Subaru Brand Generators

[TimberXX]

Does anyone have any experience with subaru brand generators?

It seem that everyone is making them these days, but I am curious about the quality. I have owned their engines in the past, and they have treated me well.

 

[nybirdman]

I own two Subaru vehicles but have no experience with the "Subaru Robin " ,which is their small motors.Not to be confused with the flat four and six in their cars.If I were going to purchase a stand alone gen set it would be Honda powered.

 

[TimberXX]

A honda generator of the same size is $1000 more.

 

[WilliamBos]

The Subaru Robin engines are swtone cold reliable. Have one on my powerwasher, bought new in 2008. still runs like a top. Have another Fuji(Robin Subaru) engine in my Polaris Sportsman.

I would not hesitate to own another, nor would I spend more on a Honda just to avoid them.

 

[daugen]

Subaru Robin is a high spec engine maker, well regarded in commercial applications, often offered in same applications as Honda and Kohler.
I don't think they've made a bad engine, and when Kubota wanted to get into the less expensive gasoline powered UTV's, who did they go to?
Not Honda, but Subaru. Who had an EFI single cylinder that no one else had. Seems a pretty tech oriented company. I own an RTV400 with that engine btw.
I had no fears of Subaru, I owned a Legacy wagon once and what a great car.

 

[TimberXX]

Their generator heads have brushes. Any opinion on that? I thought all high end units are brushless.

 

[Bob Rooks]

Their generator heads have brushes. Any opinion on that? I thought all high end units are brushless.

Those are not high end generators, they are 3,600 r/m screamers no matter how quiet they are. They are considered throw-aways. A high end portable generator will run at 1,800 r/m and is not for the faint of wallet. My guess is the generator head is imported - from China, but even most of the newer Chinese imports are brushless and self exciting. Find out if it has copper or aluminum wiring.

 

[daugen]

Bob,
but what gen under say 10kw other than a specialized off grid gen will give you that low speed?
my comments were only about the motor, compared to comparable 3600 rpm motors, they are above average quality.
Interesting that Kubota's new fancy diesel gens, seriously big bucks, run at 1950 rpm. Trying to figure that out, but they must have designed that speed
into the whole design to get the right voltage.

Subaru Robin is competing against both the GCV and GXV Hondas. I'd put their EX models somewhere in the middle of those two Hondas, but now we have
to start talking about engine parts, anyone worried about plastic/Delrin cam parts, governor parts, wherever they use plastic? I think Subaru is an early adopter but even
Kohler is using plastic parts now. Hey, a ceramic part would last forever, maybe their Delrin is really good stuff.

I'm sure that brush equipped gen was included to hit a price point. Next model up? Does it get better?
I think Subaru is number four in their market, and probably has no desire to be number one.
What I feel good about them is that I don't think they will ever put out junk, they are too exacting for that. "old fashioned Japanese values?"....

A gen is only as good as its weakest link. So the electrical end is just as important, as is quality of voltage regulation. I hate running machinery at 3600 rpm, I don't even like pto speed... but finding low speed gens is pretty hard in
smaller sizes. Generally too large and too expensive to sell. I had an 1800 rpm 15kw old Onan diesel gen in my boat, and if that thing had ever hit 3600 rpm, I think we would have landed
on shore.

So I like your idea. But I think the reality is that pairing a good engine and running the wee out of it at 3600 rpm day after day will get you the same service life as a less expensive gen head. Perhaps designed to fail at the same time...

 

[Bob Rooks]

There are many 1,800 r/m portable generators on the market, some research is required to root them out though.
Although not portable, here is a 6.5 kW Kubota diesel generator for example.

Kubota Powered 6.5 kW water cooled Diesel[/URL]

Here is one possible explanation to that 1,950 r/m generator:
Generator Frequency Conversions: 60 Hz and 50 Hz Power

I operate a 4.16 kV 12 mW plant and our four alternators turn at 900 r/m.

Also, there is always the option of building your own relatively inexpensively:
http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?Item=28-1818

Anyway, I think I'm getting away from the OP's intent. I apologize.

 

[TimberXX]

Those are not high end generators, they are 3,600 r/m screamers no matter how quiet they are. They are considered throw-aways. A high end portable generator will run at 1,800 r/m and is not for the faint of wallet. My guess is the generator head is imported - from China, but even most of the newer Chinese imports are brushless and self exciting. Find out if it has copper or aluminum wiring.

Whats the advantage of aluminium vs copper?

 

[Bob Rooks]

Whats the advantage of aluminium vs copper?

There is no advantage of aluminum over copper electrically, but it costs much less to manufacture the generator, and connectors are prone to failure.
Many low cost generator heads have aluminum windings. The average consumer isn't aware of this because the market for those heads is done at the B to B level.

 

[Mickey_Fx]

I have a Subaru OBW sitting in the garage and a tiller out in the shed with a Robin EX engine. No way would I rate the Robins and especially the small EX engine under a Honda. The EX doesn't have any plastic internal parts except maybe the chain tensioner. This is a OHC design and the crank is supported by ball bearings on both ends. Very little mech noise. Engines are warranted for 5 yrs even in commercial use. You think makers of equipment intended for commercial use would pick a 2nd or 3rd tier engine for this kind of application?

As for brushes Vs brushless, I'll take the brush design. On a brushless design there is a sizable capacitor mounted on the armature. I don't need something like that rotating at 3600 rpm and decides to come flying off. Not all that unusual for lower qlty brushless designs. If this happens it's not a DIY fix. You typ see brushless designs on low end intermittent use gensets. Not say ALL brushless design aren't decent but the majority small gensets aren't intended for extended use. Like the brushes on an automotive alt, on generators they're not a issue and last for a very long time. Need replacing, typ can be changed in a few min.

The genset in my MH, an Onan uses brushes and they are designed for extended use. Oh, that genny turns 1800 rpm. Also have a high end Honda. A model you don't see too many of. It also is a brush design. Speed regulation is great, I've measured freq at low and high loads and freq is held to +/- .5Hz. The engine on this genny is also not your typ design. 2 cyl OHC water cooled. List price ~$4k for 6.5kW. Now out of productions. Not sure of the engine specifics but would suspect it is top notch.

 

[daugen]

Whats the advantage of aluminium vs copper?

within most design parameters, copper is better, significantly more expensive, and used on most quality gen heads. Hope I got that right.

Also, there is always the option of building your own relatively inexpensively:
Surplus Center - 13.4 HP YANMAR 2TNV70-HGE DIESEL ENGINE

3600 rpm diesel at rated power, maybe you could run it lower

 

[Bob Rooks]

within most design parameters, copper is better, significantly more expensive, and used on most quality gen heads. Hope I got that right. Correct.

Also, there is always the option of building your own relatively inexpensively:
Surplus Center - 13.4 HP YANMAR 2TNV70-HGE DIESEL ENGINE

3600 rpm diesel at rated power, maybe you could run it lower

Nominally rated at 10kW @ 3,600 r/m so you could conceivably run a 5 or 6 kW head @ 1,800 r/m.

Our 3 mW TEWAC Kato's weigh in at around 25 tons each - not an ounce of aluminum in there.

 

[Bob Rooks]

Here is one of my alternators, it's the white thingy and they are brushless..

 

[daugen]

Here is one of my alternators, it's the white thingy and they are brushless..

View attachment 301432

I love it. An EMD for prime power? You sure will be the first on your block to have one. :thumbsup:
this looks like backup power for a small town.

 

[Bob Rooks]

I love it. An EMD for prime power? You sure will be the first on your block to have one. :thumbsup:
this looks like backup power for a small town.

LOL. Yeah, I have four of these puppies. EMD 16-710G's. 4,000 HP ea. @ 900 r/m. They power four 3,000 HP Siemens electric drive motors through a cyclo-converter control system. Pretty cool even though it's old technology.