Generating Electricity with a Harley-Davidson

Motorcycle Permanent Magnet Alternator

Permanent magnet alternators have a big advantage over regular field-wound alternators. Permanent Magnet Alternators do NOT require a battery to generate power. This is important if you are generating in a remote area with no auto parts store nearby. Lead acid batteries have a short shelf life, especially if allowed to fully discharge. The permanent magnet alternator has a big advantage over a DC motor because the alternator has no brushes to wear out. Also, a standard field-wound alternator requires 40 watts to energize the field, whereas the permanent magnet alternator does not require any power to start generating.

This rig will produce up to 32 amps at 30 volts of AC power. You can change the 30 Volts AC to 12 Volts DC with the addition of a "Full Wave Bridge" available at Radio Shack for less than $ 3.00. This should produce about 380 Watts DC.

Step 1.

Here are the two separate parts that make up the alternator: the "Rotor" and "Stator". Be sure to order both parts! Caution: the magnets in the rotor are STRONG! Watch out when you insert the stator into the rotor, it pulls hard enough to badly pinch fingers!

Step 2.

The alternator comes with a 1" diameter "spline" hole in the center. You will have to use a sprocket to adapt the rotor to your 5/8" shaft. Center the sprocket on the inside of the rotor, and clamp down using the "C' clamps and thin wood piece, as shown. Spin the rotor on the shaft to make certain it is ABSOLUTELY straight, with NO wobble! Remove the shaft from the sprocket hub. Lightly tack the sprocket to the rotor with a welder. Remove the clamps, re-insert the shaft and rotate the rotor again to ensure straightness.

Step 3.

Weld the sprocket securely onto the inside of the rotor. Use aluminum foil to protect the magnets on the rotor from all welding, drilling, and grinding activities.

Step 4.

Drill out the four evenly spaced holes (circled in yellow here) in the stator to accept your 3/16" bolts. Be sure to clean up all filings before inserting into the rotor. Attach the bolt couplers with the 3/16" screws to the same side of the stator as the plug (see photo below, and photo "A" (below).

Step 6. (Not all steps are shown in photo)

Cut two 5" pieces of angle iron. These will be your upright supports for the stator (see above photo)

Mount a bearing on the wood block using lag screws and washers. Wrap the outside edge of the stator with 3-4 turns of masking tape. This acts as a spacer. Insert the stator into the rotor (watch your fingers). Ensure that the stator is perfectly centered in the rotor. Slide the rotor/stator assembly on the shaft. Insert the key into the keyway on the sprocket hub. If the key doesn't fit, you may have to file it down with a hand file. Tighten the allen screw on the sprocket hub. Use Loc-Tite adhesive to ensure that the allen screw does not come loose. Slide the shaft on to the bearing. Add the other block and bearing.

You now have the stator and rotor centered on the unit. Rotate the rotor until the nut couplers are vertically and horizontally aligned with the baseplate (180 and 90 degree angles) . Measure the distance from (the center of) the bottom nut couplers to the base plate. Mark this distance from one end of both 5" pieces of angle iron. Measure the distance between the two top and two bottom nut couplers (it should be about 2 1/2"). Using your previous marks as a guide, mark this second measurement on the two 5" pieces of angle iron. Remove the shaft, stator and rotor from the bearings. You will need to remove the wood block to remove the rotor and shaft.

Each piece of angle iron should then be drilled on the marks made previously and bolted on the stator (as pictured above). Re-assemble the "shaft/stator/rotor/upright angle iron" assembly on the bearings.

When you are sure that the uprights are aligned correctly, weld them to the baseplate.

Remove the shaft and rotor from the bearings again. Take the masking tape off the stator. Re-assemble the entire unit.

Align the shaft by loosening the screws holding down the bearings and moving the shaft until the stator is aligned perfectly inside the rotor. If the stator rubs on the bottom of the rotor, put shims between the bearings and blocks. If it rubs on the top, remove the bearings and sand the blocks. Tighten the screws when alignment is perfect.

Be sure to tighten the bearings on the shaft using the allen screws and keys. Use Loc-Tite adhesive to ensure that allen screws do not come loose.

Step 5.

Weld the base of the unit together, with the angle steel pieces extending just over the edge of the base plate. Align your aluminium or wood blocks to the outside edges of the base as shown in photo "A" (below). Drill four holes for each block in the base plate. Using your holes as a guide, drill tap holes through the plate into the wood blocks from the underside of the base. Screw one block into place with lag screws from the underside of the base.

When using aluminum blocks, you will have to drill and tap the blocks, substituting machine screws for lag screws.

Step 7.

This is the unit belted to an electric motor for testing purposes. Attach the pulley to the shaft as shown in the upper right corner of the above photo. There are holes drilled in the corners of the baseplate. The baseplate is attached to the wood base with lag screws. Notice how the unit is at an angle to the wood base. This provides belt tension. To further tighten the belt, simply screw down the back two lag screws.

Photo "A"
Here is the unit from another angle.
At this point, you are generating about 30 volts AC (at 1000 RPM). If you desire DC Current, use a Full Wave Bridge. There are four "blade" connectors on the bridge. Connect the output from the stator plug to the blades corresponding to "AC" on the bridge. Then hook your DC load (a 12Volt, 50 watt driving light is good) to the other two connectors on the bridge. Please do not connect sensitive electronic equipment (except a multimeter) to this or any other unregulated power source! For battery charging, a Harley Davidson voltage regulator could possibly be used.
Part Part# Supplier
(1) Harley Davidson

Permanent Magnet Alternator

"Compu-Fire" brand

Varies With Manufacturer Wayne's House Of Choppers-

Kansas City, MO

(816) 421 -6950

or

http://www.compufire.com/cs.html

(2) Pillow Block Bearings

for 5/8" Shaft

6X233 Grainger

www.grainger.com

(1) 5/8 Keyed Shaft 36671014 MSC Industrial Supply

http://www.mscdirect.com/

(1) 3/16 Key Stock 2f788 Grainger
(1) 3/16 minimum thickness

steel plate: dimensions 8"X12"

Your local metal supply shop
(1) 1/8" X 1" X 1" Angle Steel

(about 6 feet in length)

Your local metal supply shop

or Hardware Store

(4) 3/16" diameter, (3/4 long), stainless steel bolts Hardware Store
(4) 3/16" diameter, (1" long), stainless steel bolts Hardware Store
(4) 3/16" (inside diameter), (3/4" long), Bolt Couplers (Rod Coupling Nuts) Hardware Store
(1) 2" diameter pulley (5/8" hub) Hardware Store or Grainger
Automotive V-belt that works with pulley (you choose length) Auto Parts Store
(2) Hardwood blocks (ash, hickory, white oak) or aluminum blocks that will support bearings. Lumber Supply
(8) 1/4" diameter lag screws, 1" long Hardware Store
(4) 1/4" diameter lag screws, 1/2" long

(to hold down bearings)

Hardware Store
(4) washers to fit lag screws Hardware Store
CM1501 High Current Silicon Bridge Rectifier Diode (full wave bridge) 900-4795 Radio Shack
Misc. Connectors and wires
(2) "C" Clamps Hardware Store
(1) 3" X 3" piece of 1/2 thin wood Lumber Supply
(1) 2" diameter fixed (5/8") bore roller chain sprocket 6L796 Grainger
Medium Strength (Blue) Loc-Tite Adhesive Hardware Store
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