Milatary Generator

[RoyKing]

I've scene heat coils out Air conditioner, or lot 1200 space heaters

 

[TractorGuy]

What do you use for a load?

I built a load bank using clothes dryer elements and a condenser fan.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have an old Electric furnace that I can mix and match elements to get almost any load. but it's awkward and ugly. Great for initial tests. (Seems my Onan, rated at 12 KW won't quite do that!) But not very conveniant for periodic tests.

One Big Generator guy in South Western Ontario bought a surplus load bank from the Federal government. It was a Van Body full of toasters! I can just see the Gov employee with his Gov credit card walking into Walmart, asking for a hundred toasters.! That would be about 150 KW in load.

 

[RoyKing]

My friend picked up his mep-804b 15kw after we confirmed his AC was rated for 208. He got a 2009 unit with 76 hours on it no trailer, with aux fuel hose. $7000.00 complete service done it with load test

 

[Industrial Toys]

Makes you wonder what the vendor bought them for.

 

[RoyKing]

Gov planet just sold three on the 22nd they went between $6500 and $7050.00 before commission and transportation, they all had trailers and were running and showing voltage from 46 hours to like 700 hrs. Had to be jump started dead or missing batteries, showed no leaks or blow bye.

 

[TractorGuy]

I would NEVER pay that much for a used generator no matter what the hour meter reads. I have read more horror stories on low hour surplus generators than ones with some time on the clock

Mine had 2600 hours on it and has run flawlessly after some simple maintenance. Bought it for $1185 after fees. Drove up to Atlanta to pick it up. I am all in for 2 grand including the load bank and all the stuff to connect to the house

You can buy brand new Perkins diesel generators for the prices the surplus sets are selling for these days

Perkins Diesel Generators* Made in USA with pride.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I'm thinking someone is making some good money. I mean, don't get me wrong. They are still light years better than the consumer junk (screamers) out there.

Just happened to get another video show up on Toutube/Apple TV about EMP threat. It that happens, you will wish you had bought one of those MEPPS at any price!

 

[RoyKing]

That link was interesting a Kubota quiet series seems the closest match to the mep series and similar sized unit is in the $13~14k price. So I guess for 1/2 the price you take a risk. I'm on the low end mep-802a for $2500 and Kubota is $8000.00.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I think an Onan 7.5 Quiet with 3 cylinder Kubota is going for around 10K CDN. They are inverter style. I like the old 7.5. Brushed Alternator, fan and radiator out front, conventional style.

 

[RoyKing]

I not in the low hour group myself I think age is important also. Even a 1000 hours is low usage for the design of these machines. As I was researching a price jump happen as gov planet started doing on line auction with a guarantee for condition and free freight quotes. The same machines with on site auctions with out any running test were selling for half the price. From labels on the machines it looks like government is selling them in lots of ten to 20. So what size did you get for $1185?

 

[Industrial Toys]

Those generators often have manufacturers I have never even heard of like Libby Engineering . Are they still around? Can you (Joe Blow) get parts? Maybe it was just a one time contract for that particular model. There is probably a Big Army Warehouse somewhere with all the spare parts that went with the contract.

Those generators are amazing, the gauges, the various fuel supply options and so forth. But terribly complicated!

They used to have these construction site genertors at auctions you could buy cheap. A trailer mounted, Air Cooled Hatz or Deutz 3 Cylinder Engine, 1800 rpm, coupled to a Somers alternator. Big round fuel tank that looked like an air tank. Big, ugly, crude, loud but reliable. NOT EMP resistant. I would go for that before the Army stuff myself.

 

[RoyKing]

Mine is a Fremont but motor is a common Isuzi Onan used all over the world, Emerson on the alternator, same design for years but yes new parts are expensive but lots of used parts. Whole forum of users out there, all WSM are only line. Really simply in a way no electronics any where just lots of relays. What I found interesting is all the relays has serviceable contacts. But your right some aspects like the aux fuel system. Separate fuel pump and filter and a tank level switch, tanks gets to 1/3 pump comes on and fills the on board tank. On board tank has own pump, filter, water separator. Any fault, temp, oil, load, shut the system down shows on the fault board. I love the battle start switch which means I need power NOW ignore all faults and run. Even the start circuit it won't start until it sees good oil pressure. However today's modern expensive do the same thing but all run through a logic board that just says fault and flashing code and is not probably field serviceable. With this style just jump the sensor back in service but the panel is cool.

 

[RoyKing]

brochure link

https://cdn.greenmountaingenerators...Fermont-Sales-Brochure-and-Specifications.pdf

 

[TractorGuy]

So what size did you get for $1185?

MEP-803A Bought at GL before the frenzy ensued. GL didn't do videos like GP does and all units were drained with batteries removed so it was a total gamble. I've seen crushed damaged units sell for double what I paid after the buying frenzy. I think most are being sent to Puerto Rico.

I've had a 10 KW MEP 803A for a couple of years. Great investment so far.

That 804 your friend bought is 3 phase only. The 802 and 803 are switchable between 3 phase and single.

You may want to join the steel soldiers forum. All the info and support you need for it over there.

The 802 and 803 are designed to run at either but they deliver less current in 3 phase. There have been people that try to cheat a 3 phase only and use two legs. Not only is it not a balanced load but it is only 2/3 output.

Here is the data plate on my 803. It delivers 104 amps at 120V 1PH, 52 amps at 120/240V 1 PH, or 34 amps at 120/208 3PH.

View attachment 588639

I have placed a resistive load of 13,500 watts and it held it fine. I typically load it to 10,800 for a couple of hours every month to keep it in good shape and make sure it will run when needed.

 

[nyone]

I have bought a sold a few of these 802/803. The northeast is the sweet spot for low hour/priced units. I paid just under $2k for a emaculate 803 with 2hrs and a non reset. I made out quite well on that one but if i kept it it would be worth close to $5k now.

I have a early 2000s 802 non reset that had just under 200hrs when i bought it. Now after 2yrs it has about 245. Its an amazingly reliable generator and i only test run it when we change the clocks. They really sip the fuel too. Runs my house as normal with electic stove and heat pump water heater at 6gal for 24hrs. Thats non stop running.

 

[nyone]

Those generators often have manufacturers I have never even heard of like Libby Engineering . Are they still around? Can you (Joe Blow) get parts? Maybe it was just a one time contract for that particular model. There is probably a Big Army Warehouse somewhere with all the spare parts that went with the contract.

Those generators are amazing, the gauges, the various fuel supply options and so forth. But terribly complicated!

They used to have these construction site genertors at auctions you could buy cheap. A trailer mounted, Air Cooled Hatz or Deutz 3 Cylinder Engine, 1800 rpm, coupled to a Somers alternator. Big round fuel tank that looked like an air tank. Big, ugly, crude, loud but reliable. NOT EMP resistant. I would go for that before the Army stuff myself.

The engines are made by lister peter. Now owned by onan i believe. Lister peter also made the same engine for other civilization equipment. No your cant go down to your local briggs dealer and buy a head gasket for it but you can get them online no problem.

As far as complicated some what but there are no computer boards to burn up or become obsolete. Its all relay logic on a engine with a manual fuel rack. Quite simple yet more complex than a lawnmower engine with a generator head bolted on. After all that is what most generators are your buying for the sub $2k price.

 

[fitter1]

I never did get one. I was going to use it for primary power. I did finally put power in to my camp which is very peaceful compared to running generators and solar panels. A water cooled 1800rpm diesel is the way to go though.

 

[PILOON]

OK, on subject, I have been offered a 20 KW 110/220 60 cycle genset 'head' for a mere $150 Cdn $'s
Very tempting. Gather it weighs 200 lbs or more.
Research on internet reveals it is a major approved factory so no worries there.
It wants 1800 RPM to be used, My CUT has a 1000 PTO so I could rig this to work.
Oh and he has 2 available!
Very tempted to buy one and couple to my CUT for those major outages.
I presently have a 6 KW set coupled to my hydro service but need wood for heat and this could service all my electrical household needs including hot water and baseboard heaters.
Thinking and thinking,-------

 

[sodamo]

I have an 803A I got mid 2016 for $3k. It has become my primary backup in my off grid setup, with an autostart module added and controlled by my Outback inverters. Great generator.