Need a generator?

[VintageRacer]

I've just had my bi-monthly advertising blurb from Makro (http://www.makro.co.uk) and they have a 850W generator in there for around £50. Looks like a bargain to me, not particularly high power as generators go, but more than enough for a couple of chargers a laptop and a soldering iron.

[jim76]

my mate had a similar one from costco for about £50 and it does the pair of us fine. runs reliably. can't argue for the money, same price as a decent 12v.

[footey]

i had a cheap genny and it dint run out is it 850 constant or max as if max poss wont run it all

[rcracer]

i just one of these ;) had 4 chargers running on it at the moment but going to test it out this week with more stuff running aswell .

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/58_5022.htm

[super__dan]

That 2nd one will use a lot of gas I fear. You should also be able to run a shed load more than 4 chargers on it too.

1000W = 1000/12 = 83A @ 12V

But we charge at 7.2V but including losses even you should get more 10 chargers+

Vermin has a nice 1KW one and is usually runs at least 6 chargers, a tele and lights at nationals.

[xx4-nutter]

lower tax rates for feul in belgium right ? so cheaper feul ? LOL :lol:

[Chris Green]

wow! these are cheap!

does the output need to be stable to run a 240v to 12v power supply? At the moment, mine is a pc power supply.

Or, what power supply would I need?

Thanks.

[VintageRacer]

Not sure about the quality/max/continuous power output of the Makro one (besides you need a trade account to buy from them) but I've been doing some digging on the internet to see if it was as good a bargain as it seemed and found this on eBuyer:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/127785

650W (800W max) 2 stroke petrol generator, £44 inc VAT. With next delivery it works out at £59.27 but they are advertising free delivery on orders over £50.

I'm amazed, I'm used to generators costing a couple of hundred. These are cheaper than a decent 12v battery.

Are there any noise restrictions at events?

[ben]

http://www.generatorworld.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_17&products_id=6 Thats the one i use. It is more than enough for racing but my dad uses it for rallying so we need a lot of power:woot:. It will run a kettle. I think at southport national we ran a compressor of some description on it.

ben

[rcracer]

£479 :o it wants to be good

[ben]

Im sure we didnt pay anywhere near that much for it.

[mark christopher]

i just one of these ;) had 4 chargers running on it at the moment but going to test it out this week with more stuff running aswell .

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/58_5022.htm

the aldi stuff is Wolf, which is good stuff

That 2nd one will use a lot of gas I fear. You should also be able to run a shed load more than 4 chargers on it too.

1000W = 1000/12 = 83A @ 12V

But we charge at 7.2V but including losses even you should get more 10 chargers+

Vermin has a nice 1KW one and is usually runs at least 6 chargers, a tele and lights at nationals.

will use hardly anymore than the first one the engines are only small 2 strokes,
think your sums may be a tad wrong
1000 watts is its rating at 230 volts, which is just over 4 amps, your psu will be rated in 230/ ?amps some where

[Chris Green]

Mark, does that mean a 1000W generator wouldn't run 2 chargers? Assuming 4.2A per charger, at 7.2V.

[Lee]

It would easily, because the power supply will never pull 4A constantly, it should be much lower, the Amp rating on the power supply has nothing to do with current draw from the power supply if you catch my drift

[mark christopher]

Mark, does that mean a 1000W generator wouldn't run 2 chargers? Assuming 4.2A per charger, at 7.2V.
nope your psu will be rated at 230/ (say) 3 amps on a 20 amp/12volt psu
so when the 12 volt psu is drawing 20 amps @ 12 volts it will pull out of the 240 volt supply "3" amps (note i have made the 3 up as an example check your equipment)

[burgie]

just be aware that with the "cheaper" generators that don't "smooth" the power delivery, that you would be well advised to use a surge protector. I have seen power supply's go pop on the "cheaper" generators.

[super__dan]

the aldi stuff is Wolf, which is good stuff



will use hardly anymore than the first one the engines are only small 2 strokes,
think your sums may be a tad wrong
1000 watts is its rating at 230 volts, which is just over 4 amps, your psu will be rated in 230/ ?amps some where


I don't think they are wrong but ultimatly we agree I think.

230V @ 4A = 230/12 * 4 = 77A at 12V. Now granted you need a big or several smaller power supplies to convert that down to the 12V but the power is there. This ignores any losses and assumes gene is running flat out both of which aren't 'fair'. But running a bunch of chargers should be no trouble on any gene.

My Pro peak power supply is rated at 20A @ 13.8V. But because we charge at say cirva 8V when I charge @ 4.2A the digital current meter on the power supply tells me it's supplying approx 3.1A @ 13.8V (including losses in powering the charger).

Ref the 1KW gene, I bought a 1000W continuous, 1200W peak last year and it used a lot more fuel than when we had run Vermins cheap 2 stroke the year before. It was also a lot noisier. I totally agree about surge protectors too, especially if you're putting anything like a tele or laptop on it.

Dan