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Lawnmower generator idea
By jclaudii, Section Newbies Posted on Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 10:09:26 PM MST
This idea could work

Some of us have a riding lawn mower that we usually don't use every day or ever during the winter. So I started thinking, that there is a perfectly good 16-20hp engine sitting doing nothing for hundreds of days out of the year. So that got me to looking at generator heads. Harbor Freight has a 10k watt head for around 300 bucks. And I bet if I look around I can find a used one where the engine is burnt up for cheap or free. So why not make a mount for my Riding Lawnmower to accept this head to power my house in case of power outages? This unit would only need to be turned on for a few hours a day to keep the fridge cold and to run the well. Seems like a winner to me, I know it's not the most efficient way to make power, but at least you'll have power when you need it.
Should I pursue this as a backup power system when a storm takes the power out?

Lawnmower generator idea | 8 comments (8 topical)

Re: Lawnmower generator idea (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by ghurd on Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 06:14:08 PM MST

"have power when you need it"?
You have a car, or 2?
Each containing about 10 gal of gas, a battery, and a charging system.
You have a 16-20hp mower, so you have a half full 5 gallon gas can.

Sounds like you only need a large inverter, "modified" jumper cables to go from the battery to the inverter, and a long extension cord.

"NEED"?
I will always choose my truck and a big inverter over a hasn't been run in 5 years gummed-up-carb HF Chinese Do-Hicky.
And if my truck has a problem, I'll use the wife's car. Or the other truck. Or the neighbors car. Or the neighbors other car.
And I would ask them for the mower gas can too!

Most USA places have a storm take out power for an hour or 2, or a day or 2.
No reason a 1200 to 1750W inverter and some good planning/testing wouldn't handle the situation.

Fridges and sump pumps are what I would be most concerned about.
G-

Ghurd.info

Re: Lawnmower generator idea (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by wdyasq on Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 06:23:10 PM MST

What is a sump-pump?

Ron
Adventure is just bad planning." -- Roald Amundsen
[ Parent ]

Re: Lawnmower generator idea (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by ghurd on Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 06:29:28 PM MST

It is exactly like a regular pump, except it pumps sumps.
G-

Ghurd.info
[ Parent ]

Re: Lawnmower generator idea (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by kenputer on Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 08:45:29 PM MST

Sump-- a place where fluid collects
pump-- a device to move water.
hope this helps
Ken :-)

[ Parent ]

Re: Lawnmower generator idea (3.00 / 0) (#6)
by jonas302 on Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 09:31:34 PM MST

I agree completly it might not be most efficient but I can depend on my truck to start and have plenty of gas to run for a long time in an emergency I have a few little generators I never even think about fighting with them when there is more than 20 cars and trucks and tractors here ready to supply power with the turn of a key

[ Parent ]

Re: Lawnmower generator idea (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by kurt on Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 07:36:18 PM MST

it would be more realistic to rig up a quick attach detach rig to attach a car alternator to your tractor you could make it so that it was as simple as a few pins and rolling on a belt then all you need is an inverter and a battery that would be much simpler than trying to engineer a ac generator head to quick attach detach to your tractor with all the things that it needs like a engine governor etc.

IRC inst.
just a personal rant carry on.

Re: Lawnmower generator idea (3.00 / 0) (#7)
by jclaudii on Thu Jan 22, 2009 at 10:06:18 AM MST

I see your point with the inverters, but it seems some people on here have an abundance of generators they do not use now. I was hoping I could get a used one, for free or cheap, because someone is tired of pulling that string 100 times to get it to start.

I could then make a bracking on the front of my lawmower to attach the gen head to and hook it up with a belt to one of the pulleys. Then park the lawnmower close to my electric pole, throw the manual disconnect switch, and just plug it into the gen power port to power my house. Of couse I would turn breakers off I would not use during this time like the water heater, furnace, oven/stove, but leave the power on for the fridge/freezer, and lights (CFL's in most everything).

We live in arkansas so we have our shore of storms. I remember one ice storm took my power out for over two weeks. The red cross even came to our house and offered us food. We were doing ok by freezing ice at night and putting it in the fridge to keep it cool, eating our meat first, and firing up the small generator to power the 115v jetpump to the house. We had wood heat so we were okay there too.

It's always nice to have a CHEAP backup in case it happens. The gen heads require very little maintenance, but the small engines they are attached to are always trouble. I can get around this somewhat by the riding mower always being used so it should be up to running and starting fairly well.

It would still seem that if this option is cheap and you can get somewhere around 5000 to 10000 watts, that it would be way cheaper than an inverter of similar capacity.

[ Parent ]

Re: Lawnmower generator idea (3.00 / 0) (#8)
by mdarley on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 05:41:27 PM MST

It is definitely feaseable. John Deere actually makes mowers that have 110v power outlets on them. It would be easy to design and would be extremely handy if needed. Trucks and cars are great, but in the storm senerio; I would want my truck full of diesel to get me out of there if need be. Plus, if you are out of power, more than likely gas stations are too. No power = no gas. Go for it! Power inverters are a pain, and either you run the engine or kill the battery of your truck, car, tractor, or the neighbor's car to power them. Messing with the under hood of a vehicle is more trouble than it is worth as well! You could even find an old welder and rig it up to the motor because with a 16-20 hp motor; big generators are not out of your league. If you do it, post some pictures...Please.

Lawnmower generator idea | 8 comments (8 topical)

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