Small inverter/generator questions

[Badasssapper67]

I've got a track chair, it's a combo of a golf cart and a bulldozer (no blade) and it runs off two 12v batteries.
I use it on the farm everyday and sometimes Im far away from a power outlet. The people that makes these, Action Track Chair built a little platform so I can put a small inverter generator on it to give me full power while Im down in the lower fields. (and so I can get back home haha).

Here's where you come in; most battery chargers have a 10 amp setting and a 2 amp setting. Should I get a generator that makes at minimum 10 amps? By my rusty math that's 1200W at 120v.
The chair has a built in inverter so I can plug it into the wall and recharge so I assume it must be charged with AC.
I have to use it around animals and sometimes to move animals so noise is a factor but not a huge one.
looking hard at Generac but Im guessing they're made in the same plant in China as a cheaper version..... any advice on a purchase?
If Honda's thousand dollar gen's are worth it I'll go that way but not without consulting you guys first.
Thanks for the advice.

 

[LawnBoy-5247]

Hondas are great generators and I would not buy any of the cheaper models as repairing them is effectively impossible due to high labor costs and poor parts availability. A word of advice with the hondas though, if you keep them maintained well you will have no problems. But if you let gas go bad in them and don't take care of them they are still expensive to repair as even though parts are available they are difficult to work on due to their small size and simple tasks like removing the carburator or replacing a pull rope can take hours as you must practically take the entire unit apart. In short good maintenance is key and ethanol is a enemy.

Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk

 

[p_mori7]

Presuming you are limited to the chair, and if the generator conks out, getting up to fiddle with it or walk back is not an option.

If indeed the case, go with a Honda.

My $0.02

 

[GSteg]

When it comes to small generators in the 1600-2000w range, there's only two that I'm looking at..Honda or Yamaha. I bought the Honda myself (thanks Zoro for the great sale!), but wouldn't hesitate to buy the Yamaha either. There are people who have had no problems with Generac and the price point is very attractive, but as people said, the parts may be harder to come by. Honda sells a gazillion of these every year so parts are not in short supply.

 

[-Hey_Now-]

I have a Champion inverter generator and its been reliable. But if finances we're different I'd get the Honda unit. They are really quiet.

 

[buckwheat_la]

I have a Champion inverter generator and its been reliable. But if finances we're different I'd get the Honda unit. They are really quiet.

Ditto. I have a couple of the 2000watt Champion generators and they have been great. That being said, Honda is the Cadillac...

 

[finn]

I bought two of the Champion inverter for 80% of the price of one Honda.

They perform flawlessly, but are slightly louder than a Honda.

Great value.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The chair has a built in i̶n̶v̶e̶r̶t̶e̶r̶ charger so I can plug it into the wall and recharge so I assume it must be charged with AC.

According to the Action Track Chair web site you chair uses a 24VDC motor so a typical battery charger will not work ! You are trying to make a "hybrid" vehicle !!

Charging a battery is one thing, running 2 electric motors is another ! You are going to need A LOT MORE POWER !! Maybe 50A, maybe even a peak of 100A !

Once we know what the motors power requirements are, then we can work on locating a suitable 24VDC power supply and size a generator.

The simplest thing would be to add 2 more batteries and then a selector switch to select the second bank. If you want to get "fancy" you could use four 4 cell Li-Ion battery packs (2 packs in series and then those in parallel with other 2) as your "backup". These battery packs would require a SPECIAL charger.

 

[Badasssapper67]

Im open to new ideas, but I plug the chair into the wall to charge it at night. It has an inverter built into it that changes the 120v ac into 24dc.

If I get a small generator that produces 120AC power than technically it would be just like plugging it in right?
Thanks for any insight.

 

[redsand187]

One thing to remember, those battery chargers charge 10amps at 12v or in your case 24v. Not 120v. So 10A @ 24v is only 240watts, plus any inefficiency from the conversion.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Im open to new ideas, but I plug the chair into the wall to charge it at night. It has an i̶n̶v̶e̶r̶t̶e̶r̶ charger built into it that changes the 120v ac into 24dc.

If I get a small generator that produces 120AC power than technically it would be just like plugging it in right?

Sure. Then you can wait 10-12 hours to recharge !

Using the proper technical terminology will help you get appropriate responses. (An "inverter" takes DC voltage as input and created AC voltage.)

(I was an automotive engineer for 30 years so I know what I am talking about.)

 

[vettex2]

Sure. Then you can wait 10-12 hours to recharge !

Using the proper technical terminology will help you get appropriate responses. (An "inverter" takes DC voltage as input and created AC voltage.)

(I was an automotive engineer for 30 years so I know what I am talking about.)

So you're the guy responsible for the Vega, Aztec and Pacer

 

[MrGiggles]

I don't think a 10 amp charger is going to do much to increase your range. As wizard said, you need a lot more power.

I would contact the manufacturer and see what amount of current is needed to keep the chair at full power for the longer interval that you desire, and you can then base your generator/charger setup on that.

You mentioned that the manufacturer already has a platform installed, so the engineering for what you want has already been done, no need to reinvent the wheel. Just find out what it is and replicate it.

 

[American Locomotive]

What exactly are you trying to do? Are you trying to charge the chair off the generator, or run the chair off the generator? How long does the chair normally take to charge?

 

[theoldwizard1]

So you're the guy responsible for the Vega, Aztec and Pacer

Ever drive a Ford product built between middle 80s and early 2000s ? I worked on ALL of them that had gasoline engines.

 

[theoldwizard1]

What exactly are you trying to do? Are you trying to charge the chair off the generator, or run the chair off the generator?

Post #1

The people that makes these, Action Track Chair built a little platform so I can put a small inverter generator on it to give me full power while Im down in the lower fields. (and so I can get back home haha).

How long does the chair normally take to charge?

... I plug the chair into the wall to charge it at night ...

 

[Badasssapper67]

So you're the guy responsible for the Vega, Aztec and Pacer

Always wanted a Pacer X. With the 304 V8 and a 4 speed and 4.10 gears. Imagine the humiliation of a then new mustang being beat by a pacer!
Hahaha

 

[Badasssapper67]

Sure. Then you can wait 10-12 hours to recharge !

Using the proper technical terminology will help you get appropriate responses. (An "inverter" takes DC voltage as input and created AC voltage.)

(I was an automotive engineer for 30 years so I know what I am talking about.)

Will do! I've got to learn it first though. So sorry for making this muddy with bad terminology.

 

[Badasssapper67]

What exactly are you trying to do? Are you trying to charge the chair off the generator, or run the chair off the generator? How long does the chair normally take to charge?

My goal is to "top off" the batteries (another technical term I don't know) while on the down hill side of the house. That way I can make it home without having to get out and walk next to it up the hill. (That and lose about 100 lbs)

The chair has industrial batteries like you would buy for a solar grid set up, they cost around $300 a piece. Cant say for sure but they're at least deep cell. The meter goes from 1-5 with one being "come on baby make it home...." to 5 being full power. Some of my land, where my pigs are, is very very steep. I plan out going down there to accomplish as much as I can while there so the chair sits while Im tending fences and pig shelters.
Going back up the hill drains the power pronto. Then I have to get out and walk next to it. With my injuries it's not an easy task.

So I was hoping that when I get down to the pig field and stop to work, I can run the generator and leave it running for going up the hill and keeping it at full power.

You guys are awesome, thanks for the intrest and all the help.

 

[theoldwizard1]

My goal is to "top off" the batteries (another technical term I don't know) while on the down hill side of the house. That way I can make it home without having to get out and walk next to it up the hill. (That and lose about 100 lbs)

Lots of variables. How badly discharged are the batteries ? How long are you willing to wait to "top off" the batteries ? This could take HOURS !!

If the batteries are not too deeply discharged and you are willimng to start the generator before you head down the hill and let is run continuously until you get back to the top, then a Honda EU1000i would probably be all you need.

 

[American Locomotive]

My goal is to "top off" the batteries (another technical term I don't know) while on the down hill side of the house. That way I can make it home without having to get out and walk next to it up the hill. (That and lose about 100 lbs)
You guys are awesome, thanks for the intrest and all the help.

Okay, so you're not actually trying to power the chair with the generator - just top up the batteries for the run back up the hill.

If you plan on using the chair's built in charger, you shouldn't need anything special, a Honda EU2000 should do the job. You might even get by with an EU1000 depending on how much power the built in charger users.

Remember that you'll be limited by how fast the built in charger can charge the chair.

Ever drive a Ford product built between middle 80s and early 2000s ? I worked on ALL of them that had gasoline engines.

Hopefully you had nothing to do with the 5R55E transmission or the pulse-vacuum hubs used in the Rangers, otherwise I'm going to have to put you on ignore.

 

[Badasssapper67]

Lots of variables. How badly discharged are the batteries ? How long are you willing to wait to "top off" the batteries ? This could take HOURS !!

If the batteries are not too deeply discharged and you are willimng to start the generator before you head down the hill and let is run continuously until you get back to the top, then a Honda EU1000i would probably be all you need.

THANKS! I can see doing it that way, hoping that the tank is big enough to stay running.
What I really needed to know was, is there an advantage to buying the big 2000w version over the 1000w? It wont charge any faster it?

 

[Badasssapper67]

Okay, so you're not actually trying to power the chair with the generator - just top up the batteries for the run back up the hill.

If you plan on using the chair's built in charger, you shouldn't need anything special, a Honda EU2000 should do the job. You might even get by with an EU1000 depending on how much power the built in charger users.

Remember that you'll be limited by how fast the built in charger can charge the chair.

Hopefully you had nothing to do with the 5R55E transmission or the pulse-vacuum hubs used in the Rangers, otherwise I'm going to have to put you on ignore.

Pleading the 5th. Just kidding, had nothing to do with those darned hubs

 

[vettex2]

Ever drive a Ford product built between middle 80s and early 2000s ? I worked on ALL of them that had gasoline engines.

the only Ford since 79...
a 2004 E250 which I still own

you know I was joking right?

 

[theoldwizard1]

What I really needed to know was, is there an advantage to buying the big 2000w version over the 1000w? It wont charge any faster it?

The EU1000i will be fine if you are planning on using the built in charger.

If your batteries are really "flat" at the bottom of the hill, it will take several HOURS to get back to the top !

 

[theoldwizard1]

Hopefully you had nothing to do with the 5R55E transmission or the pulse-vacuum hubs used in the Rangers, otherwise I'm going to have to put you on ignore.

Nope ! Not engine related.