Portable Generators

[3930dave]

I got and ran my NorthStar Honda generator last night. Wow, ran like a champ. Started on the first pull and never missed or hiccuped. Ran the well pump without issues.

I used 1.2 quarts of Castol 5w-30 oil and will empty it out around 15 hours of use and replace it with Mobil 1 synthetic 5w-30.

Congratulations Pettrix, I expect that will perform well for you.

Could you pls post a link to your gen info ? Had a quick look at thread start, but didn't see one....

Once you are past your heavy lifting (usage) stage with your gen, consider stopping by the thread I started some time back - Your last generator Maintance run. I started it mostly to offset my tendency to forget to fire mine up once in a while, and it seems to have helped a few others with the same issue too.

Rgds, D.

 

[Pettrix]

Congratulations Pettrix, I expect that will perform well for you.

Could you pls post a link to your gen info ? Had a quick look at thread start, but didn't see one....

Thank you, no problem, here you go:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200467366_200467366

 

[3930dave]

Thank you, no problem, hear you go:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200467366_200467366

Thanks. That looks like a great fit for your needs.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

The conversation is about going out and purchasing a 2016 built machine to use in 2016 , on 2016 fuel with 2016 emissions .
The next problem will be the EPA and thier anti internal combustion engine agenda . Emission regulations are not going to reduced or go away. Emissions specs will not stay stable either . There will be further restrictions . Tier V and Tier IV are being discussed by the tree huggers and social engineers .
Eventually the regulations will be that only LP and NG can be burned clean enough to meet spec. Finally the regulations will be tightened to the point that only burning hydrogen will meet emissions spec.
There are some rather robust and high HP spark ignition engines powering natural gas pipeline compressors that last as long or longer than a diesel between rebuilds. There are LP forklifts with high hours if the air filtration is maintained and with clean engine oil that have "diesel service life".
In an ideal world Diesel emissions specs would be Tier I or Tier II at the most and engines still having a Bosch mechanical P pump. Then diesels would be ideal for medium and HD applications where idling and light loads are not typical operating modes.
The EPA is staffed with "idealists" and social engineers that don't care about or know about reality and they are certain that they can legislate a ""Star Trek" utopia with Star Trek technology and the end of social problems .

I do agree that the EPA needs to be reined in.

In small diesels, there are still old school ones available today, new.

OFF GRID | Diesel Generators | AURORA

Enjoy 'em while you can. Given the cost difference for Pettrix's application, I would have gone the same way he did.

Rgds, D.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Thank you, no problem, hear you go:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200467366_200467366

The specs on that generator really do look good... Looks like it will last a long time.

SR

 

[TomSeller]

Thank you, no problem, here you go:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200467366_200467366

Very nice. I see it says low THD. Is there a rating on it?

 

[TomSeller]

For crying out loud, we're taking about a simple gasoline engine. We're talking about regular off-the-shelf motor oils. Can someone yank the wrong stuff off the shelf? Yeah. Such people ought to defer to someone else to oversee such actions: if they cannot select the right oil then I wonder whether I'd want them to be trying to manage electrical issues in the middle of some crisis!

BobIsTheOilGuy.com. Great site for understanding oils.

I agree, I don't worry much about the name of the brand as long as it is a known "better" respected brand. I can't get myself to buy the "house" brands however.

I pulled into Walmart yesterday with my daily driver and asked for the ~$50 synthetic oil change, I never have done that before. I figured whatever synthetic oil it was would be good enough. I was pleased when they told me it was Mobil 1. Got some shopping done while I waited.

 

[TomSeller]

My point was that diesels' engines last longer by default (because they run on oil-based fuels). I tossed in "water-cooled" because there are a lot of cheap air-cooled gensets out there (and they're noted not to be very good- Chinesum I think).

But, for those interested in air-cooled diesels:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/buying-pricing-comparisons/158359-air-cooled-diesel-engine.html

As always, YMMV.

I have an air cooled 6HP generator powered by a Yanmar with a Dayton power head on it. GREAT generator. It lives in the barn and gets hauled around whenever I need remote power. ALWAYS starts on the first pull. Not that my Honda GX 13HP on my house generator is a bad engine, it is just that I can start walking away from the Yanmar as I finish pulling the cord.

 

[Garandman]

Yanmar makes "portable" diesel generators. They run at 3,600rpm. (YDG5500 | Yanmar USA) The YDG5500 weighs 243 lbs.

Dry weight of a Honda EM6500 is 243 lbs.
Honda EM65S Model Info | Deluxe 65 Watt Portable Generator | Honda Generators
Take your pick.

Around here, if people have frequent outages and heat with oil, they will favor diesel because they store lots of fuel.

The vast majority of whole house are Propane or NG, and vast majority of portables are gas.

 

[Pettrix]

Very nice. I see it says low THD. Is there a rating on it?

Yes, it is rated at less than 5% THD.