Making a charging circuit.

[adrenaline406]

I know this has been gone over several times: adding a charging system to a kart. We all see that alternators are too parasitic for most of us (I am only 7hp stock), and running a battery to be recharged is just too simple, and I would prefer not to have to charge before I go out for a run. If your next question is "Do you really run it at night all that often?" That is the only time my friends and I run it.

Question Time:
1) Why don't people add charging circuits more often? It doesn't seem too cost prohibitive.
There's a magnetic flywheel on ebay for $20 (maybe I could add some magnets to my flywheel).
There's a stator also for $20 on ebay, I would have to check the bolt pattern.
There's a 3 wire rectifier on amazon for $30 shipped.
You can find a small trailer brake battery for $20-30.
Beyond that I already have all the wiring/lights/switches/etc, Is there something that I'm missing on the parts list?

2) My block has a bolt pattern for the stator already there, it is 2 7/8" by 4. Is that a standard size across the industry or might that be specific to a manufacturer?

3) Being that the coils are on the inside of the magnetic field, these systems do produce AC as an alternator and would therefore require a rectifier?

(I'm sure there's more)

Thanks in advance.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Yes, they produce AC and need to be rectified, and I would advise against trying to "MacGyver" a magnet onto your flywheel. It'd make one he// of a bullet.

If you have a fairly common engine, odds are good it was available from the factory with 12v electric start. If this is the case, look around- you can probably source the factory parts for a nice, clean OEM install.

I do know that for the 6.5hp Honda and clone owners, there are complete kits available on EvilBay.

 

[adrenaline406]

Not sure how I should be searching for these kits, charging circuit kit and other variants using charge(ing) coil, etc are giving me nothing. Is there a better, more universal name for these systems?

 

[trevmust]

so if my engine has electric start it has a sufficient charging system built in? I want to run stuff like lights and gauges... but the lights will be off most of the time, I'll only need them if I drive it in the dark. I want to hook up an engine hour meter for sure.

 

[OzFab]

Not sure how I should be searching for these kits, charging circuit kit and other variants using charge(ing) coil, etc are giving me nothing. Is there a better, more universal name for these systems?

Try "honda clone electric start kit"

so if my engine has electric start it has a sufficient charging system built in? I want to run stuff like lights and gauges... but the lights will be off most of the time, I'll only need them if I drive it in the dark. I want to hook up an engine hour meter for sure.

You are correct but, you may need a bigger battery

 

[trevmust]

car battery? or is that too big

 

[OzFab]

car battery? or is that too big

Not too big, just overkill. A medium sized 12v motorcycle battery will do it.

 

[trevmust]

my wallet just sighed with relief

 

[gvfc2]

take a look HERE

 

[trevmust]

kinda stupid question... but can I move the ignition cylinder? Also is there a way to make the choke like a manual choke on a car? the engine I want only has electric start. What I mean is I want a knob to pull to activate the choke and then be able to push it back in to disengage it.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

The choke is manual. Yes, you can move the electrical controls to wherever you like. Just extend the wires with wires of the same (or larger) gauge.

 

[trevmust]

I know but is there a way to make it like a car choke? I want to be able to start the kart from the drivers seat without too much trouble.

 

[OzFab]

It can be done fairly easily, similar to a throttle setup. You could use the throttle mech from a lawn mower...

 

[trevmust]

the cable right? When I imagine it I think of a brake cable on a bicycle.

 

[r97]

Go on ebay and get a used motorcycle choke cable & lever assembly. Make sure the cable is long enough! That should work perfectly. I think BMI karts sells a choke cable/knob assembly too...

 

[souperman000]

Go on ebay and get a used motorcycle choke cable & lever assembly. Make sure the cable is long enough! That should work perfectly. I think BMI karts sells a choke cable/knob assembly too...

http://www.bmikarts.com/item/Choke-Wire-Cable-05039-787

might not be long enough and its kinda expensive, but here is a link.

Is it that hard to adjust the choke manually the first time? After the engine warms up, you don't need to mess with the choke to start it again.

 

[trevmust]

Im that lazy , and I think it would look cool

 

[OzFab]

the cable right? When I imagine it I think of a brake cable on a bicycle.

No, a brake cable is a stranded cable, choke cable is solid wire. Unless you want return springs everywhere, it's much easier to use solid cable

 

[trevmust]

I was referring to the sheathed wire quality.

 

[trevmust]

how much would a 200W charging coil do?