Some of you know a lot about producing electricity, me? I’m a total genny idiot and I’ll admit to that but Henham 2023 a few mets got together and had a light up and, it was brilliant, 2024 see a proper pen for light sets and the genny boys had a fantastic time in there and add to that Petterfest 2024 was just WOW! So I thought I’d have a go at that but I know nothing…….
So what do you do if you are a total genny idiot? There are sites you can buy new gennys from but you need fairly deep pockets for them, ebay has lots and if you know what you are doing you can take a punt on there, convert a motor? Yeah that’s an option IF you have any clue how, I’ve read the books, watched the videos and still don’t see how it’s done.
I bought a little belt drive Honda genny, plan. Nope, decided it was too good to split so scratch that idea.
So how am I going to play light sets? Spend £lots on a proper set, be nice but chances are it would need work (back to limited knowledge) it got me thinking.
The answer, for me was one of those Evolution GEN2800 units from the Evolution Evo-System, this is a system where you buy an engine then you use that for multiple uses, genny, dirty water pump, pressure washer etc. Sound like something from the past but apparently it’s “new”. So a bit of searching and I found the parts list, looks simple, I can see how it comes apart and it looks like if it doesn’t work I can get the bits I need to undo the work done so at least I could sell it as a unit again if needs be so the hunt for a unit begins. Didn’t want a new one, although they are only around £140 from Screwfix it is still £140 and if I could find cheaper then I would. Got one off ebay for £80 including shipping, happy with that. Item bought so now wait for the delivery…..
Parts list and screenshot of the Screwfix listing.
It arrived eventually, the joy of eBay at Christmas. First thing was a good inspection and try and figure how it comes apart, turns out the coupler on the drive end is screwed on with a M16 thread so that was easy, I needed a pulley so a bit of number crunching on this site: https://www.blocklayer.com/pulley-belt helped work out the pulley I needed then it was a case of getting a 5″ pulley off eBay (again!) and tapping it so it would screw on, simples 🙂
Ebay pulley prior to threading.
The end casting needed to be adapted so the pulley could be fitted, for this I removed the bolts holding that on, the 2 in the frame and, once I figured there was one through the shaft that one too and that allowed the end casting to be removed and then cut and cleaned up, once that was done I then attached the pulley before fitting it back as there is a short stubby shaft that goes through the front bearing and has a taper that fits into the rotor, so far, so good. Now I had a 2.4kw genny, 240/110v that I can drive! Happy days. Wasn’t happy with that as I wanted a “set”….
Above – The modified end casting
Below – Pulley now fitted
Engine of choice is my 3.25hp Petter New Model single flywheel engine, no particular reason except it has the solid flywheel and a steel trolley with room to fit everything, engine was brought to the workshop, everything was measured up but the engine and genny run in opposite directions so that means a crossed belt, attempt one failed, belt was too short and it would throw off as soon as the engine fired up so a new plan was needed, longer belt worked but that meant the cooling tank stand needed work, new stand made from box section steel and the genny fitted under that and I finally have me a gen set that is easy to use, has a decent output and, a bonus will drive an electric pump I also have! Pump during the day and bulbs at night, result!
The finished article lighting up the garden.
So to sum up, if like me you have no clue about how a genny works, limited funds maybe, or just want a simple gen set option then the Evolution Evo-System genny is a viable plan, depending on your skill set it is fairly simple to work out, as long as you have known engine speed getting a pulley is easy (it does work at lower speed so probably would be fine at that) I made mine a single unit but there is no reason why you couldn’t use it as a stand-alone item and use it off multiple engines.
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