Summary of THAT’S NOT A JUNKER… THAT’S MY GENERATOR
This project repurposes a car engine to power a large generator, ideal for areas prone to outages. The creator salvaged a scrap generator with a blown motor and grafted it onto a functional "yard car" engine. Initial testing used a manual stick linkage for speed control, which was later refined using an AC compressor idler to limit RPM. Finally, an Arduino system was implemented to automate cruise control, ensuring a steady generator speed. This build showcases skills in machining, automotive repair, and electronics.
Parts used in the Yard Car Generator Project:
- Scrap generator with a blown motor
- Yard car with a functional engine
- Custom casting from another project
- AC compressor idler
- Arduino microcontroller
- Cruise control components
If you live somewhere prone to power outages, you might have thought about buying a generator. The problem is that small generators are cheap but — well — small. Big generators are expensive. [Jake von Slatt] had an idea. He has a “yard car” which we thought might be a junk car but, instead, it is an old car he uses to drive around his yard doing tasks. It has a winch and a welder. Now it has a big generator, too. You can follow the project in the three videos found below.
The project started with a scrap generator with a blown motor. Of course, the car has a motor so — in theory — pretty simple. Remove the generator from the motor and graft it to the car’s motor. But the details are what will kill you.
The first video shows the teardown of the generator unit and some planning. Some custom parts that were recovered from the scrap pile replaced some of the parts on the generator, including a custom casting leftover from another project that took a bit of machining to repurpose.
By the second video, he had a proof of concept working, but it had a small problem. He was controlling the speed of the motor with a stick on the accelerator linkage. So, he modified an idler from an AC compressor to limit the speed of the generator. The final video uses an Arduino to drive the cruise control to keep a steady RPM to the generator.
Overall, this is an interesting project both because it is unusual and useful, but also because of the wide range of skills [Jake] demonstrates — he knows his way around a machine shop, a car, and the Arduino. Pretty impressive!
We’d rather reuse a car engine than drive the generator ourselves. For some reason, that comes up repeatedly.
Source: THAT’S NOT A JUNKER… THAT’S MY GENERATOR
- Why did the creator choose this project?
To provide a large generator solution without the high cost of buying a new big generator. - What was the initial problem with the generator unit?
The generator had a blown motor, so the creator removed it to graft the remaining unit onto the car's motor. - How was the motor speed initially controlled?
A stick on the accelerator linkage was used to manually control the speed of the motor. - What modification was made to limit the generator speed?
An idler from an AC compressor was modified to limit the speed of the generator. - What technology is used to maintain steady RPM in the final version?
An Arduino drives a cruise control system to keep a steady RPM to the generator. - What custom parts were recovered during the teardown?
Some custom parts were recovered from the scrap pile, including a custom casting that required machining. - Which skills does the creator demonstrate in this project?
The creator demonstrates skills in machine shop work, working on cars, and programming with Arduino.
