Here are links to some of the things I talk about in the video: Example code for measuring frequency: circuits4you.com/2016/05/13/arduino-frequency-counter/ How to write to serial LCD display: www.hackster.io/Hack-star-Arduino/learn-to-use-lcd-1602-i2c-parallel-with-arduino-uno-f73f07 The L298N library for Arduino: github.com/AndreaLombardo/L298N Amazon Affiliate Links for items in the video: Pocket Oscilloscope (this thing is awesome!): amzn.to/3EBaeAD L298N Dual H-Bridge: amzn.to/3PBtOmz Arduino Nano Every: amzn.to/3PgUO9D Serial LCD: amzn.to/465QIIc Frequency Generator (used for testing): amzn.to/3PyP3Wg Breadboard PCB: amzn.to/44JD9x2
Have you thought about trying to implement a PID loop to control the cruise control actuator? It'll move quickly when far from setpoint and slower when closer. PID loop and using PWM would both respond quicker and dial in quicker in response to a change in load. Would take some tweaking to tune it right.
That did occur to me and I think it's a good idea. I'll likely circle back to this project as my coding skills improve, I left a USB cable connected to the Arduino so updating the code will be super easy!
I so wish such videos existed before starting my Engineering life in University. Very educational, makes engineering so simple and enjoyable 🙏. Thank you for this generator series videos.
It would be fun to remove the engine and integrate speeduino/rusEFI for engine management. You could strip down the engine to what you need and make a nice genset for the house. Totally open source generator!
Are you tracking coolant and oil temperatures? I suspect that running the car under higher loads at 3600 RPM may challenge the cooling system if the car is stationary.
At least for me. Wish this was my neighbor growing up. I would've learned everything i could from him! So damn cool! Did you put in a larger radiator or a different fan controller since it won't be driving when large loads on the generator?
Inspiring! I love the combination of precision in the electronics and disregard for the look of the vehicle. Utility to the max! Where did you get your electrical understanding? I'd love to see what else you can add to it! Water heating seems appropriate as an off grid yard car! Thanks for the videos
Thanks! I've been pulling electrical and electronic stuff stuff out of the trash and messing with is since I was about 6 years old, there's no substitute for direct experimentation, just don't die doing it!
To have really fast responding system I would fed engine rpm and output current data to the Arduino. Then it is possible to build the table of throttle opening vs current draw and correct using engine rpm and finally output frequency. You could skip engine rpm sensing and just use frequency feedback but rpm data let's you start generator immediately on right frequency. It will also allow you to handle inductive and capacitive loads correctly. I think added complexity is worth it.
Hi mate. Great work!!! There is many ways to code this and looking at your code, get rid of the delay() and use millis as a minimum. The loop will be ALOT faster in response. Cheers 👍
Not sure if this was asked, but, by installing your generator, could the potential be there to install in an EV to recharge their own batteries, this eliminating tue need to ever stop at a charging station? This project was amazing. Saw it in my Google news feed. Had to investigate.
@@albertperez7930 I'm afraid there is always loss when you convert from one type of energy to another. Here's an example: If you have 100kwh in a battery, used that to run an EV motor connected to a generator that was at least as efficient as the motor, you'd end up with only about 70kwh in the second battery and 30kwh worth of waste heat.
@@albertperez7930 in reference to using a “gasoline” motor to make said vehicle completely self sufficient. Whether it be a “generator” or some other type of self charging apparatus.
It was basically a law mower engine so it had a vane in the air path with a spring attached to the throttle and yeah, it would run at 3600 rpm, there was no reduction
Have you considered building a sycnhronverter? That is, an inverter for loads up to nnnn watts (maybe, 1000 in this case) and use your system to match phasing sequence and angle, then join the circuit together during output. Use a control circuit to phase the two together. This way the inverter becomes the virtual generator. Youd nees to simulate inertia on the inverter side of things, but by coupling the two together you can physically lock the real generator to frequency along side the engine control PID. That scheme probably requires three phases so not sure if it solves your problem though.
Yeah, that was my eyebrow raising point, too. Basically how efficient can this be & isn't it overkill, but you seem to have answered already. Kudos for taking the initiative! All the haters here secretly envy you! 😂
what's the point to all of this? know really not troll what the point to is I'm not getting why we would need or want to do this so please tell what's the point thanks.
Well, somebody gave me a generator that had thrown a rod, and I had an old car that I use for hauling stuff around the property so I put the generator under the hood of the car so I can power tools or my house in the event of a power outage. Basically, I took free junk and turned it into useful junk.
@@JakevonSlatt hay man you should have payed 10 grand or more for a genny you know them ones that are so over rated at extended run with in wattage range get so hot some part of it will blow up its not the engineers its the bean counters they spin then fast to get the rated output but they are not for continuous use the ones that last for ever spin at around 1800 rpms and are very big and heavy for same but TRUE output same goes for low freq inverters they can be VERY low idle watts if you wind your own tranny and choke i have hand wound a bunch of trannys for home made inverters
Here are links to some of the things I talk about in the video:
Example code for measuring frequency: circuits4you.com/2016/05/13/arduino-frequency-counter/
How to write to serial LCD display: www.hackster.io/Hack-star-Arduino/learn-to-use-lcd-1602-i2c-parallel-with-arduino-uno-f73f07
The L298N library for Arduino: github.com/AndreaLombardo/L298N
Amazon Affiliate Links for items in the video:
Pocket Oscilloscope (this thing is awesome!): amzn.to/3EBaeAD
L298N Dual H-Bridge: amzn.to/3PBtOmz
Arduino Nano Every: amzn.to/3PgUO9D
Serial LCD: amzn.to/465QIIc
Frequency Generator (used for testing): amzn.to/3PyP3Wg
Breadboard PCB: amzn.to/44JD9x2
Have you thought about trying to implement a PID loop to control the cruise control actuator? It'll move quickly when far from setpoint and slower when closer. PID loop and using PWM would both respond quicker and dial in quicker in response to a change in load. Would take some tweaking to tune it right.
That did occur to me and I think it's a good idea. I'll likely circle back to this project as my coding skills improve, I left a USB cable connected to the Arduino so updating the code will be super easy!
@@JakevonSlatt There are a lot of PID loop sketches out there that would be easy to implement even at your skill level. You'll be fine.
You are the second Indiviual I know of that can do everything you have shown you can do. And im sure you haven't shared everything. Awesome.
Thanks! I appreciate that!
I so wish such videos existed before starting my Engineering life in University. Very educational, makes engineering so simple and enjoyable 🙏. Thank you for this generator series videos.
Wow, thanks for the kind words!
It would be fun to remove the engine and integrate speeduino/rusEFI for engine management. You could strip down the engine to what you need and make a nice genset for the house. Totally open source generator!
I actually use the whole car a lot! It's got a hitch mounted engine hoist and a winch on the back!
Grear video! Thanks for putting all the effort in to putting this together!
Thank you! It was fun to learn a new tool like the Arduino!
I was hanging with pt1&2 videos... I would have had to run the idle control manually. Well done!
Thanks 👍
That's really impressive! Way beyond what I could figure out
Are you tracking coolant and oil temperatures? I suspect that running the car under higher loads at 3600 RPM may challenge the cooling system if the car is stationary.
Naa as long as rad and fan are in good shape, t-stat will automatically cycle as needed.
With the pulleys ration the engine runs at 1440 RPM which is higher that it needs to but I ran with the pulleys I had.
At least for me. Wish this was my neighbor growing up. I would've learned everything i could from him! So damn cool! Did you put in a larger radiator or a different fan controller since it won't be driving when large loads on the generator?
Not really needed, 5500 watts at full load is very little compared to the capacity of the current cooling system , also thanks for the kind words!
Inspiring! I love the combination of precision in the electronics and disregard for the look of the vehicle. Utility to the max! Where did you get your electrical understanding?
I'd love to see what else you can add to it! Water heating seems appropriate as an off grid yard car! Thanks for the videos
Thanks! I've been pulling electrical and electronic stuff stuff out of the trash and messing with is since I was about 6 years old, there's no substitute for direct experimentation, just don't die doing it!
To have really fast responding system I would fed engine rpm and output current data to the Arduino. Then it is possible to build the table of throttle opening vs current draw and correct using engine rpm and finally output frequency. You could skip engine rpm sensing and just use frequency feedback but rpm data let's you start generator immediately on right frequency. It will also allow you to handle inductive and capacitive loads correctly. I think added complexity is worth it.
Interesting! Thanks!
Great project! Would be nice to use a PID controller for RPM.
Yep, looking into PID sketches for the Arduino.
I love the way your brain works, great job.
Thank you!
2 thumbs up for Expanse shirt!, amazing work!
Remember the Cant'!
Hi mate. Great work!!! There is many ways to code this and looking at your code, get rid of the delay() and use millis as a minimum. The loop will be ALOT faster in response. Cheers 👍
Thanks for the tip!
Not sure if this was asked, but, by installing your generator, could the potential be there to install in an EV to recharge their own batteries, this eliminating tue need to ever stop at a charging station? This project was amazing. Saw it in my Google news feed. Had to investigate.
That's basically what EVs do when you step on the brake, the "motor" acts as a generator to slow the car and puts energy back into the battery.
Or a better example: a hybrid uses gas motor to charge batteries.
Use an EV motor to turn a generator to charge a battery to run an EV motor? See where this is going?
@@albertperez7930 I'm afraid there is always loss when you convert from one type of energy to another. Here's an example: If you have 100kwh in a battery, used that to run an EV motor connected to a generator that was at least as efficient as the motor, you'd end up with only about 70kwh in the second battery and 30kwh worth of waste heat.
@@albertperez7930 in reference to using a “gasoline” motor to make said vehicle completely self sufficient. Whether it be a “generator” or some other type of self charging apparatus.
Did the original generator have a built in speed control based on load or did it just run balls out at 3600 rpm?
It was basically a law mower engine so it had a vane in the air path with a spring attached to the throttle and yeah, it would run at 3600 rpm, there was no reduction
most portable generators have a mechanical governor, either by blowing cooling air over a vane or by spinning weights in the engine.
Great work mate...
Thanks 👍
Have you considered building a sycnhronverter? That is, an inverter for loads up to nnnn watts (maybe, 1000 in this case) and use your system to match phasing sequence and angle, then join the circuit together during output. Use a control circuit to phase the two together.
This way the inverter becomes the virtual generator. Youd nees to simulate inertia on the inverter side of things, but by coupling the two together you can physically lock the real generator to frequency along side the engine control PID.
That scheme probably requires three phases so not sure if it solves your problem though.
That's interesting! I'll research.
What if you had taken out one of the CV joints and left the cruise control intact and let it control the engine speed while its in gear?
That might have worked, but I wanted the car to still move as it get's used for lots of other things.
You need a PID to control the frequency
Yes, apparently there are numerous PID sketches for Arduino, as my programming skills improve I'll circle back to this.
Wow I am just impressed. The list of your skills are endless.
Thank you!
Diesel generators are wired to run at 1800rpm instead of 3600
With the belt reduction the motor runs at about 1600 rpm, that was dictated by the pulleys I had on hand.
Include load on the generator to your calculations.
Dont know where you live, if you could get by without antifrezze you could run water through the block for a heated pressure washer...
Clever! But not in New England I'm afraid!
@@JakevonSlatt Yeah that wouldnt work!
The engine has a lot more power and can easily drive a much larger generator. Your design is a highly inefficient system to generate electricity.
True, but not the intent of this project. This is a utility vehicle and the ability to plug a welder in well away from the house is valuable to me.
Yeah, that was my eyebrow raising point, too. Basically how efficient can this be & isn't it overkill, but you seem to have answered already. Kudos for taking the initiative! All the haters here secretly envy you! 😂
.. but why ...
Had junk that didn't do anything, assembled it into something that did?
what's the point to all of this? know really not troll what the point to is I'm not getting why we would need or want to do this so please tell what's the point thanks.
Well, somebody gave me a generator that had thrown a rod, and I had an old car that I use for hauling stuff around the property so I put the generator under the hood of the car so I can power tools or my house in the event of a power outage. Basically, I took free junk and turned it into useful junk.
I'm sorry if I skipped through this in the be video, but did the van remain driveable?
@@albertperez7930 oh yes, very much so.
@@JakevonSlatt hay man you should have payed 10 grand or more for a genny you know them ones that are so over rated at extended run with in wattage range get so hot some part of it will blow up its not the engineers its the bean counters they spin then fast to get the rated output but they are not for continuous use the ones that last for ever spin at around 1800 rpms and are very big and heavy for same but TRUE output same goes for low freq inverters they can be VERY low idle watts if you wind your own tranny and choke i have hand wound a bunch of trannys for home made inverters
Grear video! Thanks for putting all the effort in to putting this together!