3000 watt 48v dc generator on fleabay

[bschwartz]

Possible backup power.... 48v DC 3000 watt generator..... only downside is it has a (gasp..choke...) sparkplug.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HONDA-ALPHAGEN-CABLE-TV-TELECOMMUNICATIONS-DCX3000-36V-48V-DC-GENERATOR-NICE-/220953218005?pt=BI_Generators&hash=item3371d68bd5#ht_1489wt_934

I thought someone here might be interested.

[BioHazard]

Damn, that is a good deal! Would be good for a natural gas/propane conversion.

[fabricator]

I don't care if it's free, real engines aint got spark plugs.

[DanG]

I own a couple of Alpha systems generators - that linked AlphaGen is a battery replacement unit meaning it would only charge a Lead-Acid bank to about 40-50% without running the generator for days at a time using it as a float charger. Anyway - unhealthy for anything but replacing a 48V string of batteries, not maintaining batteries as provided. The output is 52.5VDC (13.125V) output is designed as low float voltage for gel batteries that all the telecomm UPS units use. If you wanted to use a robust smart charger to drop voltage to a 24V string you might have something.

That same vendor has another AlphaGen unit with more hours on it for $130 less if someone would want to dissect one - It would sure make a good backup if you did have a smaller 48V battery string and lost solar/wind/hydro long enough you were about to damage your battery bank by too low of a state of charge.

[BioHazard]

I don't care if it's free, real engines aint got spark plugs.

If you're paying for fuel, not using waste oil, spark engines running on natural gas or propane are currently the cheapest to operate. (at least around here) The fuel efficiency advantage of a diesel engine isn't so amazing when diesel fuel cost $0.50/gallon more than gas.