5000 watt 120V generator to charge 10 12V Automotive batteries

[Xasio]

5000 watt 3600 rpm 120V generator to charge 10 12V Automotive batteries. Will this work? Less or more batteries?

Im wanting to put together an electric car. If i use the items above (which is what I have laying around) What size motor would best for longevity, speed ? HP? RPM? AMPs?

 

[I_am_learning]

What Ampere-Hour ratings are the batteries?
Its printed as XXX AH on the body.

 

[Xasio]

Hi
55 AH

 

[I_am_learning]

Ok. You need apporoximately 55/8 = 6.875 Amperes to charge the batteries in period of about 8 hrs.

What type is the generator AC/DC ?

 

[Xasio]

The generator is AC

 

[Discord7]

The generator is AC

Give it up! Those sound like DC batteries.

 

[I_am_learning]

Its possible to charge those batteries with that generator. But You would need rectifier to convert it to DC and a Transformer to Convert into Required Voltage Level.
If the generator is a synchronous one with facility to varry field current, then you will only require a Simple Bridge rectifier, you can adjust the voltage by varrying field current.

 

[MATLABdude]

Give it up! Those sound like DC batteries.

There's no such thing as a (simple) AC battery.

To the OP, if you have an AC generator, you can just plug in a regular battery charger. If you have lead-acid batteries (which it sounds like you do) you can go down to your local auto supply store and buy a wall-plug 12V lead acid battery charger.

Unless you can very closely match the batteries, they should be charged and used separately (and not in parallel).

For what it's worth, unless you have a great deal of money and/or expertise available, your most likely production is probably something like a golf cart.