Buying Advice Generator Buying Help...

[dataengine]

Hello All From a New User:

I have a off-grid cabin in WV, used mainly as a weekly vacation home, as many weeks in the year as I can get. I am going to get a Diesel generator of 10kw to run my entire home, set on a permanent pad. The small "silent Diesel" generators seem to struggle a bit when it comes to reliability, so I am going for a water-cooled generator from Aurora.

Does anyone have experience with the Laidong engines? Are they reliable? This particular generator uses the laidong KM385 engine. Any help Would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[tommu56]

WELCOME!

What do you want to power?

My "cabin" is off grid but as a friend called it is like a wooden tent when I first built it.
20x 36 1 1/2 stories.

It now has a full bathroom heat is wood propane for stove, frig, and lights and aux heat.

I run well pump, microwave, some lights, and, tv raido is 12v all of solar/ battery's and inverter
I do have a generator / welder for long sunless weeks it gets used more for running air compressor or welding.

pump isn't the run of the mill submersible it is a grundfus SQFX.

If you are willing to watch the loading I would consider solar I Have a trimetric meter that we keep on % charge most of the time if we are doing some than with high load I put on current to see speed we are going.

tom

 

[tommu56]

When I was looking for gen / solar I did look at these guys

Central Maine Diesel Generators | Diesel Generators | Triple-Fuel Generators | Propane/Natural Gas Generators

tom

 

[Diamondpilot]

Those engines are very reliable. They are used in many Chinese Tractors such as Foton, Jinma, Kama, ect. Most notably sold by Norther Tool (Nortac Tractos are just Rebadged Chinese tractors) Check the Chinese tractors forum to do some reading.

Some do have a few little odd things. Not sure about the 385 but for example I have a 2003 Jinma with a 385 Dangdong, basically the same engine. You must re torque the head after the first 50 hours and re adjust the valves at that point. Mine also does not have a engine oil feed injector pump. The injector pump has its own oil sump. It holds about 1/2 a qt or so and I simply change that oil every 100 hours. Other than that they are quite reliable and there are plenty of parts state side since they are used on so many tractors.

Chris

 

[K5OIT]

I didn't find many good recommendations for the Chinese engines when I was looking for a diesel generator. They may be out there but I went with my son's company experience. He works for a seismic company that uses about 30 Japanese engined generators. They are Isuzu's with Stamford generator ends. His company recently replaced the generator end on one engine that had right at 28,000 hours on it. Based on that I bought an Isuzu diesel powered set from a company that offered free shipping. They might be worth looking at.
Diesel Generator* Diesel Generators Lowest Prices Made in USA!. All of this was triggered by having no power for 8-1/2 days after IKE. So far I have 3.9 hours on it and am very happy with my choice.
Best of luck whatever you do.

 

[Soundguy]

I like the 'made in the usa' tag.

real classy for a japanese engine powered genny

soundguy

 

[MossRoad]

I like the 'made in the usa' tag.

real classy for a japanese engine powered genny

soundguy

I didn't see "Made In U.S.A."

I saw "U.S.A. With Pride".

Pretty lame! :laughing:

 

[Skyco]

The small "silent Diesel" generators seem to struggle a bit when it comes to reliability, so I am going for a water-cooled generator from Aurora.

Could be but I have quite a few hours on one of the generic chinese 6kW "silent diesel" gensets and it has performed flawlessly. I'd love to have a "better" water cooled one but couldn't justify the cost at my camp. Got a fantastic deal on the 6kW units, bought 2 for around $600 each on a closeout. One stays at the camp and the other is now my primary home backup.

 

[Soundguy]

I didn't see "Made In U.S.A."

I saw "U.S.A. With Pride".

Pretty lame! :laughing:

shows up right in their link title.. I wonder who they think they are fooling?

'sold in the usa' is about as close as it gets..

soundguy

 

[crazyal]

How much is the Aurora generator? I took a quick google and found a place selling it for $4500. Central Maine diesel sells a Kubota 10k generator for $5 without the enclosure, I think they may even have free shipping. Not that I want to push Kubota on you but if you can live without the fancy skins or don't mind making your own shed for it I know I would feel much more confident that the Kubota will start when you need it.