Small diesel generators

[bucmeister]

Hey guys. Thanks for this thread! I've looked at several small diesel generators and it's always good to find real world experiences.

I just watched a youtube video of a prototype Aurora generator being tested. It is a new two cylinder liquid cooled 6 kw diesel that runs at 1800 rpm's! I called Aurora and asked them when It would be available. They said possibly this winter early 2013. I'm happy to see someone working on a 6kw generator that runs at a lower rpm besides the 4kw Yanmar that Central Maine Diesel sales. I have not found anyone who owns one of the 4 kw Yanmars from Central Maine Diesel, plus they are expensive compared to Aurora.

Sounds good indeed to hear they are working on lower rpm and water cooled. I have Chinese Silent enclosed unit by another name that is essentially the same as the Aurora and it has served well so far. Just completed a 70 hour stint due to Isaac of which about 58-1/2 hours were non stop fueled on the go. (I know, I know, not supposed to do it, but be honest a lot of folks do it and just don't admit it.)

I am jazzed to hear about the lower rpm water cooled 2 cylinder option coming just hope it will not take them long to up the ante a bit to a higher watt rating more in the 8,000 continuous and maybe a 9,000 to 9,500 surge range. 5,500 continuous gets me by, but an extra 2,000 to 2,500 would give much comfort. All of this is on the hope that they stay relatively close to the current pricing level per Kw. Been wondering when they are going fill in the jump between the 5,500 and 12,000-15,000 units both in wattage and price.

 

[ALABAMAOFFGRID]

Sounds good indeed to hear they are working on lower rpm and water cooled. I have Chinese Silent enclosed unit by another name that is essentially the same as the Aurora and it has served well so far. Just completed a 70 hour stint due to Isaac of which about 58-1/2 hours were non stop fueled on the go. (I know, I know, not supposed to do it, but be honest a lot of folks do it and just don't admit it.)

I am jazzed to hear about the lower rpm water cooled 2 cylinder option coming just hope it will not take them long to up the ante a bit to a higher watt rating more in the 8,000 continuous and maybe a 9,000 to 9,500 surge range. 5,500 continuous gets me by, but an extra 2,000 to 2,500 would give much comfort. All of this is on the hope that they stay relatively close to the current pricing level per Kw. Been wondering when they are going fill in the jump between the 5,500 and 12,000-15,000 units both in wattage and price.

Yes, I'm thrilled to see Aurora working on this new generator too. I didn't ask them about the cost, but I hope it's more affordable compared to the lower rpm water cooled generators sold by companies like Central Main generator Sales. I know it's Chinese, but so is just about everything now days. It's all about quality control.

 

[Dadof3]

I have a Kubota Lowboy 6500 I bought for Y2k and other needs. I built a wheel-barrel-like cart for it. It's a little on the big side for a portable (500#) and a little small to run the house. It's pleasantly quiet and has been hassle free.

 

[DarkBlack]

I like my Onan 5.5 commercial diesel genset on my service truck, it has a Kubota diesel that runs at 2800 rpm and has performed flawlessly for the last nine years. I think is pretty quiet for a diesel and is economical to run too. While I have had diesel gensets in the past that turned slower there wasn't any real savings in operating costs that I could determine. The larger slow turning motors used more oil, larger and more ezpensive filters and were alot larger and heavier, so no real savings at least for mobile applications.

That genny must have speed reduction to get 60hz from 2.8krpm's. I prefer direct drive which pretty much limits the motor to 3.6k or 1.8k

 

[jenkinsph]

That genny must have speed reduction to get 60hz from 2.8krpm's. I prefer direct drive which pretty much limits the motor to 3.6k or 1.8k

I suspect it is belt drive, haven't really taken it apart to look. The problem with running 1200,1800 or 3600 rpm is finding a motor today that matches this requirement, In the interest of emmissions, fuel efficientcy, compact size and weight I think most manufacturers are having to run the engines at the best speed to get the results they need. I have had 2 71's with 20kw @1800 rpm, 3 71's with 20kw @1200 rpm and can say they all burned alot more fuel than the new stuff and made a lot of racket in the process. JMHO but belt drive speed changes are so simple that I wouldn't let that bother me, the other above mentioned criteria is far more important. Being quiet is a big plus imo.

 

[Agvg]

Have a Kipor open frame with the same Yanmar engine clone, and its so loud that it hurts, not just loud but a very unpleasant sound, be sure you test it before you buy it.