[LeArc] Generator Question

Sun, 16 Mar 2003 09:38:16 -0600

>From the web page you mentioned.

"An Economy Control function has been adopted which chooses the minimum
engine rpm necessary for the actual electrical load."

So the power is being provided by the engine.  The batteries act as a big
filter keeping the load constant.  The engine keeps replacing the energy
drawn by the load.

You may have hit on something.  The unit might be using several batteries in
series producing a higher battery voltage, thus reducing the current needed.

Going back to the web page, I also found this.

All the controls on one surface, including the AC and DC outlets."

A DC outlet is provided.  And the only voltage that would make sense for a
DC supply would be 12 volts.  As far as how much current the unit can
provide, It does not say, but I would feel certain it could power an HF rig
or two with no trouble.

Again, I have no idea what I'm talking about.  But that has never stopped me
before.

Joe - AG9Y

----- Original Message -----
From: <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2003 8:19 AM
Subject: Re: [LeArc] Generator Question

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>
> Joe Rossmiller wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > I don't have any experience with these so this is basically conjecture.
> >
> > I would think you could draw 250 amps or so, but you would need some
heavy
> > wire to do it.  But I don't know how long you would be able to do it.
I'm
> > not sure what kind of duty cycle these generators are designed for.  It
> > would take a very large alternator to produce a continuous 250 amps of
> > current.  For the supply to be continuous, or 100 percent duty cycle,
you
> > would need the gasoline engine putting out a constant 3 KW.  And I don't
> > think it will.
> >
> > Again, I have no idea what I'm talking about.  But that has never
stopped me
> > before.
> >
> > Keep us advised of what you find out.
> >
> > 73 de Joe - AG9Y
> >
>
>
>
> Well, Joe, these things are relatively new, and so far, I can`t seem to
find anyone I
> can talk to who really knows what they are capable of.  There are local
dealers who
> sell them but when I ask if a person could apply a load directly to the
generator`s
> battery, they do not know.  They say that nobody has ever tried that to
the best of
> their knowledge.
>
>    But anyway, for only an example, the Yamaha version is rated at 2800
watts
> continuous, 3000 watts maximum and does this by use of an onboard
inverter.
>
>    The engine`s speed is not constant and increases as the applied load
increases,
> it`s role in life is only to keep the internal battery charged.
>
>     The inverter is powered by the internal battery, not *seemingly*
directly by the
> engine.
>
> And, if the startup load of a motor being powered by this generator is
larger than the
> capacity of the generator`s engine, the internal battery can power the
inverter for up
> to 10 seconds to get the load rolling.
>
>    Sounds too good to be true.
>
>    Here is a web site that explains it:
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> http://www.southwestfastener.com/linkEF3000ise.htm
>
> S T A R T I N G     S U R G E     B O O S T
>                 The EF3000iSE-B also features an industry first - it will
allow the
> generator to make use of its internal battery for starting external
loads - which -
> combined with the surge capacity of the generator - can boost the starting
surge watts
> to the equivelent of a 3,500 Watt generator! This is extremely important
for RV users,
> who may be using an air conditioner of 15,000 BTU's or larger, or who have
other items
> that may require high surge loads to start, but which then can be easily
run within
> the standard power generating capacity.
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> Now I`m thinking of the possible use of this type of generator for
emergency power for
> amateur radio use, emergency communications and such, so this question is
applicable
> to this reflector.
>
> Seeing as how all I have read about this design of generator implies that
the engine
> RPM is not constant nor critical, and all it is doing is charging the
battery, what I
> would like to know is whether a load could be placed directly on the
battery, and
> nobody seems to know.
>
> Anyway, Joe, to answer your question,  that particular generator is rated
at 2800
> watts continuous.
>
> About the engine, the specs say 171cc / 5.5 hp
>
> If and I say  *IF*   the inverter is being fed by a 12 volt battery, the
actual 12
> volt current being generated would be over 200 amps.
>
>    What I don`t know and can`t seem to find out is if it`s a 12 volt
battery.  Maybe
> it`s 48 volts, who knows?
>
>     It`s certainly frustrating to know these things exist and not be able
to find out
> more about them.   The local Honda dealer says he can get them, Honda
makes them, but,
> he has no experience with them seeing as how they are so new.
>
> --
> Marlin Webb,  Milan,  Illinois,    [email protected]
>
>
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