DIY Generator: Convert A Lawn Mower Into A Generator
Do you have a backup for when the power goes out? Go more than a day with out power and you might feel the burn of not being more self sufficient. The problem is for some is the the price of a commercial generator which is pretty expensive. Another problem is sifting through cheap Chinese imports. There is a lesser known option and that’s converting your old lawnmower into a very low cost power DIY generator. Dont have one? Just check craigslist. People literally give them away.
Turning your lawn mower into a DC generator is pretty easy. This enables you to charge your battery banks to keep you a float when your main power source drops. With a little more work you can implement a DC to AC inverter to also let you power electrical components directly from the generator.
Keep in mind your average lawn mower is not going to produce the power of a commercial generator. But that doesn’t matter. Doing this yourself is easier than one would think and it creates an excellent option for charging battery banks and also for backing up your solar panels and turbines when they are not being fed. With a little more work inverting DC to AC power you can directly power lower watt options as well. Good luck with your DIY Generator.
The thing to bear in mind is – your average mower motor will not be as powerful as a commercial generator. That doesn’t mean this is useless, just that it has its limitations. It is a good option for charging battery banks and it would be a good back up for solar panels and wind turbines when the sun is not shining and the wind is not blowing. If you fit a DC to AC inverter you could also directly power your lights and other low power devices.
