Is this a dumb idea or....not?

[joester]

Now that fall is here and daylight ends much sooner, I find myself outside trying to keep up with chores including the occasional mowing. Not that I have a large yard, I'm right in that "too small for a rider, but sorta big for a push mower" category.
Not getting out of work until the early evening doesn't help.

I've been toying with adding a coil to the magneto on my mower with a circuit to power some LED head lights... maybe a small radio...

Crazy?

 

[reynoldston]

Now that fall is here and daylight ends much sooner, I find myself outside trying to keep up with chores including the occasional mowing. Not that I have a large yard, I'm right in that "too small for a rider, but sorta big for a push mower" category.
Not getting out of work until the early evening doesn't help.

I've been toying with adding a coil to the magneto on my mower with a circuit to power some LED head lights... maybe a small radio...

Crazy?

For what small amount of electric you would use just mount a small motorcycle battery on the mower. Then when you are done using it buy yourself a small battery charger and charge the battery for your next outing.

 

[joester]

I thought about that and have a flashlight that works... but I think a self charging deal sounds like more fun.

Probably wouldn't take much of a coil or capacitor.

 

[reynoldston]

I thought about that and have a flashlight that works... but I think a self charging deal sounds like more fun.

Probably wouldn't take much of a coil or capacitor.

You are going way over my head here. How do you charge a battery with a coil or capacitor? It just seems you would have to start with a stator and a flywheel to match. then wire a voltage regulator into that. So what are you doing here charging up the capacitor with a coil. Just how do you control the capacitor discharge to charge a battery? It seems like it would take a large capacitor.$$ What type of battery are you charging? I say go for it.

 

[bertsmobile1]

You are going way over my head here. How do you charge a battery with a coil or capacitor? It just seems you would have to start with a stator and a flywheel to match. then wire a voltage regulator into that. So what are you doing here charging up the capacitor with a coil. Just how do you control the capacitor discharge to charge a battery? It seems like it would take a large capacitor.$$ What type of battery are you charging? I say go for it.

magneto coils generate anything up to 60,000 V, at next to no amps.
Further more it is AC.
Putting that into a battery will do nothing other than making the battery hot
So yes it is a very dumb idea.
PArticularly when you can get good value LED lamps that fit directly onto your head so the light is always where you are looking

 

[joester]

Should be no different than the alternator in your car (Produces AC, converts to DC and charges the battery) but on a smaller scale. Since I only need a few volts, this seems like a pretty easy thing to do.... AC buffered with the capacitor, through a bridge rectifier and a voltage regulator. If I can generate 5 volts, I'll add a battery pack and a USB power port so I can plug in my phone and charge it while I listen to Pandora.
The headlamps work, but sweat ruins the elastic and they don't last. Since I have a few of them with ruined bands, I was thinking about using them as the headlights with smaller LED flashlights illuminating the sides and rear. Should make an interesting winter project...

 

[reynoldston]

Sounds good to me, go for it. Personally I have no idea what you are doing??? So where are you mounting this coil so its like a car alternator on a small engine? What kind of coil? So what are you using for a capacitor? I like working with electric but this is way over my head. Like to see some pictures when you are done.

 

[joester]

I'll need to do some testing, but my intent is to add a second coil (NOT a spark coil... similar indesign maybe but smaller) and use the flywheel magnet.

If/when I get a working design, I'll be sure to post.

 

[reynoldston]

When you talk about a Sycamore mower I picture a cheap mower with a small Briggs engine. I have had the fan shroud off these mowers and just can't picture a mounting for a second coil? Also just what kind of a coil if it isn't a spark coil? I am really trying to picture this in my mine but not making it. Also this capacitor you are talking about sounds like something found in a electric fork truck? big $$'s. Are you getting any parts together for this yet?

 

[joester]

When you talk about a Sycamore mower I picture a cheap mower with a small Briggs engine. I have had the fan shroud off these mowers and just can't picture a mounting for a second coil? Also just what kind of a coil if it isn't a spark coil? I am really trying to picture this in my mine but not making it. Also this capacitor you are talking about sounds like something found in a electric fork truck? big $$'s. Are you getting any parts together for this yet?

Still in the formation phase, have yet to pull the shroud off the (yes you are correct in the description) Sycamore mower.
I have access to various surplus electronics and I don't think it will take much of a capacitor to buffer the electrical pulse from the magnet and coil. I have several thousand feet of magnet wire (great for coils) and am not new to winding... you should see the tesla coil I'm currently making....