portable battery charger

[bigegg]

a discussion on a FB group (about diesel heaters), has brought some questions up:
how could you recharge a lead acid battery, using a diesel heater?

assume a vehicle engine is not available, but diesel is.

ideas:
thermoelectric battery charger in the exhaust of the heater.
solar panels.

i was wondering: has anyone come across a conventional diesel(?) generator, small enough to carry on a hike, which could output a couple of amps at 12v?
or are the thermoelectric ones going to be best?

 

[addjunkie]

Solar charger, or carry a booster pack....https://shopgadgetmonkey.com/produc...ry-booster-charger-power-bank-starting-device

 

[8ob]

I think my money would go on some cheap 12v drill batteries and rig up solar charger on one of the back packs, a few of these would be light enough and keep a diesel heater going for a while.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-9-0A...a=0&pg=2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

 

[bigegg]

but how would you recharge the drill batteries? or the booster pack?

with diesel as the fuel source, but no vehicle?

 

[bigegg]

I think my money would go on some cheap 12v drill batteries and rig up solar charger on one of the back packs, a few of these would be light enough and keep a diesel heater going for a while.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-9-0Ah-Replacement-Battery-for-Milwaukee-M12-12Volt-48-11-2440-48-11-2402-9Ah/173956750735?_trkparms=aid=555018&algo=PL.SIM&ao=1&asc=57923&meid=a85413ef4add427aa4531905765fa11e&pid=100005&rk=3&rkt=12&mehot=co&sd=173956759342&itm=173956750735&pmt=1&noa=0&pg=2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

would 28650 batteries not be cheaper/more conveniently shaped?

 

[stuvy]

Would it need to be carried by hand or in a vehicle

 

[jsf55]

If it got hot enough .... steam turbine ?

 

[bigegg]

Would it need to be carried by hand or in a vehicle

either - although something less than a standard generator: It would be just for charging a 12v lead/acid leisure/car battery.

 

[8ob]

would 28650 batteries not be cheaper/more conveniently shaped?

Just me being lazy and thinking you could chop the handle off a knackered cordless and make battery swaps easier. Like the battery checker I made.

 

[bigegg]

basically, the problem is this: a diesel heater is powered by a 12v supply (usually a battery or 20A PSU) - most of the time, it uses about 3? amps, but uses 15A or so when starting up.

So if it's running on a battery, eventually it goes flat and you have no heat..
But plenty of fuel.

So... how would you recharge the battery: without the huge waste of fuel you would get from running a vehicle engine, or big generator?
So what would work? Perhaps something that could be used in a mountain hut where a solar panel is potentially covered in snow?

It's just a "thought exercise", but wondering if anyone had a clever idea? (I'll cut you in on the profits )

 

[stuvy]

2stroke strimmer engine with a pully and alternator?

 

[8ob]

Some diesel heaters dont require electricity https://www.portablespaceheater.ca/expedition/

 

[stuvy]

Lpg gas heater?

 

[bigegg]

not looking for alternate heaters.
just battery charging.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

What about a hand cranked charger

 

[pcwizme]

The army used to have some water heaters that used vaporised diesel as the fuel (I think it was diesel) and to heat the glow plug to start the heating they used a peltior module, the initial power for the heating came from a freeplay 12v charger.

https://ecofriend.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/freeplay-wind-up-cell-phone-charger.jpg, Could that provide the power to start a small genny? does it have to be diesel, could you make a mini genny from a small remote control car engine? only low torque but high speed? could be intresting, Whats the 12v for, whats it to power?

I know its only hypothetical but interesting to think about.

 

[gaz1]

you roughly get 150c out of those heaters at exhaust point

a stirling engine should be able to power it