rc model engine for battery charging?

[l0kster]

dunno if this was discussed before....

I have seen other posts with bicycle-powered generator and I know you can buy Coleman or other commercial gensets for $300 on up.

My question is - would it be possible to use a small RC model car/plane engine to generate enough juice to say recharge some 12v car batteries?

This would NOT be to run 120v ac inverters or high wattage DC gadgets.

Seems like these small engines would use very little fuel and could probably be made less noisy than a full genset.

any thoughts?

 

[CTCStrela]

Well I guess I'm back...suprising I suppose, but I felt I'd be ok to respond to this.

Model aircraft motors use a special fuel (so you know), usually a mix of nitromethane and alchohol.

They also use it in rather large amounts, given the size. A .40 (ie slightly less than half CI motor), uses about 8-10 oz of fuel for 10-15 minute of operation.. They also require a battery to start them (glow plug for ignition, like a deisel). FYI I'd say a 4 stroke chainsaw motor would work better for the application. Same (if not less) consumption of fuel, uses gasoline, and produces a hell of a lot more torque at low rpms. Oh, and remember, model aircraft engines are loud as hell, and use the exhaust pulse to pump more fuel into them. Muffling them to the point that they are quiet would negate the ability of the little motor to pump more fuel into the engine....
Remember, you don't want to try to spin a generator at 10,000+ rpms (which is where small RC airplanes generate their power). Plus, a chainsaw motor allready has a rudimentary drive system...

My 2 Cents

Actually, I'd recommend, instead of either, a solar charger. Silent, eh?

 

[l0kster]

thanks CTCStrela, solar zoning question

Thanks CTCStrela,

I do have some small low-watt panels designed to charge car batteries.

THe large panels seem pretty expensive to me, even more than chepaer gas generators.

I might also have some zoning problems as my neighborhood has some restrictions about only having tile roofs because of fire hazard and other exterior codes.

Does anyone know if Solar panels must conform to all the local zoning restrictiions or are they like Satellite dishes where there is some law that says they are excempt?

If i did go solar, I would also be the only one within my immediate block so guess whos door the neighboors would be knockin' on
to get some juice?

However i do have a fairly large patio that gets sun so I could stick panels out there i suppose.