Technical > Electronics > Need advice on a small water-powered electrical system?

Do some math regarding the flow * drop * efficiency of the water turbine.
A TV will use some 200W assuming it's CRT. Fridge you're looking at 100W almost continuous. You might be able to start a very small one with an inverter, provided that the inverter is capable of 1000W.
So you're looking at a minimum of 100W continuous, maybe 400W for 4hrs/day (throwing numbers). 3.6kWh/day. With a 80% efficiency (let's be realistic) you need 4.5kWh from batteries, maybe 6kWh/day supplied by the turbine. That's 250W continuous. Typical generator efficiency is 60% -> turbine must provide some 400W
Sine you're not going to have a super-efficient turbine (90%+) I would guesstimate 70%.
P=0.7*1000[kg/m^3]*9.8*h*q where h is the drop [m] and q is the flow [m^3/s]
400 = 6860*h*q -> h*q = 0.058
You need 58L/sec falling from 1m to get the power.

The TV is either LCD or Plasma

Why an old auto generator? My Willys had one. After it fried itself the second time (stuck regulator relay) I swapped it for an alternator and never had problems again.

You can get "1-wire" alternators relatively cheap. I picked up a 200 amp one for just under $100. Included the internal regulator. Just connect to battery and provide +12V to the reg.

If you are just charging a 12V batt, that is all you need.

If it's plasma, good luck. Those things are power hogs.

what would u think that the surge would be for start-up of the compressor?

You can get "1-wire" alternators relatively cheap. I picked up a 200 amp one for just under $100. Included the internal regulator. Just connect to battery and provide +12V to the reg.

If you are just charging a 12V batt, that is all you need.

Just figured that an older generator would be better suited to this application thinking it would require less RPM's to produce the necessary charge when compared to a newer alternator.