Anyone used a Multiquip Whisperwatt generator?

[aczlan]

My priorities (in approximate order of importance) are:
1. Easy to use - My wife or inlaws need to be able to run it (which as I understand it takes out military gensets like the MEP0003A as they need a little tweaking after starting to be on frequency)
2. Diesel - I have had enough of messing with Gas and we will have a diesel tank to fuel the tractors with anyway.
3. Reliable - When the power goes out, it needs to work (see 2)
4. 7-10k - Needs to run the house (no electric heat/cooking, but possibly some window AC units)
5. Parts available - I see lots of "Apache" generators and they look nice, but I worry about parts availability 5 years down the road. The Aurora ones also look nice, but I also wonder about parts availability with their units that are in my price range
6. Repeatable - I will probbaly end up setting up something like this for my inlaws once I get the bugs worked out
7. Water cooled - No mouse nests in the engine cooling fins to cook the head
8. 1800 rpms - Would be nice, but not a top priority with a good genset
9. Quiet - Sound levels are a not a top priority as this will probbaly be in the detached garage of the new place (single car garage across the driveway from the house) with a secondary muffler and a CO2 alarm.
10. Cost - I dont want to break the bank with this, but it would be worth a few grand to not have to worry about the power going out.


Aaron Z

 

[aczlan]

I spoke to the seller today and he said that it has 2100 hours on it, was a Sprint site genset and is in great shape.
I will go and take a look at it on Monday with cash and a trailer.

Aaron Z

 

[AKwelder]

they run a lot of them in the oil patch and at construction sites around here. Never heard many complaints, and don't see the fuel truck parked beside them.
The Fuel tank underneath the engine I don't care for but they all do that now. It always gets messy.
They are quiet, so quiet that the local CAT dealer rents these instead of CAT brand.

Good luck

 

[JB4310]

I went through the generator and engine specs (near the front of the online manual). Looks like both the engine and generator make maximum power at 3600 RPM...sounds like one to one, I'd say...

That is a nice generator!! Good luck with the purchase!

It's a 2 pole so it needs to turn at 3600 to get 60 hz.
You usually need one more cylinder to turn a 4 pole genset (1800 rpm's) the added weight and low end torque are required to reliably produce and stay within 2-3% of 60 hz. Same 2hp/kw but more spinning mass.
I think it also has to do with emissions (see my reply to Aaron below)
Once you get into 3 cylinder diesel it will almost always be liquid cooled.

I spoke to the seller today and he said that it has 2100 hours on it, was a Sprint site genset and is in great shape.
I will go and take a look at it on Monday with cash and a trailer.

Aaron Z

I think it is an OK deal, maybe even better when you consider the fact that there are probably not alot of clean used ones available at any given time. It is really a 6KW generator according to the specs, which state it's continuous output at 6, I'm surprised multiquip would call it 7000 in it's model number. that's something the lower quality companies do.

It's close to my dream generator, which would be somewhere around 8-10 kw, 4 pole, 1800 rpm, premium liquid cooled diesel.

Kubota and other premium manufacturers made similar small enclosed diesel gensets that were 1800rpm. But you can't get one, no more imports because I believe they could not make them emission compliant.
That's what I was told when I researched the subject looking for one myself.

Multiquip is definitely industrial quality equipment. I've got a multiquip job-site 3600 watt gasser. This thing weighs 3 times more than comparably sized generators sold in the big box stores. Mine is probably 30 years old, got it used and beat up 20 years ago and it has fallen of truck, been under water and still runs perfectly.

Good luck!

JB.

 

[ultrarunner]

Co-worker's husband sells multiquip and they are good units...

We use them for special events and some are extremely quiet... which would be a deal breaker if it wasn't...

 

[aczlan]

So, I went over to the Steel Soldiers forum and asked about the MEP-003A.
I asked about frequency dift and was told that they are:

Very easy to use. Once the genset has been set at the correct speed for 60hz, you should never need to adjust it again. Voltage adjustment is done by turning a knob and watching a panel meter.

On the rating (10kw), they said that:

The rating as specified by the military is at 8,000 ft elevation and 120 degrees F. lower elevations and temps give it more available output.
And it's a 24/7 rating, with PM stops every 100 hours of operation (change engine oil and filter - .4 hour), and every 500 hours of operation clean the crankcase breather (half hour job) (PM per LO5-6115-585-12 which was in reach as I sit by the computer).

I am REALLY liking what I hear about the Multiquip, but at the same time, I also like the idea of having a matched set of generators... Only having to know one machine and keep less different consumables is a good thing.

Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Thanks for the feedback

Aaron Z

 

[5030]

Would it be Diesel powered and water cooled? The second is optional, the first is not.

Aaron Z

You've already sold yourself (from reading the thread).

If I was going stationary standby for the whole farm, I'd go diesel but for the house the Generac on LP is fine and 17KW is enough for the house. We typically have 1000 plus gallons of LP on hand at any time.

My problem with a diesel genset is the fuel gets touchy sitting around for a protracted amount of time, like sitting in the fuel tank collecting moisture.

If I ever decided to power the whole farm, I'd be getting a 4 pole genset running 1800 RPM and not 3600. Slower it turns, the longer it lasts (engine).

I'd just plumb the genset into the farm bulk tank and be done with it. There is enough fuel turnover on the bulk tank to negate the problem of stale fuel.

ULSD like the current blended gasoline has a definite shelf life. Keep that in mind.

Good luck with it. It's not for me.

 

[JB4310]

Some generator ads are coming up on this thread,

Electric Generators at United Generator: Kubota

Half way down there are some small kubotas, the 7kw is around 4-5 thousand new.

JB

 

[5030]

The one at the top, for 16 grand, interestingly has the same engine that's in the M9 but the 9 is turbocharged air to air and makes 90 horsepower. V3300TE

 

[aczlan]

You've already sold yourself (from reading the thread).
If I was going stationary standby for the whole farm, I'd go diesel but for the house the Generac on LP is fine and 17KW is enough for the house. We typically have 1000 plus gallons of LP on hand at any time.

We have diesel and electric as heat sources and will have fuel on hand for the tractors. We dont have anything that uses propane and I would rather not add that unless I need to.

If I ever decided to power the whole farm, I'd be getting a 4 pole genset running 1800 RPM and not 3600. Slower it turns, the longer it lasts (engine).

I would prefer that as well, but I cannot find a watercooled one for under $4k. I can find the MEP003A ones (which look better after reading more about them), but the seller is not responding to my questions.
For ~$4500 I can get a new Aurora 10kw unit (diesel, watercooled, 1800 rpms), but I am worried about longevity and parts availability.

I'd just plumb the genset into the farm bulk tank and be done with it. There is enough fuel turnover on the bulk tank to negate the problem of stale fuel.
ULSD like the current blended gasoline has a definite shelf life. Keep that in mind.

I will use some power service and rotate as much as possible

Aaron Z