Portable Diesel Generator Recommendations?

[Industrial Toys]

The 87 plymouth Caravell Police car with factory Propane, never gave me any trouble. Wonder what they did different?

 

[Captain Dirty]

FWIW: I have a yanmar clone 5kw (6500 surge). <snip>
It is an electric start. It has needed a few repairs due to low quality QC/parts due I think to the nature of it being a "clone". The decompression release is essential. It can be manually started. "Can be", as in if you really needed to, you could. It is a high compression diesel, so it isn't easy. I keep a few spare on hand now. <snip>

Joel at Earth Tools has an interesting and entertaining video on rope starting a diesel, Rope Starting a Small Engine at Rope starting a small engine - YouTube

 

[RjCorazza]

I retired my 7kw gasoline generator last year. The 2 short list generators were a Kubota 11kw diesel portable, or a 15kw pto generator. I ended up with the pto generator.
Diesel generators are going to take a big chunk out of an $8k budget.

 

[bmaverick]

I retired my 7kw gasoline generator last year. The 2 short list generators were a Kubota 11kw diesel portable, or a 15kw pto generator. I ended up with the pto generator.
Diesel generators are going to take a big chunk out of an $8k budget.

Yep. About $1,500 for a 12kW unit. PTO from 480-RPMs to 540-RPMs.

NorthStar PTO Generator 13,000 Surge Watts, 12,000 Rated Watts, 24 HP Required
Error | DNS Resolution | Northern Tool + Equipment

My tractor has a multi- 4-speed PTO, so, I can tune in 540-RPMs as low as 1,100-RPMs engine. That's at a nice quiet idle or with a higher demand for 1,900-RPMs engine to get to 540-RPMs PTO. Better than WOT on the tractor to get to the PTO 540-RPMs at 2,600-RPMs engine.

My machine just sips fuel very easy. So, the power would just keep coming.

IF you want the PTO generator portable, then this is the setup for the SAME PRICE of $1,500.

Chicago Electric
16000 Max Starting/15000 Running Watts Tractor-Driven PTO Generator
16 Max Starting/15 Running Watts Tractor-Driven PTO Generator

 

[fried1765]

Most forced air furnaces (assuming this is what the OP has..) are fairly low in their power consumption....no where near 10KW. I use a Honda EU2000 for home backup, it runs my furnace and much more with ease.

OP, they are not diesel, but the inverter style portable Honda's are handy for lots of jobs, including home backup. As long as you are willing to control your manual switches, they will run the basics very well....furnace, fridge, TV, lights, etc.. Just something to consider.

I do those same functions with my Yamaha EF2800i inverter generator.
Weighs 68 lb., runs 14.7 hrs. on 2.6 gal.
Of course it is not big, and not diesel, but with load selection, it is just fine for true emergencies.

 

[Industrial Toys]

A few hours is no big deal.

In an extended outage though, the very last thing I would want to do is leave for gasoline. And then, how much do you buy?

I have said it again and again. The power out is not your biggest problem. The bigger issue is always not knowing when the power will be on again. Just this last weekend and the high wind, I learned how useless, utterly useless any information is (on stupid aps and websites) from the power utility. Typically, the information for your outage shows "under investigation" with no restoral time but then the power comes back at some point, with no information ever being put forth. I'm a firm believer in looking after oneself. You can't rely on any of this.

 

[groundcover]

I have a 6K Gen-Pro Lombardi diesel that I would sell. Very low hours , always stored indoors.

 

[Industrial Toys]

If I was interested, I would have only one question. How many RPM?

 

[groundcover]

A bunch ! 3600 . On the bright side you never wonder if it's running, can hear it anywhere !

 

[ultrarunner]

Even in CA my Diesel Gensets all have round the clock coolant heaters set at 180F...

When power is needed I have it in 6 seconds... well under the 10 second required max.