which portable generators do people have

[90cummins]

It was 8 degrees F below zero this morning and has been below zero for 3 days so I decided to see how my L70 Yanmar would start. It has not been started in 4 weeks.
After it started I manually controlled the throttle preventing full speed so oil pressure could build up. Oil psi was initially 50psi but slowly increased to 100 psi as it warmed up.
I connected generator to my inverter and turned off the utility power and ran it for 30 minutes powering entire house.
It started better than I expected, very pleased. You couldn稚 expect any engine to start any better.
It is a military spec engine with a 3 quart oil sump and bypass oil filter allowing 500 hour service intervals. It also has 2 intake grid heaters that preheat intake air and works quite well.
I bought this engine new because it had the features noted above allowing very long service and intake grid heaters for extreme cold weather operation.

Follow the link to a utube video of a minus 8 degree cold start.

Yanmar L70 generator minus 8 degrees cold start. - YouTube

 

[Garandman]

View attachment 534827


I just saw this awesome genset sell on E-Bay. Was sitting at a grand and sold for 3 grand. 500 something hours, 2 cylinder Diesel, (1800RPM) Air cooled. 5-6 KW, Single or 3 Phase. NEVER seen one like it. Three fuel pumps. Had it's own tank, or you could pump out of a 55 gallon drum.

Now, THAT is a portable generator! Might still be a tad noisy though for being air cooled.

I was tempted but not for 3 grand. Curious if anybody ever had bad experience buying used military gensets. Everything looks so unfamiliar.

Some people buy them from US military auctions, some are resold on places like eBay, and there are even companies that specialize in supporting them , like Green Mountain Generators

As you might imagine, these units are speced to run at rated capacity even at temperature extremes. If you Store diesel or heat with oil and have frequent outages, they have their advantages. And disadvantages. Compare

http://www.deweyelectronics.com/assets/pdfs/spec-sheets/Rev-MEP-531A-120V-AC-Specification-Sheet.pdf

and

YDG-W 37 | Yanmar Diesel Generator

 

[Travelover]

for those of you actually interested in using an inverter, they now make hybrid inverters, that have "generator support", how it works is, when a large load comes on, and the generator dips, the inverter is in passthrough mode. once its see's the dip, the inverter goes into inverter mode and assists the generator via its battery's to power through the surge to allow a smaller generator to power bigger surge loads, i have primary seen them installed in RV's. these inverters also charge the batterys back up at the same time.

be aware these type of inverters are not that cheap

This is a neat approach. Instead of oversizing the generator, you have it work with an inverter. When the generator struggles, like on start up of an electric motor, the inverter helps out off a battery for a few seconds. Yamaha does this with an electric starting generator. Additionally Victron makes an inverter that passes through power from a generator and helps as needed.

 

[3930dave]

As I previously stated, I was looking to upgrade from an Onan I currently have. Was hoping to power the whole house but, it appears I don't have sufficient tractor horsepower to do that so, I'll stick with what I've got. BTW, compared to where Dave is, my heat requirements are insignificant.

Spent way more time in cold country while I was in the military that I do not wish to repeat, not my idea of a good time. If that's what you like, I'm all for you but, it's not for me. KY is just about right. Have all four seasons and they are all about 3 months long. I like it that way.

The house is all electric. We have a propane fireplace, won't be adding a pellet, wood or coal option to it. My fireplace is a fake, doesn't even have a chimney. So, the previously mentioned heat sources are not an option.

Rams :drink:

If your heat needs are really low, then combustions sources probably aren't worth pursuing.... that said, most modern residential furnaces and pellet stoves are direct-vent. 2 ABS pipes through the wall, done. Nobody wants to pay the cost of a chimney, if you can avoid it.....

(Edit - "fake" stuck in my mind initially... sounds like your fireplace is direct-vent).

Rgds, D.

 

[90cummins]

This is a neat approach. Instead of oversizing the generator, you have it work with an inverter. When the generator struggles, like on start up of an electric motor, the inverter helps out off a battery for a few seconds. Yamaha does this with an electric starting generator. Additionally Victron makes an inverter that passes through power from a generator and helps as needed.

This system you describe is what I have.
Xantrex XW4024 Hybrid Inverter with Generator Assist which allows me to operate with a 3.7kw generator.
Very happy with how it operates.
90cummins

 

[Old Red]

Some people buy them from US military auctions, some are resold on places like eBay, and there are even companies that specialize in supporting them , like Green Mountain Generators

As you might imagine, these units are speced to run at rated capacity even at temperature extremes. If you Store diesel or heat with oil and have frequent outages, they have their advantages. And disadvantages. Compare

http://www.deweyelectronics.com/assets/pdfs/spec-sheets/Rev-MEP-531A-120V-AC-Specification-Sheet.pdf

and

YDG-W 37 | Yanmar Diesel Generator

Yes, I bought a 10KW diesel 1800 RPM military generator back in September. Had 33 hours on it. 2007 model. Thing is freaking AWESOME! Will run both my 5 ton and 2.5 ton heat pump at the same time. Way under rated. I have the aux fuel kit for it as well. I have it sitting in my garage on top of caster wheels and can just plug in panel and fire it up to run my house.

 

[blackrams]

If your heat needs are really low, then combustions sources probably aren't worth pursuing.... that said, most modern residential furnaces and pellet stoves are direct-vent. 2 ABS pipes through the wall, done. Nobody wants to pay the cost of a chimney, if you can avoid it.....

(Edit - "fake" stuck in my mind initially... sounds like your fireplace is direct-vent).

Rgds, D.

My heat needs are relatively low, my wife's are not. Only person I've known who sleeps with the heated mattress cover and a heating blanket on top of her. Ya never know till it's too late.

Fake chimney means just that. We have a ventless propane logs set up.

While I'm on the subject, what the heck were the HVAC installers thinking when they put the thermostat on the opposing wall to the fireplace?:banghead: Light a fire and the rest of the house gets cold!!! It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that ain't gonna work.

Rams

 

[ultrarunner]

My heat needs are relatively low, my wife's are not. Only person I've known who sleeps with the heated mattress cover and a heating blanket on top of her. Ya never know till it's too late.

Fake chimney means just that. We have a ventless propane logs set up.

While I'm on the subject, what the heck were the HVAC installers thinking when they put the thermostat on the opposing wall to the fireplace?:banghead: Light a fire and the rest of the house gets cold!!! It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that ain't gonna work.

Rams

Maybe to prevent/limit simultaneous furnace and fireplace operation?

One of the guys at work had a nice fire going and the furnace started... as soon as the blower started the fireplace back-drafted... pulled the flames right though the metal fireplace screen...

His question is why did the installers put the thermostat in the hall instead of in the same room as the fireplace?

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have said this before and people should pay attention. Often the fuse or breaker rating on a generator exceeds the capacity of the generator, especially in continuous duty. One, they only make standard rated protection devices and two, you do need to allow for motor starts.

So, if you keep experimenting as to how much stuff you can put on there, well maybe one day your set will be fried. Also, it may be able to run several motors until it tries to start them at the same time.

My best solution is to install a motor type overload device. It can be set to a very specific current but also allow for starting.

 

[goeduck]

Maybe to prevent/limit simultaneous furnace and fireplace operation?

One of the guys at work had a nice fire going and the furnace started... as soon as the blower started the fireplace back-drafted... pulled the flames right though the metal fireplace screen...

His question is why did the installers put the thermostat in the hall instead of in the same room as the fireplace?

Sounds like his furnace was discharging supply air into the attic, garage or somewhere. The house should have had the same supply air as return air. Should be equal and no suction on the fireplace.