I like using mechanical work to produce electricity. Things like engines, gearboxes, or those hand cranked generators. It's just fascinating to see complex moving parts to produce electrical charge. Very good work Keith! :)
@@keithappleton assuming you wanted to drive forward and power the lights at the same time then "Milan Trcka" comment is technically correct, love the video's and your explanations on how and why to do stuff.
and specs relating to the power handling of these generators would be really interesting. i noticed a few, but some project "farm style" test would be a joy.
"unlike outside where the tension is much higher" - Keith that line i did not expect, but you are right. and that is scary, one of the many reasons i come to your channel is the calm and focused content. and lovely machines. it is a joy to watch them doing actual work stay safe good buddy.
When in a steam plant I wonder if a simple mechanical sensor like an electric coil pulling on an iron core attached to a regulator could be rigged. This could then self regulate a bit based on load. In your collection of junk bits there must be a regulator missing a bunch of parts that would be perfect. A spring on the iron core and then adjust the distance to the coil. Alternatively a simple lead acid battery so the energy could all be stored. I would be interested if a maximum amount of energy from one of the common stuarts was figured out. Is it viable as a power source to augment solar? (Yes I realize horsepower can be converted to Watts but thats not with real world contraints and losses).
This would make a great supplement to solar power for rainy days. I have a yard full of oak firewood. Just need a steam engine, boiler and generator head and I'm all set.
plus you need to be with the steam plant at all times when it is in steam, to oil the engine, fire the boiler and maintain the water level in the boiler - which I suppose is fine if you have the time and really want to do that ....... }:-)))
@@keithappleton in a SHTF situation (grid down, bronze age returns) there'd be firewood but no diesel or gas available. Some of the functions of a steam engine could be automated to some extent. If you know the consumption rate for water, you could have a slow drip from a water supply to keep the boiler supplied, for instance.
Well, it would seem that you are set for the apocalypse. It would be awesome to combine this technology with renewable energy, and off grid homesteading.
Do you think it's possible to increase the overall efficiency of the steam motor by having the excess steam that is purged off go through a condenser and then recirculated back to the steam motor?
Great stuff! I always wanted to make a nice generator setup with an engine that could charge my phone or other for fun. What is the performance like of the last generator (PM research?) shown? Would I be able to do much with a stuart 10v trying to run it?
Yes that would work well with a Stuart 10v. The PM Research generator gives out 12 volts, there is a video in my "Building A Stuart Model Steam Plant Series" which shows one in action.
Is that an actual, genuine Avo? I always admired them and kind of wanted one, but I spent 37 years as a field engineer using Fluke DVMs - (about four different types, I think) and they were excellent. But I still always fancied an Avo.
@@keithappleton Don't the always? Until you drop it, which is why any Fluke is so much more practical! (I am not sponsored by Fluke, I simply speak from experience.)
I like using mechanical work to produce electricity. Things like engines, gearboxes, or those hand cranked generators. It's just fascinating to see complex moving parts to produce electrical charge. Very good work Keith! :)
Keith, adding a full-wave rectifier to the generator output will enable the lights and phone charger to operate in both directions.
What is the point? Why would you want to reverse the direction of a steam plant used for generation electricity?
@@keithappleton assuming you wanted to drive forward and power the lights at the same time then "Milan Trcka" comment is technically correct, love the video's and your explanations on how and why to do stuff.
@@keithappleton You mentioned that the generator will work only in reverse. So there is an option.
Those showman's engines are beautiful.
and specs relating to the power handling of these generators would be really interesting. i noticed a few, but some project "farm style" test would be a joy.
"unlike outside where the tension is much higher" - Keith that line i did not expect, but you are right. and that is scary, one of the many reasons i come to your channel is the calm and focused content. and lovely machines. it is a joy to watch them doing actual work
stay safe good buddy.
This is what I want to build. A ton of research to go!!! Love what your doing here! TY!
Did you build it mate?
I assembled the parts and it worked OK. I sold the steam plant shortly after completing it.
@@keithappleton Ever done any work with conventional steam driven turbines for electricity?
When in a steam plant I wonder if a simple mechanical sensor like an electric coil pulling on an iron core attached to a regulator could be rigged. This could then self regulate a bit based on load. In your collection of junk bits there must be a regulator missing a bunch of parts that would be perfect. A spring on the iron core and then adjust the distance to the coil.
Alternatively a simple lead acid battery so the energy could all be stored.
I would be interested if a maximum amount of energy from one of the common stuarts was figured out. Is it viable as a power source to augment solar? (Yes I realize horsepower can be converted to Watts but thats not with real world contraints and losses).
solenoid and carbon pile regulators were common
Would have loved to see the larger engine driven around..ill have to look for that in your vids. great work by the way!
I can't do this single handed, and film it at the same time . . . . but hopefully I will be able to drive it around the Village some time next year.
@@keithappleton I look forward to it..love your work..always a pleasure to watch your videos. takes my mind off these trying times..
This would make a great supplement to solar power for rainy days. I have a yard full of oak firewood. Just need a steam engine, boiler and generator head and I'm all set.
plus you need to be with the steam plant at all times when it is in steam, to oil the engine, fire the boiler and maintain the water level in the boiler - which I suppose is fine if you have the time and really want to do that ....... }:-)))
@@keithappleton in a SHTF situation (grid down, bronze age returns) there'd be firewood but no diesel or gas available. Some of the functions of a steam engine could be automated to some extent. If you know the consumption rate for water, you could have a slow drip from a water supply to keep the boiler supplied, for instance.
If you put a half-twist in the belt before you glue it back together, it serves to confuse and annoy people in quite a satisfying manner!
}:-)))
love your phone charger
Could you twist a slightly longer belt to get it to generate in forward?
Why? It generates the power fine in reverse. Generally with a Traction Engine they didn't generate whilst moving forwards.
Well, it would seem that you are set for the apocalypse. It would be awesome to combine this technology with renewable energy, and off grid homesteading.
Beautiful!
Thank you!
Lovely and interesting.
Thank you }:-)))
I'm looking to us e a steam powered alternator to charge my battery system in a small RV. Do you have any solutions or suggestions?
I would say it is not worth the effort as the system would need constant attention.
Thank you so much
Do you think it's possible to increase the overall efficiency of the steam motor by having the excess steam that is purged off go through a condenser and then recirculated back to the steam motor?
The universal problem on miniature sizes is getting rid of the waste steam oil from the condensate. The oil can't be fed into the boiler.
@@keithappleton do you think an oil to air separator could mediate that problem? Turner cars have have them typically for high-performance builds.
Although it may work in a car, this is difficult to achieve successfully in small model steam plants.
Great stuff! I always wanted to make a nice generator setup with an engine that could charge my phone or other for fun. What is the performance like of the last generator (PM research?) shown? Would I be able to do much with a stuart 10v trying to run it?
Yes that would work well with a Stuart 10v. The PM Research generator gives out 12 volts, there is a video in my "Building A Stuart Model Steam Plant Series" which shows one in action.
Is that an actual, genuine Avo? I always admired them and kind of wanted one, but I spent 37 years as a field engineer using Fluke DVMs - (about four different types, I think) and they were excellent. But I still always fancied an Avo.
Yes, a friend gave it to me and it works well.
@@keithappleton Don't the always? Until you drop it, which is why any Fluke is so much more practical! (I am not sponsored by Fluke, I simply speak from experience.)
Very nice work. What are you using for fuel? and what heat rate are you getting
Thanks
Alberta, Canada
On this video mainly Compressed air ..... I use Coal or Gas fired boilers in a lot of my videos.
great stuff
Not quite enough when the village power goes out then😉
Not really .......
Good
Good video
🇬🇧🙂
Thanks! 😃
try reversing the polarity of the generator output leads instead of reversing the rotation of the engine...
it is a shunt would generator and only generates in one direction ........
Yesssss!!!!
⭐🙂👍
too bad you can't use it to charge up your car battery when needed