Generac 15KW generator engine tear down

[hr3]

Does look good.. are you getting the guys 100hp motor..

 

[FairfaxStu]

Does look good.. are you getting the guys 100hp motor..

Nope. Peter is getting a gently used version of the same motor - not the heavily modifed version that they use for Tractor Pulling. I don't think the generator would last long being spun at over 9K RPM. I have visions of it vibrating off of the pad, grenading, and then copper and steel everywhere. Not to mention that it would probably generate over 400 volts at like 180 HZ and likely blow up most of the stuff connected to it. You would also need a fuel truck parked outside to feed the bad boy tons of methanol.

 

[pclausen]

I'd rather have an engine modified to run at 1800 rpm instead of 3600, use half the fuel, yet be able to deliver the same 32hp and then swap in a 4 pole rotor instead of the current 2 pole rotor so that the generator would still put out 60hz.

 

[FairfaxStu]

I'd rather have an engine modified to run at 1800 rpm instead of 3600, use half the fuel, yet be able to deliver the same 32hp and then swap in a 4 pole rotor instead of the current 2 pole rotor so that the generator would still put out 60hz.

It takes power to make power. There is no magic. You are going to burn just about as much fuel even at half the RPM. The only real benefit would be quieter operation and less cycles on the engine. Interesting idea, though. Frank could probably hook you up with a manufacturer for the stroker crank and new rods:cool2:

 

[pclausen]

Nah, at that point it would make sense to just move to a liquid cooled diesel, which is the direction I was leaning until this opportunity for an almost free 15kw air cooled LPG burning unit presented itself.

Like this 25kw Kubota:

Kubota 25,000 Watt Diesel Generator

Look at the fuel curve. This unit burns only 1.9 gal/hr producing 25kw. My LPG powered unit consumes almost 3 gal/hr producing 15kw. Pretty amazing. I do realize diesel has a higher energy content, but still.

But unless I have 10+ full days a year without utility power, a diesel generator would probably not pay for itself in my lifetime if that was the only deciding factor.

 

[techman]

I bought my 10KW Kubota powered gen from them. They do a nice job putting together and wiring the unit. It came filled with oil, and had battery cables and all. I had them add a start/stop controller, which was only $ 200 more. If provides 2 wire start/stop, all of the sensor monitoring, glow plug control, crank limiting, etc. Very nice unit, which is full programmable. They mounted it in an enclosure and mounted it to the generator on shock mounts. All was fully wired up. I do not have (by choice) automatic start, and I have a manual transfer switch arrangement on the breaker panel. I also have a small float charger on the battery, so it is always ready to go.

paul

 

[OcalaPat]

I live in Florida and got sick and tired of the portable/semi stand alone generator hassles. Upgraded to a 20Kva Stamford NewAge genset powered by a Kubota V2203 4 cyl diesel. Everything runs through an ANSCO automatic transfer switch which also exercises the unit as I wish. In addition, I installed a Power-Saver 1200 primarily as a whole house line conditioner/surge protector but in the process began saving from 12-18% on my monthly utility bill. Gota love that!
Runs entire house including A/C, elect stove, elect water heater, lights, well pump, computers etc. with not even a burp. Best investment I ever made.

 

[FairfaxStu]

In addition, I installed a Power-Saver 1200 primarily as a whole house line conditioner/surge protector but in the process began saving from 12-18% on my monthly utility bill. Gota love that!

Ok, what the heck is a Power-Saver 1200 and how does it save you money? Does it just turn stuff off at certain times?

 

[pclausen]

Check it out Stu:

Power-Save Energy Corp.- Save Energy, reduce electric bills, power save, save power, power-save, , low electric bills, lower electric bill, lower, electric, bill, lower heating bill

In a nutshell, it improves the power factor of inductive loads (motors), to .95. So it should be able to make any non EnergyStar rated appliance operate more efficiently. I got a 350w motor that runs 24/7 (primary circulation pump for my salt water tanks), not to mention a butt load of other motors, all in non EnergyStar rated appliances that are more than 3 years old, so I might just have to give this device a try. At $300, it would pay for itself in 5 month it it saved me 15% a month.

It's basically a big capacitor that install by your breaker panel via a 20A breaker, much like how a whole house surge protector would (which this unit also provides).

 

[murphy1244]

Check it out Stu:

Power-Save Energy Corp.- Save Energy, reduce electric bills, power save, save power, power-save, , low electric bills, lower electric bill, lower, electric, bill, lower heating bill

In a nutshell, it improves the power factor of inductive loads (motors), to .95. So it should be able to make any non EnergyStar rated appliance operate more efficiently. I got a 350w motor that runs 24/7 (primary circulation pump for my salt water tanks), not to mention a butt load of other motors, all in non EnergyStar rated appliances that are more than 3 years old, so I might just have to give this device a try. At $300, it would pay for itself in 5 month it it saved me 15% a month.

It's basically a big capacitor that install by your breaker panel via a 20A breaker, much like how a whole house surge protector would (which this unit also provides).

Yea but what can it do for metal halides??