Portable Battery Charger

This is my portable charger project; a portable battery charger using an 80 amp Delco-Remy alternator. This is a 12SI series. This is not the one wire type. This is the 3 wire alternator that is most commonly found. These alternators can be setup to be self exciting. I have had arguments with people saying this can't be done on this type of alternator, they say you need a battery. Wrong. If you know how to wire the alternator it can be done. I proved it with this project. You can run 12v lights or other accessories right off the alternator. No batteries needed. The alternator is directly couple to the engine with a lovejoy coupler. The coupler on the alternator had to be counter bored on the lathe to allow the nut and washer to fit down inside to screw on the alternator shaft. The engine is just a 5HP briggs engine set to run at 3600 RPM. To get the alternator excited when you first start it you have to rev the engine a little above 3600 RPM. I will provide some wiring details at a later date, but for now I'll leave you wondering how I got the alternator to self-excite. The next project that will use an alternator is going to be a small portable welder, actually this project may include the use of two alternators. I'm not sure how i'm going to do this until I first find a couple high current alternators.