Your last generator Maintenance Run

[3930dave]

You have to sum CAPEX (including depreciation and replacement cost) + OPEX (including fuel, service, and preventative maintenance); there is no way in the long run it will be cheaper than utility power -- unless your utility power is being sold to you by Tony Soprano's "guys".

wrooster

Thanks for dropping by Wrooster.

I do understand all the cost factors you are citing. What I was referring to was just the fueling costs. My way of looking at residential use (we all do our situ specific calculations....) goes something like this....... IF you have decided that you want an automatic standby system, THEN the primary operating costs are going to be fuel - at least for those of us inclined to do our own PM and service. I'm assuming typical residential use (ie. not 12 hours/day x 365).

As a % of the value of housing, these systems continue to get more cost effective - at least anywhere near most major cities.

I just came back from an area of Canada where the elec rate is something like 40c/kwh. Ontario is not that bad, yet......... but sometimes it does feel like we'd get a better deal if the wiseguys were running the show...... when your province is broke, the temptation to get out the "Revenue Tools" and yank up the price of electricity twice a year or more is just too tempting...... I've come to view the situation as much like giving a junkie the keys to a Pharmacy.

Rgds, D.

 

[chad22]

So I asked when was the last oil change... NEVER.

Sounds like my 85 year old uncle in Arkansas. When I was there at our other house almost 2 years ago. I was helping him at his house change a radiator.

He then mentioned that his transmission wasn't shifting right and the rpms were going up while the Toyota forerunner was struggling to climb the hills or even just going straight down the road.

I asked him when he last checked the transmission fluid. His reply never not since he bought it 4 years ago.

I checked it and it was empty. Not a drop on the stick. He said it's been acting that way for the 3 years he's had it.

I'm surprised he didn't mess up the tranny and get stranded somewhere.

Now he blew the engine in it due to not checking or adding oil to the engine. Not surprised there either because when I checked it it was barely showing on the stick.

I always check the fluids every time I get ready to take my truck down the road. Before I start it I check the oil and antifreeze level.

Then when I start it and let it warm up I check the transmission fluid.

Might be overkill but I'd rather be safe than sorry. It sucks to be stranded on the road somewhere.

Whenever I'm on a long trip I always check the fluids at every stop. Not just gas stops but every stop.

Sometimes my oil is low and if I hadn't checked it I probably would have blown the engine.

I always carry all the fluids needed with me at all times as well.

The fluids are cheap compared to a tow or engine or tranny or even another vehicle.

 

[3930dave]

While I don't check my vehicle fluids as often as you do Chad, I totally agree that they need to be checked much more often than most people do (never, as with many examples posted).

No real substitute for hands-on maintenance, but as I've probably already posted at least once in this thread..... I still find it odd that it's easy to buy a $500 generator that has low-oil shutdown, but it is white-rhino rare in road-going vehicles.

One car manuf argument would be - "We don't want to strand a vehicle, just due to a oil-sensor failure".

In the old days, that point had some weight. Today, with on-board computers and driver info displays, I don't really see that as a valid reason - allowing the driver the option to over-ride a faulty sensor would be trivial to program.

Rgds, D.

 

[nikdfish]

It looks like the old Porter Cable BSI5500 bit the dust after 15+ years...

I had it running during this last power outage & suddenly the UPS's in the house start beeping & then the power dropped. Went out thinking I had miscalculated the gas in the tank, but found an oily mess. The plastic oil filler plug behind the muffler (never used because it was behind the muffler) had blown out & oil had sprayed everywhere. Just to clarify, this is not the plug used for checking/adding oil. That one is on the other side - the motor has two.

Figured the low oil shutdown had cut it off before damage, I refilled the crankcase and replaced the plugs. It would not start. Engine spins maybe too easily, like no compression. Disconnected the low oil sensor wire to see if it just hadn't reset - no joy. Messed with it for an hour & decided a new genny was needed before frozen/refridgerated items were at risk.

Picked up a 7KW dual fuel with electric start that was on sale at Costco - $650 vs regular $800. Heavy son of a gun, glad I had forks on the bucket to get it off the pickup ... Did the minimal assembly while up on the forks, wheels, feet & hook up battery. Added oil & fuel and things in the house are happy again. A plus is that we can leave the well pump on now, there is enough capacity to handle it with the usual always on items (will turn it off if running microwave, etc).

ETA - Three hours after putting the new genny on-line, the shore power returns...
Need a couple more hours before the post break-in oil change. Nice feature is a rubber oil drain line you can use to direct the drain flow!

Nick

 

[3930dave]

It looks like the old Porter Cable BSI5500 bit the dust after 15+ years...

I had it running during this last power outage & suddenly the UPS's in the house start beeping & then the power dropped. Went out thinking I had miscalculated the gas in the tank, but found an oily mess. The plastic oil filler plug behind the muffler (never used because it was behind the muffler) had blown out & oil had sprayed everywhere. Just to clarify, this is not the plug used for checking/adding oil. That one is on the other side - the motor has two.

Figured the low oil shutdown had cut it off before damage, I refilled the crankcase and replaced the plugs. It would not start. Engine spins maybe too easily, like no compression. Disconnected the low oil sensor wire to see if it just hadn't reset - no joy. Messed with it for an hour & decided a new genny was needed before frozen/refridgerated items were at risk.

Picked up a 7KW dual fuel with electric start that was on sale at Costco - $650 vs regular $800. Heavy son of a gun, glad I had forks on the bucket to get it off the pickup ... Did the minimal assembly while up on the forks, wheels, feet & hook up battery. Added oil & fuel and things in the house are happy again. A plus is that we can leave the well pump on now, there is enough capacity to handle it with the usual always on items (will turn it off if running microwave, etc).

ETA - Three hours after putting the new genny on-line, the shore power returns...
Need a couple more hours before the post break-in oil change. Nice feature is a rubber oil drain line you can use to direct the drain flow!

Nick

Too bad about the PC (rebuild project, for a rainy day ?), but sounds like you scored a nice find at Costco.

What is the make/model of the new machine ? I don't recall seeing dual/fuel units at the Costcos here.

Handy to have the new oil drain setup that way out of the box..... I was camping last year and had a chat with my neighbour about heavy equipment - he was lamenting how badly designed the oil drain was on a brand new heavy truck - you can be paying 6 figures for a piece of machinery, and still end up with a PITA oil drain design...

Rgds, D.

 

[nikdfish]

Dave, the unit is a Champion model # 71530 made for Costco and is a somewhat derated version of Champion's model # 71531. The Costco version apparently has a different stator in the generator head (although the motor is the same), probably to let the Costco version claim <5% THD and a "clean sine waveform". From comments I've read, the waveform stays clean and stable even under heavy load. The Costco version is rated 7Kw constant, 9Kw starting where the 71530 is rated as 7.5 Kw constant, 9.375 Kw starting. It has a 6 gallon tank and claims 8 - 9 hours operation per tank running at 1/2 load and has an electric starter. It is a heavy beast, with a dry weight of > 230 lb.

The unit came with a 30A 25' cord that has 2 sets of 2 20A 120v receptacles with circuit breakers, a 3' (?) propane tap hose, and smart charger to float charge the battery during storage. In addition to 2 sets of GFCI 20A 120v recepticals, the front panel has a 120V Twist lock (L5-30R) connector and a 120/240V Twist lock (L14-30R) connector. There is also a digital readout that can be set to read volts, hz, or hours.

So far, I'm pretty pleased with it...

Nick

 

[Humblebub]

Dave, the unit is a Champion model # 71530 made for Costco and is a somewhat derated version of Champion's model # 71531. The Costco version apparently

So far, I'm pretty pleased with it...

Nick

Nick, I purchased the same model from a friend who, due to health problems, was unloading a lot of his stuff. When I got it, it was well used with 1200 hours on the clock. My friend takes care of his equipment. I used it for a while and it handled both of my heat pumps and other electrical needs. It was a good machine. The only reason I do not have it now as it got a little difficult to start and I was worried that my wife would not be able to start it if I was not there. I replaced it with a Honda which I love. Like most Honda engines, the new one just about starts when I touch the key.

Craig

 

[3930dave]

Dave, the unit is a Champion model # 71530 made for Costco and is a somewhat derated version of Champion's model # 71531. The Costco version apparently has a different stator in the generator head (although the motor is the same), probably to let the Costco version claim <5% THD and a "clean sine waveform". From comments I've read, the waveform stays clean and stable even under heavy load. The Costco version is rated 7Kw constant, 9Kw starting where the 71530 is rated as 7.5 Kw constant, 9.375 Kw starting. It has a 6 gallon tank and claims 8 - 9 hours operation per tank running at 1/2 load and has an electric starter. It is a heavy beast, with a dry weight of > 230 lb.

The unit came with a 30A 25' cord that has 2 sets of 2 20A 120v receptacles with circuit breakers, a 3' (?) propane tap hose, and smart charger to float charge the battery during storage. In addition to 2 sets of GFCI 20A 120v recepticals, the front panel has a 120V Twist lock (L5-30R) connector and a 120/240V Twist lock (L14-30R) connector. There is also a digital readout that can be set to read volts, hz, or hours.

So far, I'm pretty pleased with it...

Nick

A friend of mine has the gas Champion version you reference; he has been pleased with it. Nice to be able to display the 3 data types on the readout. Out of the box propane option - that would have caught my eye too...... Few fuels store better long term than propane.

That sounds quite capable, as the 1200 hours reported from out East attests to..... I expect it will serve you well.

Looks to be out of stock on-line, not surprising at that price.
Champion 7000W Running / 9000W Peak DUAL FUEL Generator w/Electric Start

Rgds, D.

 

[nikdfish]

Just as well we went ahead & picked it up - back on generator power after a storm front passed through around 7:15 PM tonight ...

Nick

 

[3930dave]

Just as well we went ahead & picked it up - back on generator power after a storm front passed through around 7:15 PM tonight ...

Nick

Good timing. How do you find the Champion's noise level under load, compared to your old PC ?

Rgds, D.