I'm interested in hearing your opinions and advice on using my vehicle's 180 amp alternator for adding some significant extra power for a new 16' EMCOMM trailer.
I did this trick already during Sandy for 5 days successfully via a small Kia Rhondo and its 60 A alternator. It worked quite well, but I'm now looking to do it on a larger scale for the new trailer.
I used the Kia's little alternator output into a marine battery rated at 105AH, and then ran an inverter from that for a total of 2,000 watts output at 120VAC for moderate periods for a microwave, lighting and a space heater at different times. The Kia's 12 gal gas tank lasted 5 days at idle between fill ups so it was quite efficient, and I used it wisely in the driveway with the jumpers running into a well-sealed window in my den.
The new trailer will contain 2 banks of 6vdc 220AH batteries wired in series-parallel, providing 12vdc out at 440AH. Rather than drop big bucks on an Onan generator, I'm thinking of using the car's 180A alternator to keep these charged and to run at least two 2500 watt inverters. There will also be a 200w regulated solar charging system, plus 1 Honda EU2000 and I have 1 Briggs 5.5KW generator for the trailer but it's a gas pig and way noisy,and I don't want to use it. This combination would provide sufficient power for the 120vac devices on the trailer; computers, some lighting, certain power supplies. Heat and AC in the trailer will be powered by another power source.
So if the new car (2016 Durango hemi) idles for 4-6 hours and burns a few gals of gas, it's a lot better than dealing with fuel, noise, weather etc. I would just "plug in" the Durango to the trailer via heavy duty battery cables, keep all the car's accessories and lights off, and let it idle at sufficient rpms to run the alternator at a reasonable speed and produce the power I need at 12vdc.
Following my neighbor's Sandy trick, the Durango's fuel pump will also have a fuel pump bypass valve to fill up portable gas tanks, so I don't have to lug those to gas stations. That gizmo was well designed and custom made, with a safety circuit to prevent it from operation accept under certain pre-conditions and protocols, so one didn't burn up one's car. Very slick to see him do that during Sandy.
What say you?
Thanks kindly,
Dave Akins WQWN605, AK1NS
DEC, Nassau Cty ARES
Pres, ARCECS