Alternator + Inverter vs Generator

[Brent Swain]

Bolt an engine and an alternator form the auto wreckers to a piece of plywood and put a belt between them and you have something that will charge your batteries, run your power tools and weld. If the alternator quits you can get another from the auto wreckers for $35.

[ctsbillc]

I think is a boat comes with a generator, all is well and good, but I've got to agree installing one is an expensive proposition, and a heavy one.

The down side of the alternator aproach is efficiency, the Lundel alternator is a pretty basic thing and only gets 65% efficiency, and the batteries only give about 65% efficiency too, so you will burn more diesel, and eat up engine hours.

Running the engine like this you will NEVER get to the price of installing a diesel generator though, no mater how much you run it, so it is a good approach.

Solar is getting cheaper, and supplementing your big alternator with solar panels is a nice approach.

Bill