How to Run a Scooter Generator Off of a Briggs & Stratton
Briggs & Stratton Motors have been the motors of choice for decades when it comes to home-built go-karts and motorcycles. With the do it yourself attitude increasing in popularity, these ingenious garage engineers often look to improve their machines with alternative uses for technology found on other vehicles. Equipping the motor with a small-scale generator, such as those found on scooters, can effectively produce a charge strong enough to power a basic electrical system for a go-kart or minibike. This project is intended for those with basic fabrication and electrical skills, so proceed with caution.
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Things You'll Need
- Briggs & Stratton Motor
- Generator (flywheel and stator assembly)
- Sheet metal or aluminum
- Voltage regulator
- Rectifier
- 12-volt battery
- Multimeter
Instructions
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1
Measure the diameter of the motor's output shaft.
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2
Select a generator. A generator is composed of a flywheel and a stator, a ring-shaped series of electromagnets. The flywheel's inner diameter must fit over the output shaft. The stator will need a slightly larger diameter to fit around the output shaft without touching it directly.
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3
Fabricate a mounting bracket for the stator from sheet metal or aluminum. The stator will be placed around the output shaft and will need to be secured so that it will not contact the shaft or flywheel.
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4
Slide the stator's wiring harness through the mounting bracket and secure the stator with bolts to the bracket. Slide the flywheel onto the motor's output shaft and tighten the included locknut.
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5
Plug the voltage regulator and rectifier into the connector at the end of the stator's wiring harness. The rectifier should have a pair of wires that end in a connecting terminal. Cut off the connector with electrical wire cutters and attach a fork-type connector to each wire with a crimping tool.
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6
Connect the rectifier's wires to a 12-volt motorcycle or auto battery.
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7
Start the motor and test the battery with a multimeter. If the generator is operating properly, a steady reading between 13.5 to 14.5 volts should be displayed. This is the proper voltage required to charge the battery.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Be sure to provide a route for the stator's wiring harness to pass through the bracket, protecting the wiring from any moving parts.
To simply the system, source your generator, rectifier and voltage regulator from the same make and model scooter. Mixing and matching parts will require time-consuming wire splicing and may not work safely or properly.
The process shown is a simple example of how a scooter generator may be operated from a Briggs & Stratton motor. Other modifications may be required to fully operate a vehicle with the same motor.
Do not attempt this project if you do not have a basic understanding of metal working or electrical skills.
Use caution when working with the generator and other components to lower the risk of electrical shock.
Be careful of moving parts that may cause injuries.
