diesel for generator

[Soundguy]

reminds me when my dad got a big military diesel genny that came on a trailer.. I don't recall the KW on it.. but it was about the size of 2 green box 3yd dumpsters side by side.

lotda power... lotsa noise.. big fuel tank.

If i'm not home, there won't be any backup power. My wife is the kind of woman that thinks 'putting gas in her car' means telling me she is low.

I'm sure she is not aware that there is a hood latch switch in the driver compartment of her vehicle either, and that tires automatically air themselves..

without uninterupted fuel, an auto setup would be useless for us.. and no LP/prop service out here...

soundguy

After my daughter had two brain surgeries in the last year I pretty well need everything to remain the same if our power goes out; which is all too frequent. My 400 amp service rated automatic transfer switch and 65000kW Yanmar turbo diesel generator works just fine. Unless it's around 100 degrees outside and I need all 13 ton of A/C units running, it just pretty well idles along using no more diesel than a 20000kW generator would since the 20kW would be running at 3/4 capacity even without all the A/C units on.

We lost power for around 3 weeks a couple years ago after an ice storm and that sucked. We lost power for almost a week a few months ago after a tornado. My little 8500kW and 6500kW generators were just enough for us to survive and not leave or go live in our coach. Perhaps 30 years ago I would have been content with 'just getting by'. Now I need to make sure all is fine if I'm gone on a business trip (wife has to do nothing except possibly carry the transfer fuel tank out to the generator with the track loader after about 5 or 6 days - which I can't see having to happen unless I'm gone gone) and my wife is alone with the kids. Besides, my idea of camping used to be a tent and a couple MRE's. Now camping is in a 40' class A diesel pusher motor coach. Funny how things change over time.

 

[Coyote machine]

I too put in a transfer switch, I believe it was a ten circuit switch, and hooked up a 6.5kW used Craftsman gas run genny for the inevitable end of the world as we knew it, prior to Y2K:laughing:
Boom- nothing!
Recently had a 1000 gallon propane underground tank installed, with a 20kW B&S generator, a whole house transfer switch, AND a load shedding switch to drop and reintroduce big loads sequentially as the loads are read by the switch. I've got over 300 breakers on numerous panels in the house and the propane is also supplied to my barn and a bunch of additional breakers there.
It works flawlessly, and got lots of use last winter in storms and extended outages. I did a lot of research before this install and used my on call master electrician to wire it all up.
Between the wire, underground trenches from tank to generator, to house, to barn etc. it cost a large fortune, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
It self tests, won't start if there is low oil shows a ready to run lite in the pantry, and a running condition and error lites too.
Some flatlander idiot up the road from me left their cabin's propane fed home generator connected after contacting the propane company about a leak, they left the cabin with the propane still turned on. Eventually the power went out and the generator kicked on, sparked the leaking fuel source and burned the cabin to the ground while backfeeding the line. By the time the fire dept found the cabin it was toast. It only got called in due to guys working next door seeing the flames.

 

[timswi]

I fail to comprehend why anyone would spend their hard earned money on a generator and then skip perhaps the most important part of backup power; a transfer switch. I seem to relate that to kids spending 10 grand on a stereo and putting it in a $200 car; it just doesn't make sense and in the case of the generator issue, it's illegal, period. I won't have anything to do with someone illegally attaching a generator to their home. There are laws and codes for a reason.

People can debate the size of generator, type of power of a generator, style of generator etc., but there is no debate when it comes to how to hook up a generator to your home. I can find enough trouble without intentionally violating codes and regulations in place for my safety as well as the safety of others.

We were without power for 7 days. Everyone one was backfeeding (I'm not encouraging that, by the way)..The power company just nicely told everyone to shut off their generators and that was it. Not fines or jail time here.

I'm going to install a transfer switch to deal with this...If I was backfeeding at 220, the generator would stall. Saw someone try that without killing the main...He was trying to power the entire neighborhood, the generator wouldn't even start.

Again...I'm not encouraging backfeeding, it can be dangerous.

 

[Diamondpilot]

To me this is the best way to go, (the double throw switch). not as easy to install for the home owner as the multi circuit transfer switch, but gives you much more versatility, especially like you say, future growth.

I saw those at HF and was a little disappointed in the quality, but for the price compared to domestic made ones, it is cheaper than say a 10 circuit transfer switch. I'm sure they must meet the required standards.

I've been looking to get one myself, the best price I found was $550.00 for a used one!! (Square D brand) or $800. for a new Siemans.

You (or anyone else) should consider getting one of these to help balance your load, especially when using a smaller genny than the panel can handle. I have one installed but have not tried it out yet.
Generatror Power Meter Boxes
Only problem is the analog meters are kinda small.

JB.

The one I got is good quality and made by Cutler Hammer which is made in US I believe. They are part of the Eaton group.

Chris

 

[dlabrie]

Well the power went out 1/2 hour ago and I am up and running.

Plugged in the generator, started her up, flipped the transfer switches and I am in business.

Yeah!

 

[Qapla]

Back-feeding used to be a problem around here. Then the electric company enacted rules for their linemen that "if it isn't grounded, it isn't dead". They will not even begin work on a line until, after they pull the switch, they connect all lines to ground. They have not had any instances of injured linesmen. However, they have shorted out a number of homeowner generators that were improperly connected.

Seems when they ground all their lines properly, any generators feeding those lines are cooked and quit feeding the power company lines.

 

[90cummins]

Back-feeding used to be a problem around here. Then the electric company enacted rules for their linemen that "if it isn't grounded, it isn't dead". They will not even begin work on a line until, after they pull the switch, they connect all lines to ground. They have not had any instances of injured linesmen. However, they have shorted out a number of homeowner generators that were improperly connected.

Seems when they ground all their lines properly, any generators feeding those lines are cooked and quit feeding the power company lines.

Qapla what switch are you referring too?

 

[JB4310]

All this talk about backfeeding the grid is interesting, I'm sure it does happen but probably not as often as some have worried about here.

For a lineman to get hurt, a few things would have to happen, first a major mistake by the generator operator. this is very likely with the flood of generators on the market. Second the generator would have to keep running, if connected to the grid, 99% of the time the genny is gonna pop when it tries powering the grid. In other threads it has been brought up, that the power going thru a transformer will step up voltage, so of course in some cases the power will go out to the lines some distance, especially in a rural area I would think.

The biggest mistake would have to be by the linesman for assuming a line was truly dead. Not trying to diminish the threat, it must be very hectic for the linesmen, knowing how many generators are out there now. But there can be no way they can ever assume a line is not energized.

That has to be the fail-safe measure, it's not gonna come from the consumers.
They have to have the loaded gun mentality at all times.

Also back-feeding the neutral was mentioned, I don't know how that is avoided even with the transfer switches etc, or even pulling the meter. Do those methods disconnect the neutral? I'm not saying it doesn't, just trying to learn.

JB

 

[timswi]

All this talk about backfeeding the grid is interesting, I'm sure it does happen but probably not as often as some have worried about here.

For a lineman to get hurt, a few things would have to happen, first a major mistake by the generator operator. this is very likely with the flood of generators on the market. Second the generator would have to keep running, if connected to the grid, 99% of the time the genny is gonna pop when it tries powering the grid. In other threads it has been brought up, that the power going thru a transformer will step up voltage, so of course in some cases the power will go out to the lines some distance, especially in a rural area I would think.

The biggest mistake would have to be by the linesman for assuming a line was truly dead. Not trying to diminish the threat, it must be very hectic for the linesmen, knowing how many generators are out there now. But there can be no way they can ever assume a line is not energized.

That has to be the fail-safe measure, it's not gonna come from the consumers.
They have to have the loaded gun mentality at all times.

Also back-feeding the neutral was mentioned, I don't know how that is avoided even with the transfer switches etc, or even pulling the meter. Do those methods disconnect the neutral? I'm not saying it doesn't, just trying to learn.

JB

At least on my meter, pulling it completely seperates the neutral and hot legs from the panel connection....An arc could happen I guess, but they are mechanically seperated.

 

[Coyote machine]

Qapla what switch are you referring too?

You know- the big switch behind the curtain, at the Emerald City!
Click your heels twice Dorothy! You'll be back in Kansas before you know it!:laughing:

Sorry, couldn't resist. Actually it's the switch on the current bush, just north of here.