Was wondering how to use car or truck motor as a generator. If power goes out, would be nice to use.?

Question

Heard of this to put power in the house, but how is it done?

Answer 1

There is no way to simply hook up a truck motor to make it a generator. You would need some type of converter (similar to an alternator) for the gasoline motor to generate electricity for you.

You're much better off purchasing a generator at your local hardware store, which basically takes a gasoline motor and has the output of the motor connected to a generator to generate electricity. Do no use these in enclosed areas as the gasoline motor will eventually generate Carbon Monoxide in an enclosed location.

Answer 2

Any car could be strapped down in a purpose designed garage to spin rollers like a smog machine or chassis dynamometer but drive a generator instead. The exhaust could be easily cleaned and routed outside as engine temp is controlled by a large fan driven by the rollers, but I don't know how to deal with all the tire rubber chunks that would result. Seems ~20kw could be available anytime you want. Run it for a few hours, selling the energy to the utility company and buy it back throughout the rest of the week.

Without using the tires in this way I don't see how you could get enough energy to power more then a few items unless you modify the drive train adding a pto (power take off) .

Answer 3

you can convert a high amperage alternator to be a power source that can power things for you and just mount it under the hood if you have room
it will be costly on fuel as it will have to run at about 1600 rpm
this system is similar to on board welders
an extra battery and some big power inverters would be simpler

Answer 4

you can get a power converter that plugs into the cigarette lighter.it'll give 110 volts.but you can't plug too many things into it.