Assembling and test running the Sirius steam engine generator part 7.

Testing the Sirius generating plant on steam.

[@ianrenshaw6653]

Very nice job on this wonderful engine. Thanks for taking the time to share!

[@nitramretep]

Really nice seeing that classic Stuart Model's Sirius steam engine running. I don't remember the rpm for the Sirius but I am surprised it can run an alternator. Thanks for the video!

[@seanflanagan5674]

What a gorgeous setup, and the engine is beautiful. (I cheated and skipped all of your build vids to see if this is the kind of engine I'm looking to build - I'm a total novice, "I know nothing!" - Sgt. Schultz)

[@terjegjerstad9692]

Realy nice machine. It very spescial with steamengines. Thanks for sharing. 🇧🇻

[@gwheyduke]

Very nice work. Runs great !

[@charlesceceliayoung684]

Does the engine produce more torque than is being used? If so, you could use disparate belt drives and get higher generator RPM for the same 40psi. More energy for the same fuel use.

[@gregorymalchuk272]

This is really cool. Does the boiler have an economizer or superheater? You could also make it more efficient with an air heater or a vacuum condenser.

[@HistoricSteamTV]

Great work, I have been slowly working towards this set up. Just got my second Sirius kit and man they are a trick to make right. Yours sounds great, I am putting sealed bearings in end caps as an option as well. Could you make an old BSA type drawing of the circuit? Not sure I should bodge that. I was going to use a Lucas 180w stator set up but have a 30a alt too. The Lucas rotor may put out 14v with the Sirius I think.

[@hobbysteamjoe]

Don't know what a BSA circuit is, but the circuit is simple. Two brushes run on slip rings on the rotor. One brush is connected to positive of the system in the stock alternator. The other brush power is controlled by the voltage regulator. Remove the voltage regulator and through a 25 watt 25 ohm rheostat connect the other brush to ground (negative). Adjusting the rheostat controls power output. I put a toggle switch in the circuit to easily turn off power to the rotor.

[@HistoricSteamTV]

Thanks, BSA motorcycle thought you may have a bike thus the dead battery used. Got lots of those :o) great job!

[@GrahamMealand]

@steamerjoe page, Beautiful setup sir. I've just purchased the "Sirius" castings & plans, but i am admiring your boiler. Could you provide any plans or details about it please.

[@RustyInventions-wz6ir]

Just came across your channel and subscribed. I want to build engines soon on my channel “Rusty inventions “ just love seeing other people doing it.

[@mooniedizzel6443]

Hey Joe. When are you going to make some new videos?

[@joshuagaucher9799]

Do you still have that South Bend lathe? If yes, any chance I could get some photos of the belt tensioner assembly? Mine is missing.

[@traveladdict1]

So when do we see the engine instead of you?

[@fabriziodutto7508]

Thank you for sharing! Unfortunately at the beginning of the video, as you talk about every single piece, the camera was too high and it is not visible what you touch, but when you change the camera angle, all comes clear! I wonder if it will be possible to use the power of the steam engine to pump the water when needed, like the valve that opens up in case of too high pressure. Thank you for sharing, a nice and interesting way of generating energy, surely more eco-friendly that a steam motor using coal for the fire.

[@RobertSchmitt-u7l]

Make boiler from stainless capillary tube, Coil it, lots of tight loops, hundreds of turns,, then use a high pressure feeder pump or thermosiphon mode if you can caluclate that right. It would then be insulated, with very thick insulation, a small fire chamber, with heat scavenging to the maximum possible amount. Maybe copper scavenger and stainless heat chamber. No steam storage, no pressure relief, Thick wall tubing that can withstand the max temperature and pressure. No safety needed in that respect. The engine would then have to handle superheated steam, but it could be cooled for that purpose, and then scavenge water that way too.

[@tobyw9573]

If you can get a Watt meter you can convert to HP. They use them for checking appliances, perhaps they will work for DC.

[@martinclark4637]

Toby W Amps x volts = Watts. 750 watts = 1HP 😀

[@carlmitchell9958]

Hi Joe, first time I've seen your site, great set up. I've got an old Sirius but my boilers a bit on the small size so it won't run for long. Do you put oil in the sump or do you just use the displacement lubricator .Regards from the UK.

[@clydefishface3869]

If you don't put oil in the sump you will very quickly burn out the bearings and probably destroy the bevel gears on the valve gear.

[@carlmitchell9958]

Clyde Fishface . Thanks for your advice, I find that the oil becomes emulsified, and gets very messy. Regards. Carl.

[@clydefishface3869]

You need to use a pure mineral oil, no "compounding" or detergents.Automobile engine oil is especially bad. If you can find it in small quantities a steam turbine oil is best. In the US one meeting the specifications of US Navy 2190 TEP turbine oil is best.

[@carlmitchell9958]

Clyde Fishface . Sounds like you know what your talking about, thanks again.

[@1stPCFerret]

@@clydefishface3869 There's a KZbinr named Keith Appleton who is a "model steam engineer" and he has a formula for "steam oil" that works well for him. Check out the beginner vids on his channel: kzbin.info

[@ViaAvione]

Amazing! Thank you for sharing

[@lexpee]

For the first 4:30 minutes I can't see anything from the steam engine. The camera is set much too high

[@wisco-lad]

Wounder if u could use a pulley system and a high output Alternator to charge full size batteries the same way....

[@slickwillie3376]

Nice engine.

[@charlitonvieiradeoliveira9926]

very good,how many rpm?

[@thomvogan3397]

Cool engine but it seems like a complicated way to get a 100 watts. One solar panel can give you that

[@sathishkumarradhakrishnan5905]

where i can buy this engine.

[@precisiont5188]

Can I buy one of these?

[@6258RB]

cool, steam engines are the best.

[@charlitonvieiradeoliveira9926]

é um motor ou é uma turbina?

[@charlitonvieiradeoliveira9926]

sorry,y´m from BRASIL,it´s an engine or a turbine?

[@TheBas1984]

A steam engine, twin cilinder.

[@charlitonvieiradeoliveira9926]

thank you

[@hoverbotfpv1425]

The ww2 one was called the Firefly. :) Awesome set up this is not an easy project.

[@jimdandy9671]

Good shot of you Joe... what does the engine look like?

[@PCTC47]

If you put the propane cylinder in the water, it will prevent freezing the propane! I learned that from Keith Appleton. I am a fellow steamer in western Kansas. Just now found you. Excellent videos. Thanks

[@hmax1591]

Good job, the alt may be getting warm because there no fan actually blowing air through or by it. Alternator do have a fan...with the pulley.

[@DobleWhiteAndStabley]

Absolutely beautiful. I'm strongly thinking about making a steam generator now.

[@freyja4954]

I would run a over drive belt set up to get more Into the working efficiency of that engine and conserv steam.

[@Skoda130]

A direct drive like this is more efficient than a belt. A belt adds friction and slip.

[@neno56527]

What is below the camera

[@TnMtnRdr]

Looks like a miniature version of a Westinghouse high speed engine. I have one made by ACME in the 1920's. They had a governor in the flywheel and run at 600 RPM I've heard. Which was high speed when most medium size engines were running at 2-300 rpm.

[@JonLawes79]

I'm tempted to run one of these through a gearbox to power a steam lorry. Do you think it would be suitable for that? I reckon a 5/1 reduction would be ideal for half size model?

[@mcgrorymachined7596]

no way, a half size model will weigh more than a car, you need to scale everything down by half, i'd imagine 6" bores wouldn't be unreasonable for a full size steam lorry so 3" for your model. which is a very sizeable engine in it's self! if you were set on using it to power a model steam lorry (which would be fantastic) 1" scale (1" to the scale foot) would be about right.

[@RobertSchmitt-u7l]

Thats a good running steam engine. Boiler may need more heat scavenging.

[@kyleglenn2434]

What am I missing? Why not recondense the water from the engine exhaust back into the boiler? 30 amps should run a refrigerator

[@emil.honganmaki5461]

Very good

[@jukeboxhero1649]

You could run that engine at lower rpm if you put a big pulley on the Sirius shaft and a smaller pulley on the alternator

[@clydefishface3869]

Almost five full minutes before we can even see the plant!

[@1stPCFerret]

Camera set too high. Obviously didn't check his camera setup before recording.

[@gwheyduke]

Nice set up. Seems to put out quite a bit of power.

[@hansemist]

I wonder if they build some for electric trains?

[@joshuanorris9785]

watts this produced?

[@precisiont5188]

How maby decibels?

[@ballHand]

Hope you are doing well Joe

[@raymondj8768]

if you used a pully system couldent you spin that alt faster for more power ? thats what i want to try doing . thanks really cool video buddy love it !

[@golfwipe]

Just connecting the field to the alternator makes it drop in half, so you need a much more powerful engine.

[@michaelbrownlee9497]

Cool hobby.

[@psicopatalucifer]

Woow cool.!