Bret Chase
Minister of Fire
I think most of the electric only lakes has more to do with an IC outboard cooling/muffling it's exhaust with lake water than noise...
Treadmill motor generator help
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I think most of the electric only lakes has more to do with an IC outboard cooling/muffling it's exhaust with lake water than noise...
- Oct 3, 2007
- 1,539
Still weighing the options on this one-there are a few:
The goal is really to have a "hybrid." Electric is great when cruising slowly (and quietly), especially for wildlife watching along the shoreline, etc... Getting across the 2 mile wide lake with a breeze in your face is a different story. What I want to be able to do is the following:
At least according to the way the NJ Division of Parks and Forestry (the governing body that controls the lakes in question) words their regulations, it's not expressly prohibited (the rules say "No gas outboards" with no further elaboration), but, I would imagine that if I were caught running such a setup I would get a ticket. This is why I'm looking for the smallest and quietest option for power generation. A little 3.5HP OHV engine with a large generator type muffler would be very quiet and easy to conceal. Most of these lakes don't have much of an enforcement presence anyway-with state budget cuts, etc...there might be one ranger at any given park who spends most of his time patrolling dry land and rarely, if ever, actually gets out on the water.
I'm not looking to be a scofflaw, either, I'm just trying to get around rules that don't make it very easy for a family of four to get out on the water on some of the nicest lakes in NJ. The electric only rule severely limits the size of your boat, your motor, and your range, if you use a conventional trolling motor and a 12V battery or two. I'm running a 48V 1200W motor coupled to the leg of an old outboard, so I'm swinging a 6.25" pitch 3 blade prop at 1500 RPM, which can move a 16' boat at a pretty decent clip, but only for about an hour running full out (5-6 knots).
- One unregulated 12V alternator tuned to 48V via RPM
- Run two 24V alternators in series
- Run two Dodge military truck generators (they had 24V generators because the rest of the vehicle electrical system was 12V) in series
The goal is really to have a "hybrid." Electric is great when cruising slowly (and quietly), especially for wildlife watching along the shoreline, etc... Getting across the 2 mile wide lake with a breeze in your face is a different story. What I want to be able to do is the following:
- Start the trip with fully charged batteries/a full tank of gas in the generator
- Run the generator for the trip across the lake with the generator supplying most, if not all, of the power required by the electric outboard
- Rely on batteries only once we get to our favorite cruising area
- Run the generator for the way back (or not) depending on how depleted the batteries get
At least according to the way the NJ Division of Parks and Forestry (the governing body that controls the lakes in question) words their regulations, it's not expressly prohibited (the rules say "No gas outboards" with no further elaboration), but, I would imagine that if I were caught running such a setup I would get a ticket. This is why I'm looking for the smallest and quietest option for power generation. A little 3.5HP OHV engine with a large generator type muffler would be very quiet and easy to conceal. Most of these lakes don't have much of an enforcement presence anyway-with state budget cuts, etc...there might be one ranger at any given park who spends most of his time patrolling dry land and rarely, if ever, actually gets out on the water.
I'm not looking to be a scofflaw, either, I'm just trying to get around rules that don't make it very easy for a family of four to get out on the water on some of the nicest lakes in NJ. The electric only rule severely limits the size of your boat, your motor, and your range, if you use a conventional trolling motor and a 12V battery or two. I'm running a 48V 1200W motor coupled to the leg of an old outboard, so I'm swinging a 6.25" pitch 3 blade prop at 1500 RPM, which can move a 16' boat at a pretty decent clip, but only for about an hour running full out (5-6 knots).
The sound of your generator will attract attention legal or not. Parks and Forestry Law Enforcement will harass you in spite of your legality, this is to be expected on state property in New Jersey, unfortunately. If they don't like your setup they will find missing life preservers or something else to punish you.
As you are considering buying a quiet generator to provide constant recharge of your battery, seek an option that will not overload the battery when just charging and not actually under way - then be able to flip to full generator 12v power to the batteries when under way.
Perhaps an extra excuse for running the generator is in order. Like to run a 12v powered cooler to keep your child's insulin cold. Or a 12v fan to keep your wife cool because of some medical condition. Or to recharge your phone because of your really important job.
As you are considering buying a quiet generator to provide constant recharge of your battery, seek an option that will not overload the battery when just charging and not actually under way - then be able to flip to full generator 12v power to the batteries when under way.
Perhaps an extra excuse for running the generator is in order. Like to run a 12v powered cooler to keep your child's insulin cold. Or a 12v fan to keep your wife cool because of some medical condition. Or to recharge your phone because of your really important job.
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Snagdaddy, your absolutely correct. Sad to say, I've seen them in action.. I wouldn't go near my boat when there present. And I don't have anything wrong.
Badfish, it sounds clear to me, they are banning direct gas outboard motors in the water. Have you ever seen the oil that is put into the water from the exhaust of a 2 cycle outboard. I don't think they are restricting the way you are powering the electric motor. The battery, generator, fuel cell, solar cell, etc produce the electric power to run the motor.
Badfish, it sounds clear to me, they are banning direct gas outboard motors in the water. Have you ever seen the oil that is put into the water from the exhaust of a 2 cycle outboard. I don't think they are restricting the way you are powering the electric motor. The battery, generator, fuel cell, solar cell, etc produce the electric power to run the motor.
this site should help you. I made one long ago before I could afford a real generator. Worked pretty good, kept the important stuff running during power outages like the sump pump, fridge etc.
http://theepicenter.com/blog/generator-lawn-mower-horizontal/
it uses the gm alternator and goes into great detail on how.
http://theepicenter.com/blog/generator-lawn-mower-horizontal/
it uses the gm alternator and goes into great detail on how.
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