Model Boat Mayhem
The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Working Vessels => Topic started by: jason99099 on July 17, 2010, 04:58:38 pm
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I am building a working model of a dredger and with high power useage motors i was looking to insert a gas engine and hook it up to an alternator and therefore replenish my on board battery, i was just wondering if anyone had done this before?
many thanks
jason
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I am building a working model of a dredger and with high power useage motors i was looking to insert a gas engine and hook it up to an alternator and therefore replenish my on board battery, i was just wondering if anyone had done this before?
many thanks
jason
No but that sounds like fun. Lets see some photos of the build. Im putting a 23cc engine in a Arun lifeboat. Should be fun??
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Hi Jason, i haven't done it myself but I know the aircraft boys have used them to recharge?run their radio systems. Think you will have trouble finding a small alternator with a decent output though. It all depends on the space you have available.
www.sullivanproducts.com
this is the link to the aircraft alternator, don't know how much it is, but I'm guessing it ain't cheap.
Hope this helps Cheers Glenn
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We have had a one person build a couple of boats similar to what you are proposing.
One was a 1/4 scale Mohagany runabout, the other wash his tugboat.
Both were essentially Hybrids. In that the gas motor ran an alternator or generator to
create electricity to power his electric motors.
This is his tug...Pauliny
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We have a couple of customers who have garden railways. They have successfully coupled a 'gas' engine (in this case an OS 40 Four Stroke) to 755 electric motors in their locos to perform two functions:
1. The electric motor is used to start the four-stroke via a switcher unit;
2. One running, the four stroke then spins the electric motor which is switched over to act as a generator for another drive motor (via an ESC). The radio is run from the starter battery (12v) via a 5v regulator.
I guess they like the sound of the four-stroke engine but unless the electric motors use a heck of a lot of current and/or are required to run for hours on end then it does seem like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Why not just fit bigger batteries? You're gonna need a fuel tank for the I/C engine anyway..........
Suit yourself.
FLJ
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Yer but its easier to fit fuel tanks into a double bottom for example than it is for me to fit a battery into a space. The post by full leather jacket is a very interesting one think ill take that idea on board. Another thing i was looking at doing was making it out thin steel as i think i would be better at sheetmetal work than firbreglassing, anyone have any thoughts/opinions on that?