120v AC from a car alternator?

[E350]

Someone recently started a thread on dual alternator setups for diesel vans: one dedicated to charging the starting batteries and one dedicated to charging the house batteries.

Apparently, new battery types require different minimum and maximum charging voltages for the (at least) four different stages* of 12v battery recharging (bulk, absorption, float and desulfation) and the charging parameters for the same battery type (e.g., flooded, AGM, Lithium, etc.) may even vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

I mentioned that the really smart 12v battery chargers (my little Battery Minder 2012-AGM has five recharge stages) seem to be all 120v AC powered rather than 12v DC powered and I questioned whether or not an automobile alternator could put out usable AC power (since that is what a car "alternator" puts out in its native format before being rectified by diodes converting its AC output into DC current) and if that AC power could power a store bought smart charger for recharging our house batteries, for instance a Napa or Battery Minder or other smart charger (store bought smart chargers are mass-produced and, thus, are likely cheaper than 12v smart chargers like the $500 Sterling).

I have a big and bulky milspec Auragen (Viper) 5kw AC generator installed in the top alternator position on my 7.3L PSD diesel which puts out both 120v and 240v AC current at 5kw. It is so powerful that I have powered the mission critical electrical appliances in my house during power outages with it (e.g., refrigerator, furnace fan, lights, etc.), but it is expensive at $5,000.

So I wondered whether or not we could get less power but still enough 120v AC power from a modified car alternator and then regulate that power to run a smart charger to recharge our 12v house batteries intelligently (meaning within the particular manufacturer's charging voltage parameters).

Well don't try this at home, because it is putting out true electrocution inducing AC power, but it is a thought provoking expirement if a little Dr. Brown Back-to-the-Future looking :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHRpA_xeFjM

* Interesting visual re 3-stage battery charger:

http://www.batterystuff.com/blog/3-stag ... rgers.html

[carringb]

http://blog.broadcastequipment.com/?p=198

[reelchef67]

My intellipower pd9130 has 4 stage charging with manual overide as an option called the charge wizard. It is modern AGM charging profile specific.
Oh charge wizard add on costs 30$
Its been keeping my new Group 27 6v agms. In tip top charge condition. Works very well.

I would love however to have onboard AC for my microwave with out using my honda. Genny. I dont have a inverter in my van and so far no plans to add one just gor microwave use...

[arctictraveller]

Originally Posted by carringb

http://blog.broadcastequipment.com/?p=198

Wow, that's cool I can think of other applications for engine driven AC. Any idea of cost? Thanks.

[E350]

carringb: That MEPS alternator seems very similar to the Auragen. MEPS and their dealers don't seem to list prices.

http://www.meps.com/New_Site/products.html

http://www.aurasystems.com/pages/prod_exploded.html

reelchef67: Your Charge Wizard seems to be another smart charger powered by 120v AC.

I think many Sportsmobilers would love to have a second alternator generating AC power by our vehicle engines so that the same shore power smart charger can be directly driven (instead of AC being converted to DC to be inverted to AC again) to power the same smart charger to charge our house batteries while driving.

My guess is that the MEPS like the Auragen is not cost effective.

So, Back-to-the-Future!!!

[carringb]

Originally Posted by E350

carringb: That MEPS alternator seems very similar to the Auragen. MEPS and their dealers doesn't seem to list prices.

I think they are very similar, however Auragen only lists F-series, and MEPS specifically states the need to move coolant lines to fit the unit in 7.3L in E350 vans. I wouldn't be surprised if the generator is the same, and the main difference is mounting brackets.

[E350]

FYI, for anyone interested in the Auragen. They do have the alternator bracket for the 7.3L in at least the 2002 E350. They designed it off of my van in January of 2002.

[reelchef67]

@e350
The charge wizard installs in a port in the charger convertor and works while driving or plugged into shore power.
Wait those are both ac sources ..[emoji12]

[Viva]

Originally Posted by reelchef67

@e350
The charge wizard installs in a port in the charger convertor and works while driving or plugged into shore power.
Wait those are both ac sources ..[emoji12]

If you have a Progressive Dynamics charger with their Charge Wizard..... I had one of those in my SMB and it was strictly a 110 (AC) charger. By which I mean, it worked from shore power -- it took in AC power from being plugged in and turned it into DC power to charge the house battery. When driving the house bank would charge (not smartly though) from the alternator (which is normally rectified to put out only DC) but not from the Progressive Dynamics 110/AC charger. That was out of the picture while driving. Or is yours different somehow?

[reelchef67]

Originally Posted by Viva

If you have a Progressive Dynamics charger with their Charge Wizard..... I had one of those in my SMB and it was strictly a 110 (AC) charger. By which I mean, it worked from shore power -- it took in AC power from being plugged in and turned it into DC power to charge the house battery. When driving the house bank would charge (not smartly though) from the alternator (which is normally rectified to put out only DC) but not from the Progressive Dynamics 110/AC charger. That was out of the picture while driving. Or is yours different somehow?

Upon further investigation I concur. Even though it(charge wizard controller) seems to be functional with the engine running it can't be. My charging it appears is controlled by a Surepower 1202-120Amp electronic battery isolator.
No idea of the charging profile of that unit.