiring, tools and time....

-klb

RustyPile · 01-13-2021, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sick472

Very Nice! Livin'-the-dream, so to speak.

How many amps can your system put out for the 120 volt side?

According to Ohms law (Volts X amps = watts), that would be 6.67 amps... And that's not subtracting the power loss due to heat in the inverter.. Depending on the efficiency of the inverter, that could be 30 - 50% loss..

BRL · 01-14-2021, 12:29 AM

That sure doesn't sound like much, but the 12 volt car lights work good and so does the computer, modem, router etc.

As long as all that works during an outage, I'm doing good.

RustyPile · 01-14-2021, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRL

That sure doesn't sound like much, but the 12 volt car lights work good and so does the computer, modem, router etc.

As long as all that works during an outage, I'm doing good.

I didn't mean you have 6.67 amps total available current. If you have the system wired correctly, and if I'm understanding what you have, Your 12V lighting system is on the same side as the input for the inverter.. 12 volts DC into the inverter -- 120 volts AC on the output.. Estimating the power loss in the inverter, you have about 5 amps available current to run your AC items off the inverter...

Redneck Rydes · 01-13-2021, 02:30 PM

Reminds me of Red Green,lol

**Boog** · 01-13-2021, 08:36 PM

Plenty of gas?

BRL · 01-13-2021, 08:59 PM

Oh yea, 5 gal. for whatever, 1 gal. mixed 2-stroke, and a gallon of diesel for cheating on starting a fire in the pit.

Had the mower from another address, but my home here doesn't have much of a lawn to worry about...jealous?

HA!

yuccales · 01-13-2021, 10:24 PM

Your power plant is awesome!

sick472 · 01-14-2021, 08:25 AM

Nice calcs Rusty. 5 amps are better than 4 OR none. Hope the power is back on BRL!

68Gold/white · 01-14-2021, 11:58 AM

Are you using a surge protector???

BRL · 01-14-2021, 01:29 PM

Power is back on, no surge protector.

Should I have one?

Do people have one when they hook up an inverter to their vehicle battery?

Have used this setup for 10 years or more without any problems.

Except the weak plastic starter cog broke on the cheezy Briggs & Stratton pull start engine, and I now just wrap a rope around it.

I remember when those things were made of steel...geeze, I'm old enough to remember when cars were made of steel and not so much plastic too.

weq92f · 01-14-2021, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRL

...<snip>... I'm old enough to remember when cars were made of steel and not so much plastic too.

Yup...I think this board is full of us.

-klb

BRL · 01-14-2021, 07:46 PM

Just got two new batteries, and my cabinet is already set up for two. (more capacity)

You can see the ammeter off to the right to make sure they're charging, along with a light to excite the alt. field, and a cigarette lighter for...um, lighting cigarettes, and the Black & Decker inverter in front.

The batteries also fit the truck and my 73 VW bug as well.

Also have the plug connector hooked up for a battery tender to keep them fully charged up when not in use.

Can hardly wait for the next outage!

**truckster** · 01-14-2021, 01:39 PM

It sounds like a nice setup.

Biscuit240 · 01-14-2021, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRL

Hauled a Honda generator to my sisters house in my very cool '69-60 miles away, some time before Christmas and gave it to her.

Power went out at 12:30 this morning here.

...not a problem.

I have a lawnmower powering an extra internally regulated GM alternator, that goes to an extra truck battery inside my cabin. (yes it's vented)

The setup powers an 800 watt-120v inverter, and I also have 12v car lights located in various places inside the cabin running directly off the batt.

Oh, and I have a wood stove in here and a RV stove/oven with full propane bottles up in the garage.

I'm doing alright if I do say so myself!

Posted via Mobile Device

Biscuit240 · 01-14-2021, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biscuit240

Posted via Mobile Device

Careful this **** is addictive.
Posted via Mobile Device

BRL · 01-14-2021, 11:40 PM

...so is being a showoff.

WOW that is AWESOME!

...bet it ain't powered by a lawnmower though.

Biscuit240 · 01-15-2021, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRL

...so is being a showoff.

WOW that is AWESOME!

...bet it ain't powered by a lawnmower though.

Lol not trying to show off, I started about the same as you. I built a lighting system for the wife’s garden out of a little power wheels battery a cheap inverter and one of the harbor freight solar panels. It work so we’ll i thought I’d try to make a little bigger one for the house to use for nessesaties if the power went out, well, I got a little carried away! Now I can flip a couple of switches and run the whole house off solar! Just warning ya, it’s addictive!
Posted via Mobile Device

BRL · 01-15-2021, 11:30 AM

I know you ain't trying to show off.

That is a cool solar powered system, but it rains here more often than not this time of year, so only seasonal sunshine and I would assume, charging.

Besides, the lawnmower was free to me and I hated to see it go to waste.

Think I'll flip the main breaker box switch to "off" and pretend the power went out tonight.

God I'm weird!

BIG FUN!

01-13-2021, 12:29 PM	#1
BRL Registered User Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Tahuya WA Posts: 607	Chevy Power Story...sort of. Hauled a Honda generator to my sisters house in my very cool '69-60 miles away, some time before Christmas and gave it to her. Power went out at 12:30 this morning here. ...not a problem. I have a lawnmower powering an extra internally regulated GM alternator, that goes to an extra truck battery inside my cabin. (yes it's vented) The setup powers an 800 watt-120v inverter, and I also have 12v car lights located in various places inside the cabin running directly off the batt. Oh, and I have a wood stove in here and a RV stove/oven with full propane bottles up in the garage. I'm doing alright if I do say so myself!

01-13-2021, 12:35 PM	#2
sick472 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Sedalia Mo. Posts: 1,131	Re: Chevy Power Story...sort of. Very Nice! Livin'-the-dream, so to speak. How many amps can your system put out for the 120 volt side? __________________ He who is without oil shall throw the first rod. Compressions 8.7:1 1972 C10 1976 C10 (parts truck) 1985 K20

01-13-2021, 12:37 PM	#3
BRL Registered User Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Tahuya WA Posts: 607	Re: Chevy Power Story...sort of. All I know is it's 800 watts and is powering my PC right now.

01-13-2021, 02:13 PM	#4
weq92f Registered User Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Dallas Texas Posts: 3,151	Re: Chevy Power Story...sort of. . LOL!!!! Now ya got me thinkin' I've got a lawnmower, an alternator, some wiring, tools and time.... -klb __________________ 67 C10 fleet fuel injected '70 402, 700r4, 3.73 posi 07 335 sport turbo 6sp 94 Trans Am GT LT1 6sp posi -- sold after 22yrs 99 540 sport V8 6sp -- sold 73 240z L24 4sp -- given to friend 68 C10 step 350/350 3.73 open -- sold

01-14-2021, 12:29 AM	#6
BRL Registered User Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Tahuya WA Posts: 607	Re: Chevy Power Story...sort of. That sure doesn't sound like much, but the 12 volt car lights work good and so does the computer, modem, router etc. As long as all that works during an outage, I'm doing good.

01-13-2021, 02:30 PM	#8
Redneck Rydes Registered User Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Trenton,Ontario & South Carolina Posts: 755	Re: Chevy Power Story...sort of. Reminds me of Red Green,lol

01-13-2021, 08:36 PM	#9
Boog laying low Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Searcy, Ark. USA Posts: 13,433	Re: Chevy Power Story...sort of. Plenty of gas? __________________ Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross

01-13-2021, 08:59 PM	#10
BRL Registered User Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Tahuya WA Posts: 607	Re: Chevy Power Story...sort of. Oh yea, 5 gal. for whatever, 1 gal. mixed 2-stroke, and a gallon of diesel for cheating on starting a fire in the pit. Had the mower from another address, but my home here doesn't have much of a lawn to worry about...jealous? HA!

01-13-2021, 10:24 PM	#11
yuccales Registered User Join Date: May 2011 Location: Northern Calif. Posts: 3,743	Re: Chevy Power Story...sort of. Your power plant is awesome!

01-14-2021, 08:25 AM	#12
sick472 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Sedalia Mo. Posts: 1,131	Re: Chevy Power Story...sort of. Nice calcs Rusty. 5 amps are better than 4 OR none. Hope the power is back on BRL! __________________ He who is without oil shall throw the first rod. Compressions 8.7:1 1972 C10 1976 C10 (parts truck) 1985 K20

01-14-2021, 11:58 AM	#13
68Gold/white Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Ark City, Kansas Posts: 3,385	Re: Chevy Power Story...sort of. Are you using a surge protector???

01-14-2021, 01:29 PM	#14
BRL Registered User Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Tahuya WA Posts: 607	Re: Chevy Power Story...sort of. Power is back on, no surge protector. Should I have one? Do people have one when they hook up an inverter to their vehicle battery? Have used this setup for 10 years or more without any problems. Except the weak plastic starter cog broke on the cheezy Briggs & Stratton pull start engine, and I now just wrap a rope around it. I remember when those things were made of steel...geeze, I'm old enough to remember when cars were made of steel and not so much plastic too.

01-14-2021, 07:46 PM	#16
BRL Registered User Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Tahuya WA Posts: 607	Re: Chevy Power Story...sort of. Just got two new batteries, and my cabinet is already set up for two. (more capacity) You can see the ammeter off to the right to make sure they're charging, along with a light to excite the alt. field, and a cigarette lighter for...um, lighting cigarettes, and the Black & Decker inverter in front. The batteries also fit the truck and my 73 VW bug as well. Also have the plug connector hooked up for a battery tender to keep them fully charged up when not in use. Can hardly wait for the next outage! Last edited by BRL; 01-14-2021 at 08:21 PM.

01-14-2021, 01:39 PM	#17
truckster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 7,953	Re: Chevy Power Story...sort of. It sounds like a nice setup. __________________ I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man. - Thomas Jefferson

01-14-2021, 11:40 PM	#20
BRL Registered User Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Tahuya WA Posts: 607	Re: Chevy Power Story...sort of. ...so is being a showoff. WOW that is AWESOME! ...bet it ain't powered by a lawnmower though.



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01-15-2021, 11:30 AM	#22
BRL Registered User Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Tahuya WA Posts: 607	Re: Chevy Power Story...sort of. I know you ain't trying to show off. That is a cool solar powered system, but it rains here more often than not this time of year, so only seasonal sunshine and I would assume, charging. Besides, the lawnmower was free to me and I hated to see it go to waste. Think I'll flip the main breaker box switch to "off" and pretend the power went out tonight. God I'm weird! BIG FUN!

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