Converting equipment to 12vdc only

I agree with Bill Hudson's first choice. Harbor Freight has a 4000 watt generator for $339. That's plenty of power and you wouldn't need to modify your machines. However, it's likely that a generator that cheap will be pretty loud. It might scare the fish.

Glen
 
While a lathe is not near the load that a winch is, the winch motor is still not going to run very long, before it gets hot. If you look at HF's manual, I think the winch is rated to run 1 min, out of every 15 mins.

There 12 volt motors that would work, but your looking at a few hundred $$$. Right off, I'm thinking like a salt spreader motor. There was a surplus place that had a big section with DC motors, maybe someone has a link.

But I still think the inverter or generator is the best route.

Buy a generator, use it for the time needed, then sell it for 1/2 what you paid.
 
I agree with using inverters to power normal machines, i've seen modern lathes converted to be driven by a diesel car engine, 12dc i thick is mostly suitable for LED lighting and other low consumption itoms
 
This is an interesting dilemma.
In my buddy's case his boat lift only gets used perhaps twice a day. And when he drives into the slings he wants to grab the over head pendant and raise the boat without having to get out to start a generator. So the solar panel, deep cycle battery and inverter makes sense for him. Also he plans on using a 120 v submersible pump to provide water to his cabin on demand off the same battery system.

However his batteries are probably 130 lbs plus the inverter, so it is not something that a person is going to want to lug around through the woods. He has it on wheels so he can use it around his cottage, but the OP sounds like it is rather remote where he wants to use it.

NOw this system will provide 400 watts for at least 4 hours so that isn't an issue for running a lathe in most applications. ReCharge time will be important depending what is available. So "range anxiety" can be an issue.

For light weight, portability and "infinite " runtime a small generator is the only reasonable alternative. Or should I say primary consideration. There are lots of very quiet inverter generators that cost a bit more, but if quietness and waveform quality is important that is a good consideration.

I have used both approaches over the years.

David
 
Not an expert, but I'd like to add my 2 cents' worth. If it were my task to do, I'd go with a small gas generator. I'm basing this on a simple energy density (energy per unit weight) concept. The amount of energy you'd get from 5 gallons of gas (a bit under 40 lbs) is WAY more than you'd get from a comparable weight of batteries! Even adding in the weight of a generator (30 to 50 lbs for a small Honda), you'd be hauling a lot less weight this way than if you went with batteries (with or without an inverter). In addition, a generator would be a simple plug-and-play solution for both the mill and lathe.

As for the generator itself, I've seen some nice, quiet (non-obnoxious) ones used by friends at various camp-outs. I seem to recall that they were Hondas. You wouldn't need a large one, because neither the mill nor the lathe would require a huge amount of current. Here's a link to some of Honda's offerings:
https://powerequipment.honda.com/generators/recreational-generators
Yes, they're pricey (though Amazon sells them for a bit below MSRP). But maybe your friends will like the generator well enough to buy it from you. If not, you can probably sell it for a good price on Craigs.
Best wishes!
 
Most 12v motors are made to only run a short time.
what I would be doing is looking for a 5hp Honda engine to put on the lathe...
 
Most 12v motors are made to only run a short time.
what I would be doing is looking for a 5hp Honda engine to put on the lathe...
 
Generator and extension cord.

Louder the generator the longer the cord

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk
 
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