EcoRenovator - View Single Post - Building a pedal power bicycle 12 volt generator, ghetto style

Xringer · 12-04-23, 01:50 PM

Back in the late 1960s, the guys at the CD Ham Radio club couldn't get any 120AC out of the old gas generator. The IC engine ran fine, but no AC power out..
I asked if there were any magnets in the generator. They said no.
So, I sparked 12VDC onto the gen terminals.
They started the IC and the 120AC came on.
It worked fine after that.

It just needed a tiny bit of magnetism to start driving some current into the electromagnets (the 'fake' magnets).
My Zapping of the windings magnetized some iron..

I must have learned that when I was a kid.
We had portable gas gens on some of the fire trucks.
I did two years in the USN fire station on Bermuda.
Best two years of my life. Every other day off..
When I came back to the states, I had an English & Texas accent.

12-04-23, 01:50 PM	#155
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	When I had my Novice Ham Ticket Back in the late 1960s, the guys at the CD Ham Radio club couldn't get any 120AC out of the old gas generator. The IC engine ran fine, but no AC power out.. I asked if there were any magnets in the generator. They said no. So, I sparked 12VDC onto the gen terminals. They started the IC and the 120AC came on. It worked fine after that. It just needed a tiny bit of magnetism to start driving some current into the electromagnets (the 'fake' magnets). My Zapping of the windings magnetized some iron.. I must have learned that when I was a kid. We had portable gas gens on some of the fire trucks. I did two years in the USN fire station on Bermuda. Best two years of my life. Every other day off.. When I came back to the states, I had an English & Texas accent. __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..