This may sound stupid but...

[McGurk]

...does anyone have a gas powered 12 volt generator? My perm. house is set up for 12 volt and I have no need for 110 at this time. A regular 110 volt gen. would need an adapter (car charger) to get 12 volts. Could I just take a horizontal crank gas 4-stroke motor (which I have laying around) and a truck alternator (cheaply found at junkyards) and rig a mounting system w/ a belt and housing and just hook it up to the house batt. via jumper cables or something simple as such?

I know in a car/truck the positive lead on the alternator leads directly to the battery and the battery is grounded with a similar lead and the alternator mounting is its own ground. The RPM's would have to be investigated, but I don't think I'm too far off.

Could it be this simple? Any thoughts? Thanks, McGurk

[Dave]

The small Coleman Powermate generator I have has 12 volt, for car starting/battery charging, as well.

[Jeremy airjer W]

A "genrator" makes DC voltage and then converts it to AC. Most genterators will have a twelve volt outlet. Check out the Honda EU series. They have both.

[BIG DS]

YES YOUR ENGINE AND ALTERNATOR IDEA WILL WORK. IT WILL BE A BIT NOISY THOUGH. WE USE THE SAME SET UP TO CHARGE OUR DRAG CAR AT THE TRACK. THE HONDA GENERATOR OPTION, THOUGH MORE EXPENSIVE, IS THE QUIETER MORE ECONOMICAL OPTION WERE FUEL IS CONCERNED.