Generator getting a workout

[snowman]

I don't even worry about the oil, since I know it'll shut off by itself if it gets low. Just remember to check that if the generator stops, because it's easy to think that there's something wrong with it when all it needs is more oil.

Just need to make sure you keep spare oil around.

I think they make battery packs (or something like that) for sump pumps, as it's common for people to want an emergency backup for that, especially if they have a finished basement. If you have one of those, then if the power goes out in the summer, you don't have to drag out the large generator just to run the sump; it would automatically switch over if the power goes out. Is beneficial if you're away and you get a heavy thunderstorm that knocks the power out.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Let me be very specific; on 3600 rpm machines, change the oil every 8 to 10 hours. The oil in small high speed machines takes a beating, it not only lubricates, it also is a major cooling mechanism in small air cooled engines.
On larger multi cylinder machines with an oil pump, changing oil every 40 running hours is the best recommendation.
OIL is CHEAP, Bearings are EXPENSIVE!
Re: contractors don't change oil every day, smart ones do. That's one of the things that big ugly truck with all the hose reels and 20 gal barrels of grease is responsible for.

 

[ScottAR]

You got that one right. I work at a box store in northern AR. Recently, when Louisanna had their big storms, a family drove up (10hours I guess?) from Louisanna to get a generator. Really fun strapping that #$%@! to the top of a durango...

 

[gerard]

<font color=blue>I think they make battery packs (or something like that) for sump pumps, as it's common for people to want an emergency backup </font color=blue>
Put one of those in the same day I ordered the generator since if the power goes out and I'm not home the generator doesn't do me much good!!

Franz - checked the manual and it states to change oil after first 20 hours and there-after every 100. I'll probably do every 50 since I do agree with you that since it only takes a qt even putting in synthetic every 50 hours is pretty cheap and it's a pretty easy change.

 

[MikePA]

<font color=blue>I think they make battery packs (or something like that) for sump pumps, as it's common for people to want an emergency backup </font color=blue>
Hopefully, I can save someone some money. I have one of these sitting on a shelf gathering cobwebs. Assuming they haven't changed recently, here's what they consist of...

1. A large plastic box that holds a car battery.

2. On top of the battery box is a smaller plastic box that contains the electronics to keep the battery charged. This must be plugged into a regular 115v outlet via a 'wall wart'.

3. Other cables lead out of the battery box to the 12v sump pump.

4. The 12v sump pump is clamped on the discharge pipe of the 115v sump pump so that when the water rises above the regular sump pump, the 12v can come on.

5. The discharge hose from the 12v sump pump has to either connect to the same pipe the regular sump pump connects to or have it's own pipe to the outside. If it connects to the same pipe, you have to install a check valve to ensure the 12v sump pump doesn't just pump the water back into the same hole.

Both sump pumps (electric and the 12v) have to fit in the same sump hole. You have to have a shelf nearby for the battery box. You have to have an outlet nearby that can handle both the 12v wall wart and the cord from the electric sump pump. Plus all the plumbing.

Add to this the substantially reduced pumping capability of the 12v pump and, in my experience, you have an expensive lesson learned. In my case twice, because I installed the first and second generation of these contraptions (purchased from Sears).

The single advantage these devices have is they will come on automatically and pump until the battery dies. They'll work great if the power is out for some other reason than a rain storm, i.e., you don't have a lot of water to be worried about.

I now use a generator.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I just finished up a job where we ran a 3.5k single cylinder genset every day for lights & power. Since the set ran around 4 hours each day it got it's oil changed every second day. The machine takes 1.5 quarts of oil every change. Now, even though I buy oil in 55 gal drums at 90 some cents a quart, my machinery gets oil changes at 8 hours for small engines and 40 hours for larger machines. The old rule of thumb is 40 hours equals 2000 miles on a road vehicle.
One thing I have noted is that even changing at 8 hours, I do not get the same amount of oil out of an engine I put into it. The oil is wasted off in the running of a small engine via the crankcase vent.

Re: battery powered sump pumps, they are nothing more than a battery and a boat bilge pump. It ain't rocket science, right now you can get the pump with float switch over on Ebay for about $10-. The rest of the system ain't complex either. The only limiting factor is how far you have to lift the discharge water.