240volt from...12-24-48v..

Hang on. There's two things here and they are muddled up.

Is this to go from 12-48 volts DC to 240VAC, or to charge 12-48 volts DC from 240VAC mains? To do the first requires an inverter. To do the second requires a battery charger. Where does the alternator come in?

_{Confused of Dodman's Lane.}

4 PWSLACK,

Thanku 4 the reply, but the idea is to use a waterwheel to generate power, via a HD ALTERNATOR of 12-24-48volt (max amps) OUTPUT. I'M NOT SURE which voltage is best ! Eventually to a bank of 12 volt HD batterys, HOW MANY I'M NOT SURE MAYBE 6 of same amps. To convert to 240v hope i've come across ok.

An inverter needs the peak voltage level in order to get to the RMS voltage we refer to as "240V", so 240 / .707 = 339VDC. So what you will need to do is to get your DC voltage level up to about 340VDC, which when put through an inverter will come out to 240VAC. The simplest way to do that is with batteries, i.e. 7 x 48VDC batteries in series, or 14 x 24VDC batteries or 28 12VDC batteries in series, Then you also need to determine the peak power level you will need to be able to deliver, and put strings of these batteries in parallel to deliver the current you need. Then once you know the peak current and the amount of time you want to deliver that peak for, you can determine the Amp-Hour ratings of the batteries you will select. Availability of the batteries, space, service level etc. are all part of the determination as to which voltage to wok with, but certainly 12V batteries are a lot more common than 24 or 48V.

I thankU guru, i am enlightened. I'm not 2 sure on the sparky side!

12 or 24V inverters are off the shelf items (the expensive shelf). 24V HGV alternators and regulator units are again off the shelf items (next shelf down).

Are you going to be able to drive the alternator at a high enough speed via the water wheel?

I've just visited a friend on his narrow boat, televisions, computers and some house hold stuff all happily running off his 24 / 240V inverter. I acquired the wiring and protection equipment for the 24V side of it for him, believe me it needed some hefty cabling. He runs the auxiliary engine for a couple of house a day to charge the batteries for the nights use, or when he's moored at a landing stage with a 240V hook up he uses that to power a charger.

ThankU Tonys 4 your reply,

I feel sure i will have sufficient torque to drive a HD ALTERNATOR, i intend it to be a direct reduction drive rather than a pulley system. But with it being a 'BACKSHOT or OVERSHOT' water wheel very little power is lost in the motion of the wheel, as there is no contact with water flow. The only power lost is in the actual drive (motion) of the apperatus. 'Q'? If i use a HD 12v alternator with max AMP output, delivering power to a bank of 12v HD batterys 4 storage, 2 CONVERT to 240v, am i tied to a 12v alternator ? or could i use 2 of the same alternators working in tandem 4 more power, but what to do with it ? Please remember i am a novice in this field! what i am trying 2 achieve is this: A simple SYSTEM giveing me a good power system. The only permanent power drain would be an average 2 meter stand up fridge freezer.

He said speed - not torque.

Before creation - the architect? What does that mean?

Wonderfull info u supply sir, i thankU kindly.

Kind Regards, Gerard.

Don't try 2 alternators in tandem, get a 24V HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) alternator, if you've a breakers yard near you may get one there.

Maybe you should start somewhere else more specific to your needs, like here.

Another link for micro hydro

http://www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/RENEW/Hydro/Hydro_index.shtml

Russ