Building a Generator to Power Home: Questions and Answers

[livingbios]

hey all :)

i'm completely new to the electrical game, but I'm very interested in this, however only as a hobby. I'm doing my best to learn as much about this as possible so please excuse my stupid questions.

ok so I'm interested in building a generator to power my home in case of outages. i could buy one, but it'd be much more fun to build one, right? ok i already have everything designed, but i will be using a dc alternator so I'm going to need to convert this to ac obviously. so I'm going to use a power inverter to accomplish this (unless there is another way?). since it's going to be hand built i would like to try to build one of these as well. I've already found a schematic for this, but the max output from this particular design is 1kw. I'm looking for an output of ~5kw, the more the merrier though. my question is, could i run these inverters in parallel to achieve this? maybe somebody can provide me with a schematic to build a larger inverter if not. like i said, i have no idea about any of this really, but i would like to do this. another question i have is that if i was to just buy a large inverter, i would obviously have to run a larger wire for the input, but how much larger?

any insight, advice and direction is much appreciated.

 

[waht]

Running inverters in parallel is possible if you synchronise them. If you are off by a few degrees in phase, then you can blow them up.

Building a 5kw inverter is a different ball game. You have blow the schematic of a 1 kw inverter out of proportions. If are you new to electronics I wouldn't attempt building such an inverter as a first project. Here is a list of different wire gauges, and how many amps they handle

http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm

 

[oswaler]

I would first like to commend your interest and determination to learn about electrical systems and building a generator for your home. It is always exciting to take on a new project and expand your knowledge in a particular field.

To answer your first question, yes, using a power inverter is a common way to convert the DC output of an alternator into AC for household use. However, there are other methods such as using a rectifier and transformer, or even building a custom AC generator from scratch. It ultimately depends on your skill level and resources.

Regarding your goal of achieving a 5kw output, it is possible to run multiple inverters in parallel, but it is not recommended. This can lead to synchronization issues and can be dangerous if not done properly. It would be better to build or purchase a single inverter with the desired output capacity. If you are set on building your own inverter, I would suggest looking for designs that have a higher output capacity or consulting with an electrician or experienced hobbyist for guidance.

In terms of wire size, it is important to follow the recommended gauge for the input current of your inverter. This can vary depending on the inverter's specifications, so be sure to check the manufacturer's guidelines. It is always better to err on the side of caution and use a slightly larger wire to avoid overheating and potential fire hazards.

Overall, I would highly recommend seeking guidance from experienced individuals or consulting reliable sources for building your generator. It is a complex and potentially dangerous project, and it is important to have a thorough understanding of electrical systems and safety precautions before proceeding. Good luck with your project!