Generac 48kw generator: DOA, Generac unable to repair/not helpful

[grsthegreat]

actually, a 48 kw is a huge generator, but runs at 1800 rpm. chances of it running full open are probably rare. On propane that generator will burn between 2.8 and 6.6 Gal/hour. more than likely it will probably run on average closer to 3 gal/hour at most.
My own generac 22 kw air cooled ran for 14 hours a few weeks ago and only used 19.6 gal of propane ( i happened to have it hooked to a flo pro usage meter at the time). specs for that unit only list 1/2 load and full load values, but i was monitoring it live feed randomly during the outage. was running at most about 5.8 KW when ac was in use. so i had a real time, actual metered run of 1.33 gal/hr. the propane that was in the tank was less than $1/gal when purchased, so in 14 hours i used roughly $20 in fuel. most people think a 22kw air cooled will burn about 3.9 Gal/hr (as thats what the specs list at full output), but unless its the dead of winter and im running everything, it does not. neither will the 48 kw. i have customers running 45 kw at 4600 rpm, and they dont think fuel consumption during the last long outage was that severe. there not even going to top off their tank.I just serviced their unit for winter prep.

 

[Sigarms]

actually, a 48 kw is a huge generator, but runs at 1800 rpm. chances of it running full open are probably rare. On propane that generator will burn between 2.8 and 6.6 Gal/hour. more than likely it will probably run on average closer to 3 gal/hour at most.
My own generac 22 kw air cooled ran for 14 hours a few weeks ago and only used 19.6 gal of propane ( i happened to have it hooked to a flo pro usage meter at the time). specs for that unit only list 1/2 load and full load values, but i was monitoring it live feed randomly during the outage. was running at most about 5.8 KW when ac was in use. so i had a real time, actual metered run of 1.33 gal/hr. the propane that was in the tank was less than $1/gal when purchased, so in 14 hours i used roughly $20 in fuel. most people think a 22kw air cooled will burn about 3.9 Gal/hr (as thats what the specs list at full output), but unless its the dead of winter and im running everything, it does not. neither will the 48 kw. i have customers running 45 kw at 4600 rpm, and they dont think fuel consumption during the last long outage was that severe. there not even going to top off their tank.I just serviced their unit for winter prep.

Last year, our buy in on LP was $2.88 per gallon. If I had the same same thing happen at my house per the information you've given, it would cost me $53 to run on LP for 14 hrs for one day and that's not on full load. Perhaps not bad, but I not only have 20 degree days in winter to worry about, but running 3 HVAC systems at the house during the summer and winter time. At 12 hours a day, per the info you've given at my LP current pricing, that would be $47 a day which would be $322 per week not even running close to full load, only half a day per that week.

In 15 years here, probably had about 5 outages that lasted more than a day (nothing longer than 3 days).

Generally in NC, it will run you about 7-10k to install a whole house generator. What you pay for your fuel should be considered IMO per ROI vs the comfort of knowing you don't need to rely on the "grid" for power.

 

[Diggin It]

No, generators are not cheap to run. And you can run out of any fuel other than NG, even gasoline. Once I get hooked up, IF I get hooked up, I'll have to watch LP levels a lot more than I do now.

But that peace of mind knowing you (probably) have power is worth thinking about. I've had a couple of 10 day outages. I was using a gasoline portable generator and had to ration gas since the roads were messed up and I wasn't sure if I could get more, or at what price. Having to run for an hours or two out of six or eight just to keep the stuff frozen ain't a whole passel o'fun. The other hours in the dark a lot less fun.

If the roads are impassible and I run low on LP, well, I guess I can go back to the portable for a couple of days.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

IF you think you can't run out of NG, you are wrong...

A couple years ago, the NG pumping station caught fire, and folks didn't have NG until that problem was taken care of.

SR

 

[grsthegreat]

Last year, our buy in on LP was $2.88 per gallon. If I had the same same thing happen at my house per the information you've given, it would cost me $53 to run on LP for 14 hrs for one day and that's not on full load. Perhaps not bad, but I not only have 20 degree days in winter to worry about, but running 3 HVAC systems at the house during the summer and winter time. At 12 hours a day, per the info you've given at my LP current pricing, that would be $47 a day which would be $322 per week not even running close to full load, only half a day per that week.

In 15 years here, probably had about 5 outages that lasted more than a day (nothing longer than 3 days).

Generally in NC, it will run you about 7-10k to install a whole house generator. What you pay for your fuel should be considered IMO per ROI vs the comfort of knowing you don't need to rely on the "grid" for power.

holy cow. my wife just called our propane co to get up on schedule for fill up before winter crush. $0.98 per gallon. we have a 1,000 gal tank, but its still 68% full. i believe they only fill it to 90% for underground tanks. for $2.88 per gallon, i would have shut down my wifes quilting club meeting a few weeks ago and shut off the generator. no way i would pay that.

 

[ponytug]

Yup. $2.43-3.50/gal here, depending on your supplier and whether you bulk buy. As far as fuel choice goes, I think you pay your money and make your choice. There are scenarios that will bite any of the sources for energy. My solar crapped out two weeks ago when the smoke was so thick that we had lights on all day inside. In our local area, diesel standby generators are being phased out due to the emissions, so that's out for homeowners. My portable generators are diesel and gas. I tend to have more diesel on the property, which makes it a better choice for me in the event of an emergency, but your mileage definitely will vary.

Back to wet stacking- basically, if you take a large generator and run it at low load, the water condenses out in the muffler/exhaust, taking carbon with it. The carbon builds up over time, clogging the valves, headers, and exhaust, depending on how bad it is. If you periodically run at high load, you heat up the exhaust side and burn out the deposits before they get too thick, and then the diesel is fine. If you don't, well, you are looking at an early overhaul. This can also happen to standby generators that are only lightly exercised and never pressed into service under high loads. It rarely happens to diesels in other applications, because the engines get enough load in their normal working life. I do know of one CAT3126 on an RV that got taken out early because the owner let it idle while he was hanging out in the RV rather than firing up his generator. He had to rebuild the engine at 45,000 miles on an engine normally good for something more like 500,000.

The army had a slew of generators in Iraq that were underloaded for weeks to months and they needed rebuilding at low hours due to wet stacking.

All the best,

Peter

 

[dodge man]

I thought wet stacking was the fuel not being burned in the cylinders and washing the oil off the walls. Also causing fuel dilution.

 

[ponytug]

I thought wet stacking was the fuel not being burned in the cylinders and washing the oil off the walls. Also causing fuel dilution.

Thanks for the correction! I guess that I focused too much on the carbon part.

Here is the Wikipedia entry, which says that it is the unburned fuel residuals making it through to the exhaust. It also suggests generators not be run at less than 60% load, which was a new one to me.

All the best,

Peter

 

[grsthegreat]

For diesel generators only, diesel trucks dont have this issue.

 

[Sigarms]

holy cow. my wife just called our propane co to get up on schedule for fill up before winter crush. $0.98 per gallon. we have a 1,000 gal tank, but its still 68% full. i believe they only fill it to 90% for underground tanks. for $2.88 per gallon, i would have shut down my wifes quilting club meeting a few weeks ago and shut off the generator. no way i would pay that.

Went out to pick up some piping for the garden last night with the wife. We bought in at $3.10 a gallon this year.

LP companies around here have you by the gonads.

Luckily after I dual fueled our upstairs sleeping level a long time ago, that 500 gallon tank will last us pretty much the winter (before that it wouldn't), although I still left the gas furnace in the basement due to that's where my father lives now, and he likes it around 75F and gas heat better than the the heat pumps, added I put in a set of gas logs on the first level for "back up heat" for the colder winters when they come around.

Ultimately although I had access to Generac via work to put one it, after looking at the costs vs what I could actually end up using via fuel for the few times I would actually need it (added it became a 3 ring circus if I wanted to upsize the LP tank with added costs), I didn't think it was worth the investment along with the fact that LP companies in my area really don't seem very responsive which leaves me scratching my head (I've looked at switching LP companies, but it seems they make it a pain in the arse, added the price variances for LP don't really vary that much between suppliers).

That said, if I lived in Idaho with those LP rates you have, it would be an easier choice to put one in.