Build your own 12 V DC engine

Build Your Own 12 VDC

This small, easy to build, engine/alternator is the answer to a burning RE question. What do we do when the sun doesn’t shine, the wind doesn’t blow, and the creek dries up? This generator is a backup power source for times when our RE sources don’t meet our demands. It is optimized to do only one thing — properly recharge batteries on demand.

www.homepower.com/files/mark8.pdf

fuel storage

One thing to keep in mind with such systems is the fuel storage lifetime. Gasoline degenerates after several months of storage. There are two ways to prevent this. One is to store the fuel in a can and after a month put it in your automobile and refill the can. If you have a two cycle engine this only works if you add the lubricant to the generator fuel in the generator tank and not in the gasoline storage can. If you have the lubricant in the fuel you put in your car it will damage the car engine and make it polute.

Another method is additives that can be put in the fuel that extend the storage life to six months. In all cases, you should run the generator until it uses all of the fuel in its storage tank. Also run the generator once a month to make sure the engine has the lubricant circulated.