EV generator trailer

[tasdrouille]

I would have a timing belt job done too. More or less $500 for the job done by a TDI guru. Everything in the belt's path gets replaced. Good for 100k miles. You don't want to risk scrapping an engine because the plastic water pump impeller shaft snapped (the 100k kits have brass impellers).

[Oval_Overload]

Has anything interesting come of this project?
An EAA member in Minnesota got a wild hair up his butt and decided he wants to convert a Matrix and go on road trips.

The idea thats been rattling around my noggin is to belt a Saturn L24 Z-block to an industrial motor and rectify the current. The contraption could ride on a cheap boat trailer.
How should we control the generator's voltage output, and how do we start the engine without a transmission?

[Christ]

Originally Posted by Oval_Overload

Has anything interesting come of this project?
An EAA member in Minnesota got a wild hair up his butt and decided he wants to convert a Matrix and go on road trips.

The idea thats been rattling around my noggin is to belt a Saturn L24 Z-block to an industrial motor and rectify the current. The contraption could ride on a cheap boat trailer.
How should we control the generator's voltage output, and how do we start the engine without a transmission?

You'd need a pair of solenoids, one on a voltage switch, the other on a RPM switch.

The first solenoid allows current to run the starter, the second one allows the generator's current to reach the battery.

[Oval_Overload]

The starter is on the transmission. We have no transmission

But no matter... I've got a lead on a separately excited 15kw motor which solves both my problems!
To start the engine, run current through the motor. To vary the voltage output, change the field coil voltage with a potentiometer.
No belts are needed, because both the engine and motor like to run in the 2k range, I'll have my machinist friend make a direct coupler.

Just what I need... More projects :-P

~Jimbo

[Christ]

I was thinking a belt driven starter/generator, actually. You can get them from John Deere in the 30-70A range, used to start their small lawn tractors in days of yore.

However, it seems you've found a solution to your project dilemma!

[Oval_Overload]

I think that using the John Deere generator would be problematic because of the voltage output. If its a 12v or 24v system, you would generate less than 1kw or 2kw respectively.

At least 10kw is needed to get a passenger car down the road at 55 mph. Additionally, changing DC voltage is practically impossible at these high amperages.

The local JY just quoted me $300 for an L24 engine, and $450 for the entire car
I figure we'll need the block, wire harness, ECU, gauge cluster, and fuel delivery system. It will probably be a while before this project gets rolling... I've got a dead Zap Xebra I have to get working and out of the garage.

~Jimbo

[Christ]

I only mentioned it because it's a starter/generator... the output of the smaller generator could be used to open the circuit for the larger generator. It's a 1.5HP starter, not sure what it's generator capacity is.

Which engine is the L24?

Wife's L200 has a L66, IIRC... (2.2 EcoTec)

[Oval_Overload]

The L24 was built at Spring Hill from 1995 to 2002. Its the single cam 4 banger engine that came in the S-Series. It'll take a beating and you could pull stumps with it :P

[Oval_Overload]

I got my grubby little hands on a Saturn L24 engine, and it only cost me one really bloody pair of jeans.

May She rest in pieces