I have a tmaxx 3.3 and i would like to make an alternator or generator out of a small eletric motor, is this possible? how would i go about doing it? the purpose behind this pet project is to have a constant powersource that isnt batteries so i can power things like lights and accessories, maybe even charge the on board batteries for the servos

as long as it is a brushed dc motor, you should be able to connect the original +/- connections to some leds, then find a way to connect the motor drive shaft to the drivetrain of the truck. As for recharging rx batteries, to start you would need some form of charge flow direction circuit, otherwise the batteries would just drive the motor.
Please note, I only have a basic knowledge on this subject so please wait for confirmation or negation of my theory.

hmmm sounds decent...so your saying that if i take a typical brushed motor and hook it to a light bulb and spin the motor fast enough it should light the light?

in theory yes, if you already have a motor that you were planning to use, try putting the drive shaft in the chuck of a drill, with an led connected and test it, you should be able to power some leds, but not sure if you will generate enough to get a decent use from normal ightbulbs.

There was a generator tower hobbies was selling a while back, it was designed for plane motors.

ill check em out thx

The only problem I can see with it is it would slow you down, if you're worried about that. That's more drag and resistance on the drivetrain and more weight. However that would be rather interesting. Maybe you could turn it into an RC hybrid at some point

hmmmmm this is an interesting point to be making kudos

If you didn't have too many accessories running off the "generator" motor, you will not have as much load or drag on the engine (the nitro engine I mean) powering the whole thing. Basically you will be bleeding off the amount power it takes to spin the electric motor itself (the mass of the armature inside, friction etc) and the power it takes to run any accessories. If you ever had a bicycle with one of those wheel mounted dynamos, then you'll remember, when you had it turn using the bike's wheel and your headlight turned on, it was much tougher to operate the bike; you had to pedal harder.

Back in the early 80's to early 90's companies like Novak an Tekin designed ESC's that used Brushed motors to recharge the batteries when you applied the brakes on land based r/c vehicles. They were called battery regenerating circuitry. They worked well to get extended runtimes on the batteries during endurance races for pan cars, buggies and trucks back then.

No need to hook up a charger to our Bergen Industrial Twin. Small outrunner turned by the main gear keeps all the batteries up on the ship and for the camera equipment on board. Dont know the specifics of the system as Im just a lowley pilot not the mechanic LOL
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How do you power that thing??Dont see a motor or anything.

Oh theres definately a motor! 52cc twin on Gas. From the angle you can only see the two exhaust ports. From the other side you can see the huge velocity stack on the carb. Its looud and intimidating as h#ll to fly.
The outrunner is spinning off the main shaft that you can see next to the huge gear.

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Wouldnt want to be standing near that thing when it takes off.Videos??

Mr Bergen himself(jr) flying a very similar setup for the history channel www.youtube.com/watch Ill have a video in the airiel photog. section soon. I need to talk to our mechanic and get some specifics on the generator system.

well the generator project is effectively on hold until further notice, i had built a metal tranny with metal gears and for some reason im not generating enough bottom end power on uneven terrain to be trucking around, in straight line the truck is good though, im thinking i have to switch the gears back to the plastic tranny case.. more to come