I'm contemplating purchasing a 2000W generator, to power some of my tools. One potential issue i that I have a saw that pulls 2500 W at startup and then 1800 w to run. Seems to my that as the generator runs, it's creating surplus power, and it's only those peak loads that overwhelm it. Would it possible to hook up some sort of large capacitor or power storage device, to supplement the the generator during those peak times? would a battery array and power invert potentially work?
How to supplement a portable generator during peak load.
capacitorgeneratorinverterload
Best Answer
Member mkeith makes a good point - you can use another induction motor to supplement starting current requirements.
However, you actually want to use a fairly large motor, or a smaller motor with a heavy flywheel attached to the shaft. It is the rotational energy contained in the spinning rotor and flywheel that provides the extra surge current capability.
Fairly large motor, to me, is anywhere from 1 to 5 HP.
Also note that this extra motor MUST be an induction motor, not a brushed motor.
A really quick way to try this is to use a decently-sized bench grinder with dual 8" wheels. The grinding wheels act like flywheels and pretty much every bench grinder that I've seen since I was a kid uses induction motors.
It's certainly worth a try.