12kw Isuzu Diesel Generator

[3930dave]

Yeah it is a huge load - I'm a website software designer by trade so I have multiple computers running at any given time. I worked out the number and its actually cheaper (after the initial purchase) to run an efficient diesel gen over getting power from the grid (not to mention the work required for that to be a possibility!) When I think about it more and more as I always am, maybe its the smarter route to simply get the Isuzu and not a stand by gen, power off the Isuzu for ten or so minutes at welcoming times to do maintenance. I figure if I keep up with all the required maintenance it will last me years to come as it's rated to run 24 hours a day 365. Claiming over 30k hours of use is very attractive to my mind. It's possible to wire a gen to a normal panel being a handy man I figure. What do you think?

Big industrial systems (even 30 years ago) will use a diesel to charge battery banks, which then run inverters.

Small(er) scale inverter/controllers are available now. I believe it was 90cummins who described his setup (Schneider ?) in the Your last generator maintenance run thread I started a few years back.

Modern controllers are also sophisticated enough to co-ordinate surge loads between the generator and the battery bank. A hybrid setup like this can give you an option vs. having the diesel running 24x7.

Rgds, D.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Your math is way off. No generator , gas, diesel, natural gas or propane is even close to as cheap as grid power.

In your example, .7 gals per hour is 504 gals in a 30 day month. At $2.59/gal that is $1305.13

That's my point, ANY generator making a 4.5kw load is going to be VERY expensive to run!

I don't think the OP realizes just how expensive!

Then IF he lives out in the bush, he's going to be hauling a lot of fuel...

SR

 

[Greenhorn18]

That's my point, ANY generator making a 4.5kw load is going to be VERY expensive to run!

I don't think the OP realizes just how expensive!

Then IF he lives out in the bush, he's going to be hauling a lot of fuel...

SR

I'll explain my math: So at 1/3 load it runs at .32 gallons an hour which is where It would be running most the day (between .3 and .32 lets say .32 24hr). In my neck of the woods, diesel runs for 2.62 a gallon. so .32 * 24 = 7.68 * 2.62 = 20.12 * 30(days/month) = 603.64 a month. My bill last month was 520-something. So yes Its a LITTLE more expensive than what I pay now, but in my opinion I would buy upwards to 750-800 just to be able to live on my scenic acreage working for myself.

As for as hauling fuel...I'll leave that to my Polaris ranger

 

[Greenhorn18]

Big industrial systems (even 30 years ago) will use a diesel to charge battery banks, which then run inverters.

Small(er) scale inverter/controllers are available now. I believe it was 90cummins who described his setup (Schneider ?) in the Your last generator maintenance run thread I started a few years back.

Modern controllers are also sophisticated enough to co-ordinate surge loads between the generator and the battery bank. A hybrid setup like this can give you an option vs. having the diesel running 24x7.

Rgds, D.

I've thought of this but fear the initial cost of the whole setup. Something I could most certainly due after filling my wallet back up that my new cabin has drained a bit. Next year maybe. I haven't read much into this subject though, do you have any literature you could link me to? Thanks for your comment friend

 

[dodge man]

I agree, I'd think in the long term, a battery setup would be what you need. Most of the time your probably running very little power. I'd also look at some kind of solar and or wind to help, heat with wood etc. Running a generator all year long would get old in a hurry.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I'll explain my math: So at 1/3 load it runs at .32 gallons an hour which is where It would be running most the day (between .3 and .32 lets say .32 24hr). In my neck of the woods, diesel runs for 2.62 a gallon. so .32 * 24 = 7.68 * 2.62 = 20.12 * 30(days/month) = 603.64 a month. My bill last month was 520-something. So yes Its a LITTLE more expensive than what I pay now, but in my opinion I would buy upwards to 750-800 just to be able to live on my scenic acreage working for myself.

As for as hauling fuel...I'll leave that to my Polaris ranger

I'll bet you it's going to burn more fuel than that!

AND pulling that fuel in, is only about 1/4th the work! Been there done that!

It really DOES get old pretty fast...

SR

 

[aczlan]

I agree, I'd think in the long term, a battery setup would be what you need. Most of the time your probably running very little power. I'd also look at some kind of solar and or wind to help, heat with wood etc. Running a generator all year long would get old in a hurry.

I agree. For example, if you are running servers and switches, you can get them with a 48VDC power supply and if you use a 48VDC battery bank you can wire them directly to the bank and cut out the loss of efficiency in stepping 48VDC to 120VAC and then dropping that back down to 5VDV/12VDC.
If you can cut your generator run time down to 6-8 hours a day (even if its down the road) you can save on fuel and lengthen its lifespan.

On the generator model, you might also look at something like a millitary surplus MEP-002/MEP-802 (5-7KW) or the MEP-003/MEP-803 (10-12KW)
The lower number is their "Prime" rating at something like 5000' of altitude and 90F ambient temperature.

Aaron Z

 

[s219]

I have a 22kW Isuzu unit from Central Maine Diesel, which is actually assembled and shipped by Mack Boring in NJ. For many of my monthly tests, I run it without a load and I can tell you the exhaust is plenty hot after 15-20 minutes, so I would not worry about wet-stacking at all. These things run at 1800rpm regardless of the load. Load will definitely make it work harder and generate more heat, but it seems to run plenty warm even at no load.

 

[TractorGuy]

I agree. For example, if you are running servers and switches, you can get them with a 48VDC power supply and if you use a 48VDC battery bank you can wire them directly to the bank and cut out the loss of efficiency in stepping 48VDC to 120VAC and then dropping that back down to 5VDV/12VDC.
If you can cut your generator run time down to 6-8 hours a day (even if its down the road) you can save on fuel and lengthen its lifespan.

On the generator model, you might also look at something like a millitary surplus MEP-002/MEP-802 (5-7KW) or the MEP-003/MEP-803 (10-12KW)
The lower number is their "Prime" rating at something like 5000' of altitude and 90F ambient temperature.

Aaron Z

Love my MEP-803A Tactical Quiet generator. Have it right behind the house and can't hear it with the TV on.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Yeah it is a huge load - I'm a website software designer by trade so I have multiple computers running at any given time. I worked out the number and its actually cheaper (after the initial purchase) to run an efficient diesel gen over getting power from the grid (not to mention the work required for that to be a possibility!) When I think about it more and more as I always am, maybe its the smarter route to simply get the Isuzu and not a stand by gen, power off the Isuzu for ten or so minutes at welcoming times to do maintenance. I figure if I keep up with all the required maintenance it will last me years to come as it's rated to run 24 hours a day 365. Claiming over 30k hours of use is very attractive to my mind. It's possible to wire a gen to a normal panel being a handy man I figure. What do you think?

You might consider load managing in your design. Power supplies spend a lot of energy spinning hard drives, and SS drives are much more energy efficient. AMD CPUs are better bang for the watt than Intel, and I doubt you will need teraflop video cards. It shouldn't be hard to get down to about 100w per computer. The majority of the load would be your monitor bank, and LED monitors are very efficient there. You could run your whole computer setup with a fairly small solar system and inverter battery bank. Then you could just run the generator when you need it. People who live in town where noise pollution is ubiquitous don't have a concept of how irritating a generator can be. If you have to have AC, fine, run the generator. The rest of the time, shut it down and enjoy the quiet sounds of nature. A water tower or cistern above the level of the cabin would provide low head water, so you would only have to run a pump when you were taking a shower. Propane heat, hot water and cooking unloads that off the electrical system. A pellet stove or wood stove would provide plenty of heat. You could probably live very well only running a generator 10 hours a week.