settled the inverter question

[mobile_bob]

what equipment would you like pictures of? the exeltech inverters?

i will see if i can take and post some pics this weekend.

here is the system from exeltech
http://exeltech.com/mxproducts.htm

bob g

[Jedon]

The XW's operate in a "Generator Support" mode, as you found out, they will sync to genset, and and support it.  If you can convert your crankshaft power to 50VDC, and feed the battery bank, then you fire the inverter section up, and feed your loads/grid clean power.

What would I hook to my 6/1 to make 50V DC? I thought maybe I could rectify the 220V AC to DC and put it through a charge controller?

[Jedon]

Okay I have the generator and the batteries, now to fill in the middle.
Where would I get or scrounge a transformer from?
Rectifier/Filter Caps? ( Radio shack? )
Charge Controller - Do I need a pricey one like the Xantrex for $500? ( needs to go to 48V )
Could I use a golf cart charger instead of all this?
Thanks!!

[Jedon]

Would this work? I have it sitting in my garage.

http://picasaweb.google.com/jedon13/20080918UPS#5247498898322089906

[mobile_bob]

how about a "reapplied" automotive alternator?

i don't understand why one would use an st head to make 120/240 to feed a transformer
to then rectify, and then feed to a controller to charge a battery with,, unless of course
there was no other way.

the st head is about 80% efficient, the transformer maybe 90%, the rectifier will be maybe 95%
the controller maybe 95% (but more likely 90%) so

((80 x 90) x 95) x 95 =  ~65% tops, and likely even worse

as opposed to a reapplication of a hd alternator as outlined in my white paper, which starts out at ~80% efficient
(and quite possibly a bit better) and no further efficiency drops due to more conversion steps.

that is a significant improvement in overall efficiency, however

todays higher end inverters come with their own built in 3 step chargers, that can be fed by your st head in some cases
the efficiency won't be as high as described but if you buy that sort of inverter you ought to at least look into using its charger
function.

btw, what do you want to charge at 50 volts? if it is a 48volt bank of flooded lead acid you will need 57.6vdc at 77 degree's F
a bit less in higher temps and a bit more in cold ambient temps.

here is another option, that would eliminate the need for the transformer
open up the ST head and split the coil groups on the stator, you will then have 4 coils at ~60vac each
that you can rectify and then combine in a parallel connection scheme and get full kwatt output (or nearly so)

you will need to take control of the excitation from the harmonic in favor of a purpose built regulator
but you ought to get a fairly efficient charger in the process, and with a bit of switch gear be able to switch from
battery charging DC output back to 120/240 AC output.

this is something i plan on exploring fully

bob g

[Jedon]

I'll have to read your white paper on automotive alternators, I had ruled them out due to them being 12V.
I am intrigued by this coil splitting idea!
Yes I want to charge a 48V bank and my inverters do have chargers built in, the problem is they pass through AC so I get flickering lights and plus since one hot is hooked to one and one hot to the other they load the ST-5 unevenly. I just talked with George at Utterpower and he said my ST-5 should not growl and we were discussing outputting 110V from the ST-f and feeding that into an autotransformer to get 60V and then rectify that to DC to charge the batteries but like you say, lots of inefficiencies.
If I'm directly charging the batteries with 60V, how do I know when to float them etc?
Doesn't a golf cart charger do all this?