It only runs a small alternator so I don't think the load is much for the big flywheel.
If the alternator you are running is from a car, the Charge control on them is pretty crap and they become inefficient. The alternators themselves are great, it's the CONTROLLERS that let them down. You would do well to bypass or remove the internal control and use an electronic external controller....depending on how many hours you run it and what your return on the investment of a controller would be time wise.
Better still, if you are going to put any real hours on the thing, get a Diesel and run it on waste oil being vegetable oil or engine oil.
Hi Glort,
I have a pretty interesting (to me) set up for back up charging. 95% of the work is done by solar panels and a wind turbine in winter. But for the rest the little tractor/drag racing alternator goes through to a three stage charger. It is called a Pro-Alt C by Stirling and it not only charges my batteries at the correct voltage, it acts as an external regulator. So it controls the amps in during bulk, absorption and float.
I have other generators which are pure sine wave rated and fine to run external chargers but they simply aren't as much fun as the Lister.
I have a diesel lister SR3 but it is seized. Any ideas on where to start to get it running? I am used to whipping off the head and using a lump of wood and hammer to free a stuck piston but to be honest I know nothing about diesels. Every time my David Brown tractor sh1ts the bed I could weep!