generator brands/types

[grsthegreat]

View attachment 671921

Onan's 12.5KW version with the Isuzu Motor. Project was coming along nicely and got pushed to the back burner in favour of a 7.5 Commercial Diesel Inverter unit, that was supposed to be a quick and easy side project!

Isuzu is the nicest running Diesel engine I own.

that engine sounds like its going to PURR

 

[RalphVa]

Ralph,,,, What brand and model number is your generator? Your running 3 times the load my little Honda EU2000I . about the same fuel usage. Might have to step up to a new generator. I have to run a separate generator to run the well pump when needed.

The driver is Isuzu 3CE1 engine. Not sure what the generator actually is. Think it's Italian.

Ralph

 

[RalphVa]

I suspect that this is the unit:

Isuzu 12 kW Diesel Generator

Yes, that's it. I found the actual fuel consumption curve some place and determined that the consumption would be about 0.25 gph at our average kw of 2.5. That's about what it has been. I keep track of all the fuel that goes in and out (use some in the tractor).

Ralph

 

[Doofy]

I vote for Honda too. My 2000 watt inverter generator is enough for us. It will run our Toyostoves if we don't feel like firing up the WoodStove and we can plug in the fridge or freezers as needed. It will also provide clean power for all our electronics. If need be, I can hook up a second generator with the parallel cord and do most everything at once.

I have considered a large standby genset but the usual units just won't cut sitting outside at -30 to -40 degrees for weeks on end even with the oil pan and battery warmers and such. I would think that for any longevity, a generator should be kept warm.

 

[RalphVa]

We have a battery tender on the Isuzu and had the same tender on the 4.4 kw Sukuzi's battery.

Yeah, in really cold climates, you may need an oil pan warmer. I'd probably go with an infrared light bulb inside the generator enclosure directed at the oil pan and see if that was enough.

Ralph

 

[Doofy]

I doubt that any of the popular standbys have an insulated enclosure due to the auto-start features. With an insulated enclosure, it would be fairly simple to keep things fairly warm but it would get expensive a .28 per KWH and you would have to be there to open her up for cooling.

 

[TractorGuy]

Thanks. I picked up a generac 7550 exl for a great price. Getting the propane and Nat gas conversion kit. All in about 500. Budget did not include house stuff.

Sounds like a good deal. Glad to hear you accomplished your goal.

Updates are always appreciated but not gonna stop us from debating what you should buy for a few years.

 

[ultrarunner]

The Hospital Gensets only have block heaters but frost is very rare here.

The freeze plug heaters just were not lasting so went to o hose mounted unit and 7 years OK

 

[Industrial Toys]

The watts/surface area for a froat plug heater is VERY high. I'm looking for a transformer to run my latest gen project, block heater at half voltage and also rig up a thermostat.

 

[ultrarunner]

Hospital Diesel Generators get slammed... Start, Full Throttle, Transfer Load all in about 6 seconds with a max of 10 seconds allowed.

 

[Doofy]

The watts/surface area for a froat plug heater is VERY high. I'm looking for a transformer to run my latest gen project, block heater at half voltage and also rig up a thermostat.

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]

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!

 

[grsthegreat]

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]

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.

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.

 

[Doofy]

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]

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?

 

[Doofy]

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.

 

[ultrarunner]

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.

 

[Doofy]

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.

 

[grsthegreat]

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.

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.