Very interesting concept. Never thought about it but no reason it shouldn't work (if the energy savings are there). If you have a hot water boiler system just plumb the Gen Set in to that and it is always warm and ready to go. When the generator is running, it will supplement the boiler.
generator brands/types
- Thread starter herm0016
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Very interesting concept. Never thought about it but no reason it shouldn't work (if the energy savings are there). If you have a hot water boiler system just plumb the Gen Set in to that and it is always warm and ready to go. When the generator is running, it will supplement the boiler.
Industrial Toys
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There is a little more to it than that in my case. The heater had to be severely butchered to get it into place, so I don't want to risk failure if I can avoid it. Plus, I bent the elements so often, to get the right fit, that I feared having compromised it, so figured the transformer would provide isolation from ground, so current can't flow from the compromised heater to the engine. creating in effect an immersion heater with a pile up of scale and deposits that become ever more conductive.
NOTHING in MY life is ever allowed to be EASY!
NOTHING in MY life is ever allowed to be EASY!
grsthegreat
Super Star Member
The generac at my place has an oil heater and battery heater. So far im not having any issues with battery heater, but ive seen them cause problems overheating and boiling battery. If i start to have issues ill unplug it. The oil heater works great, as i tested it with and without. Generator sounds way way better starting with it in use.
Popgadget
Elite Member
This is brilliant. I have a friend that built a motor home out of an MCI bus. He put a 15kw liquid cooled diesel generator in the baggage space under the floor, and plumbed the cooling system to be able to heat the interior in cold weather. Or use the oil fired water heater to preheat the generator.
There is always some energy loss when jury-rigging projects to meet your specific needs. There is always some trade off. I heat my dug well with a 90 watt light bulb during cold alaska winters. Hasn't failed me yet in 30 years. I install a new bulb every 2 or 3 years. I have a "winter watchman" tied in to a outside light to let me know if the bulb has burned out and the temperature is dropping. At .28 per KWH it costs around $150 per year for a warm well.
Industrial Toys
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- Ontario Canada
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- Kubota R510 Wheel Loader + Cab and backhoe, JD 6200 Open Station, Cushman 6150, 4x4, ten foot 56 hp Kubota diesel hydraulic wing mower, Steiner 430 Diesel Max, Kawasaki Diesel Mule, JD 4x2 Electric Gator
It always amazes and discourages me, how any low energy cumsumption still adds up. You figure what a night light costs and then people tell you a HOT TUB only costs them pennies a day to keep HOT in the winter. Am I missing something?
I've wondered the same thing. Embellishment? Trying to justify a really iffy purchase? Some folks swear by them, some, at them. I check everything with a Kill-a-Watt meter and then I know for sure what things are costing me to operate. Knowing also makes any improvements quantifiable.
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Changed out 2 incandescent for LED in a 1950's indoor entry light fixture and first night noticed the LED now have a faint glow when off... so some power is being consumed... how much don't yet know.
Tidbit about saving. For 30 years I've used a Jet Pump and a Pressure Tank in the house sucking 100 feet from my 14' dug well. The pump was obnoxiously loud and took forever to refill the pressure tank. I decided to put the pump in the well house (the insulated box over the well) and push the water instead of sucking the water. Can't hear the pump noise now and it now fills the pressure tank in about 30 seconds.
The electrical savings alone was well worth the effort to move. Wish I'd done this 30 years ago. I'll take savings where I find them and it does make a difference.
The electrical savings alone was well worth the effort to move. Wish I'd done this 30 years ago. I'll take savings where I find them and it does make a difference.
grsthegreat
Super Star Member
i noticed the same thing on my shop lights outside door. There on a timer to turn on at dusk and off at 11. But they never fully turn off. I replaced with screw in florescent. Not on long enuf to cost much. A new timer would be nearly $50, and that lamp would NEVER in 50 years cost anywheres close to $50 to operate.
