What have done towards your prep?

[Mortblanc]

First thing to do is start a new thread specific to this project in the proper section so we can ramble on for the appropriate hours in that spot.

My own setup was simple, a GM brand 1980s era alternator cross-wired so it would charge from the first spin and a set of jumper cables wired to the alternator and hooked to whatever battery I had in use.

I had the generator bolted to a brace I installed by the grass outlet on the mower deck. A big wooden pulley wheel made from plywood replaced the mower blade and the V belt ran from wooden wheel to alternator wheel. I used the mower deck so it would be highly portable and I could roll it in and out of the shop.

I swapped batteries out often and did not want a permanent wiring setup. From there I had an inverter bolted to a two wheeled dolly so I could set the battery on the dolly platform and roll it about. I also had 12V running down the center wall of the cabin and ran directly off the battery for some applications. I stole the idea/system from a caravan.

I found that it was much easier to charge the battery at work ad plug the house into the caravan wiring on the truck!

As for the cycle dynamo, I may try that! I am on a cycle exercise program now and I could put a pretty good charge on a battery during my daily hour of peddling. We can even get 12V wheel charged bike systems over here.