What About Car Starter Motors

[Matrix1000]

Would a car starter motor be any good as a generator?  

Anyone tried it or know if it would work?

[Virgis]

Hi Matrix,

yes, it could be used as generator. I have tried to use a car starter motor as generator. There are some starters with PM 6 or 8 pole stator and assembled gear box (Mercedes Benz, Toyota, etc.). But, car starters are not designedas for a long time running. There are not ball bearings, so, You will have a problem with lubrication and  high friction . I am working with car starter now, but it will be another way to use it. I will rewind rotor and it will be 3 phase 8 pole AC brusheless generator .A colletor will be removed. It means that rotor will be as a shaft for PM stator. Stator will be spinning aroud a rotor.  But it will take a lot of mechanical jobs.

Regards

Vigis & WIND KIDS

[tecker]

Lots of problems there and for the same money at the junk yard alternators

   there are alternators aplenty . Some with  bad brushes some with bad reg or rectifier but most have good armature and stator windings . They have flat surfaces on the armature

that are ready to be ground down to glue on some 1/8 " magnets for low speed operation

and then add some new brushes to increase the field for  when torque is available . They also put out 120 volts plus on the ac side . Very versatile unit . Some good bearing sets are what I'm looking for but I've had good luck with them . For $40

you can buy a rebuilt delco with no regulator thats ready for mods a vise in a drill press

with a milling bit is all you need for a quality job  . Mill off 3 /16  inch an add some

1"x ¾ "x 1/8 " magnets on the fingers of the armature and put it back together .

[drdongle]

Starters with PM magnets are a possibility but need a lot of shop work to use and as was said by some one else they only have sleeve bearings. Series wound units are right out.

Carpe Vigor

Dr.D

[Matrix1000]

Very Helpful!  Thanks for the info