True alternator energy

solorone

Home power 70s style

A not so green, power machine.

This is what I used to power my home in 83, used it for about a year, until I could buy panels.
Originally it had 3 alternators, with a potential of 160 to 200 amps, depending on which alternator I happened to have on it. The field was regulated by a rheostat, from a 1970 Cadillac dimmer control. This allowed me to keep the amp output at about 40/50%. The longest I ever got a used alternator to last was about a year, sometimes they would die in the first hour of use. Needless to say I kept a lot of $5 to $15 spares around.
Fuel cost was only about $13 a month. hated to stop using it, but was really glad to get maintenance free panels. Gas motors have a mind of their own, and it would sometimes refuse to start when it was most needed.

Ralph Day

Re: True alternator energy

Did you have a name for your machine (that can be shared on a family website)? I'm sure it got called lots of names during it's lifetime:p

Ralph

niel

Re: True alternator energy

looks like and old plow. who said you can't teach an old plow new tricks?:p

Cariboocoot

Re: True alternator energy

Some sort of primordial proto-generator from the Jurassic period.

Good innovation and recycling!

dwh

Re: True alternator energy

"People on 'ludes should not weld". - Jeff Spicoli

solorone

Re: True alternator energy

dwh wrote: »

"People on 'ludes should not weld". - Jeff Spicoli

How did you know? Who's watching me??
As for the welding, after a lifetime of commercial construction. I can tell you if the weld fails it was most likely done by a pro (over confidence is a killer). Rarely have I ever seen a bubble gum weld fail

Cariboocoot wrote: »

Some sort of primordial proto-generator from the Jurassic period. Good innovation and recycling!

Yes this was the T Rex of all alternator chargers, a real beast with a loud roar.

niel wrote: »

looks like and old plow. who said you can't teach an old plow new tricks?

You win the door prize, it is/was a plow, a telephone cable layer, used to plow/bury cable from the curb to a house.

Ralph Day wrote: »

Did you have a name for your machine (that can be shared on a family website)? I'm sure it got called lots of names during it's lifetime:p
Ralph

Obviously female for it sure had it's cycles and moods.:D
I called her Baby before the first pull of the rope, then it became unprintable. One day, badly needing to her cranked, she refused, and beat a grown man and a 16 year old to an exhaustion. Panels were ordered immediately.