Powering trailer with an alternator
This is something that's been kicking around in my head. I've been researching alternators and i've seen 2 that have an output of 370 amps at 1200 rpm. If my math is correct then that is 4440 watts @ ...
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So I just spent my first weekend camping where I am back to using the alternator in my F150 for power. The alternator is 220 or 230 amps, (not sure), and the engine is a 3.7 V6, with EPS. With no power steering pump, and small displacement, it idles very efficiently. I have ordered a WIFI OBD plug in, and I will report actual fuel used at a later date. It was able to run my 6000btu AC effortlessly.
I used fairly cheapo #8 AWG booster cables 12' long to connect the vehicle to one of my 2 batteries in the rear of my TT. From there, it goes #2 AWG hard wired to my 1500 watt inverter 12' away. The lowest voltage I saw at the truck was 13.4v when the cooling fans cycled. It idled near silently while powering my trailer. Running a 60-70 amp load off a 220 amp alternator shouldn't appreciably shorten its life IMO.
Everyone loves to say how inefficient this type of setup is, but my genset used .4 gph when powering the AC. An inverter gen would be more efficient. But I think spending $1K to save on fuel is donkey economics.
I really like the quietness, no extra fuel to haul, no genset to haul, no other campers bothered.
I used fairly cheapo #8 AWG booster cables 12' long to connect the vehicle to one of my 2 batteries in the rear of my TT. From there, it goes #2 AWG hard wired to my 1500 watt inverter 12' away. The lowest voltage I saw at the truck was 13.4v when the cooling fans cycled. It idled near silently while powering my trailer. Running a 60-70 amp load off a 220 amp alternator shouldn't appreciably shorten its life IMO.
Everyone loves to say how inefficient this type of setup is, but my genset used .4 gph when powering the AC. An inverter gen would be more efficient. But I think spending $1K to save on fuel is donkey economics.
I really like the quietness, no extra fuel to haul, no genset to haul, no other campers bothered.
