Your last generator Maintenance Run

[RoyKing]

Had the first real test of the 36KVA system I designed with a Deep Sea 7320 line monitoring control, hooked to a Generac dumb ATS WITH 200 AMP MAIN breaker. Power was up in three minutes, 2 minutes monitor the line then 1 minute warm up, ran 38 minutes then cut back and you didn't even see a flicker, ran two minute cool down. Handled the 5ton AC. Got 120 gallons of diesel in level two sound cabinet, It writes everything to the log.

 

[BrokenTrack]

We had an outage a week ago.

The power was out from 7 PM Thursday until 7 PM on Sunday, then was back on for 24 hours, then shut off again due to another storm on Monday. That went out at 7 PM on Monday, and came back on at 2 PM on Tuesday. So in all, 91 hours of generating time.

I use a Kubota 27 hp tractor on a 20 KW generator and consumed about 35 gallons during the 91 hours...so I averaged about 3/8 of a gallon per hour of run time.

It is nice to have power using my tractor, but I am working on using a Perkins 4.108 diesel engine as a dedicated engine for a genset instead. That will put a lot less hours on my tractor, and allow me to do some co-generation, which is make power, as well as heat my home.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

We had an outage a week ago.

The power was out from 7 PM Thursday until 7 PM on Sunday, then was back on for 24 hours, then shut off again due to another storm on Monday. That went out at 7 PM on Monday, and came back on at 2 PM on Tuesday. So in all, 91 hours of generating time.

I use a Kubota 27 hp tractor on a 20 KW generator and consumed about 35 gallons during the 91 hours...so I averaged about 3/8 of a gallon per hour of run time.

It is nice to have power using my tractor, but I am working on using a Perkins 4.108 diesel engine as a dedicated engine for a genset instead. That will put a lot less hours on my tractor, and allow me to do some co-generation, which is make power, as well as heat my home.

Does your RPM control your Hz rate on that gen set? How do you plan to connect the engine and genset? You should have the HP to max out the 20KW with that Perkins engine. Have you load tested your tractor to see max KW the tractor engine can drive?

 

[shaeff]

Train in Peace...... :thumbsup:

..... lately, over-prepared is looking pretty good about now.....

Rgds, D.

My thoughts exactly. My wife was wondering what I was doing and why. I explained to her that I'd rather find issues on a nice 50* sunny day than in the middle of a monstrous storm with driving rain, thunder, and lightning. Or in the midst of a blizzard. Find/correct the issues (if any) while it's nice out, will make generating power nicer when it's not.

Had the first real test of the 36KVA system I designed with a Deep Sea 7320 line monitoring control, hooked to a Generac dumb ATS WITH 200 AMP MAIN breaker. Power was up in three minutes, 2 minutes monitor the line then 1 minute warm up, ran 38 minutes then cut back and you didn't even see a flicker, ran two minute cool down. Handled the 5ton AC. Got 120 gallons of diesel in level two sound cabinet, It writes everything to the log.

That's a sweet setup!

 

[3930dave]

We had an outage a week ago.

It is nice to have power using my tractor, but I am working on using a Perkins 4.108 diesel engine as a dedicated engine for a genset instead. That will put a lot less hours on my tractor, and allow me to do some co-generation, which is make power, as well as heat my home.

Good show with your combo.

Options are nice. Many who have a PTO gen, also have at least one small portable too. Other than ease of setup (for non-tractor people), the only other consideration I'd be allowing for is needing the tractor for _________________ during emergencies..... if another tractor can cover clearing trees, fixing roads, clearing snow, building fire-breaks or whatever other "fun" comes up, no conflict.

Let us know how the Perkins build-up goes !

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

My thoughts exactly. My wife was wondering what I was doing and why. I explained to her that I'd rather find issues on a nice 50* sunny day than in the middle of a monstrous storm with driving rain, thunder, and lightning. Or in the midst of a blizzard. Find/correct the issues (if any) while it's nice out, will make generating power nicer when it's not.

Scattered within this long rambling thread on generators, there are a few Whiskey Tango Foxtrot stories that for the most part came up during "Peacetime"....

I was in an AutoParts store one weekend when a guy came in trying to find a small dia. thread NGK sparkplug for his generator. Plug was badly fouled, but this guy had the easy job.... his son was the one left at home, manually bailing out the sump pit in their basement.

I don't mind a bit of exercise, but that wouldn't have been fun.....

Rgds, D.

 

[shaeff]

Scattered within this long rambling thread on generators, there are a few Whiskey Tango Foxtrot stories that for the most part came up during "Peacetime"....

I was in an AutoParts store one weekend when a guy came in trying to find a small dia. thread NGK sparkplug for his generator. Plug was badly fouled, but this guy had the easy job.... his son was the one left at home, manually bailing out the sump pit in their basement.

I don't mind a bit of exercise, but that wouldn't have been fun.....

Rgds, D.

Yikes! I hope to never have to experience that! (walk out basement but I'm on a hill, if it floods, my entire town is in serious trouble!)

That being said, and ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

The cure is probably administered at a later date.

 

[3930dave]

"Learn from history or you're doomed to repeat it."
― Jesse Ventura

Today's headlines, or generators...... important point, long before Jesse re-spoke.

Rgds, D.

 

[DieselMonk]

Dunno, lately there are so many power failures, that i gave up on the maintenance run.

 

[bullbreaker]

"Crameing " my JD Subaru genny into my cargo trailer I sliced the sidewall of one of my tires . So I ordered from "A" a new tire and two tubes just to be safe . To get rim off it had an allen nut on side , no biggie . Getting the little tire off with old tube was a breeze . However "mounting " the little tire back on was a real b---h (like in female dog) . When I was done because my battery for electric start was low , I put it on choke and gave it two yanks and "she" lol fired rite up . I have said it in past about this genny , My 404 cc 14 hp Subaru engine on it has been fantastic . I know Honda makes a great commercial engine but I'am glad I bought mine at the time when they put Subaru's on this model . What a dang great motor its been , and no oil filter . A little before recommended scheduled oil changes I just drain and fill . If your ever in need of a genny this size and run into one of these models treated well , dont hesitate to buy it . Dang shame Subaru is not in the generator game anymore . Just my :2cents:

 

[3930dave]

Dunno, lately there are so many power failures, that i gave up on the maintenance run.

Being familiar with Atlantic coastal weather.... a healthy gen is great to have on standby !

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

"Crameing " my JD Subaru genny into my cargo trailer I sliced the sidewall of one of my tires . So I ordered from "A" a new tire and two tubes just to be safe . To get rim off it had an allen nut on side , no biggie . Getting the little tire off with old tube was a breeze . However "mounting " the little tire back on was a real b---h (like in female dog) . When I was done because my battery for electric start was low , I put it on choke and gave it two yanks and "she" lol fired rite up . I have said it in past about this genny , My 404 cc 14 hp Subaru engine on it has been fantastic . I know Honda makes a great commercial engine but I'am glad I bought mine at the time when they put Subaru's on this model . What a dang great motor its been , and no oil filter . A little before recommended scheduled oil changes I just drain and fill . If your ever in need of a genny this size and run into one of these models treated well , dont hesitate to buy it . Dang shame Subaru is not in the generator game anymore . Just my :2cents:

Ya got 'er Done ! :thumbsup: Always better when they roll easy......

Fuji Heavy Industries does good work. Retro products are popular these days..... maybe they should do an AWD generator model - it probably would sell !

Rgds, D.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

"Dang shame Subaru is not in the generator game anymore . Just my :2cents:

Subaru isn't even in the small motor game any longer, let along generators!

SR

 

[3930dave]

Indulge me...... snow on the ground yesterday morning, so didn't get my MC out for a Saturday morning run...... did some virtual riding, in a part of the world I'll likely never see.....

Oman / Riding Lush Green Hills In a Dry Barren Desert - Adventure Rider

Skip to the bottom for the brief generator reference........ somewhat redefines what I think of as "portable", when you are using a 6x6 to haul it around....

Rgds, D.

 

[LouNY]

Well heck a nice warm day yesterday sunny and nice till about 6 PM, then a big oll thunderstorm rolled thru.
Still on generator, no crew assigned no estimate of restoration.

 

[3930dave]

Well heck a nice warm day yesterday sunny and nice till about 6 PM, then a big oll thunderstorm rolled thru.
Still on generator, no crew assigned no estimate of restoration.

Big area affected ? That seems like a long time w/o even a crew assigned.

Definitely goofy weather this Spring.....

Hoping your fuel cans last longer than the outage Lou :thumbsup:

Rgds, D.

 

[LouNY]

Big area affected ? That seems like a long time w/o even a crew assigned.

Definitely goofy weather this Spring.....

Hoping your fuel cans last longer than the outage Lou :thumbsup:

Rgds, D.

Yes it was a wide spread storm with several hundred outages,
got power back a bit after 1PM Saturday so 6PM Friday to 1PM Saturday.
Had a bunch of roads blocked from fallen trees, some houses hit by trees and I see that they are claiming a small tornado over in Saratoga County.
As far as fuel I have some bulk storage on site so it's not a big issue other then watching the gallons / dollars getting used.
19 hours of generator use, tractor just purred along.

 

[3930dave]

Yes it was a wide spread storm with several hundred outages,
got power back a bit after 1PM Saturday so 6PM Friday to 1PM Saturday.
Had a bunch of roads blocked from fallen trees, some houses hit by trees and I see that they are claiming a small tornado over in Saratoga County.
As far as fuel I have some bulk storage on site so it's not a big issue other then watching the gallons / dollars getting used.
19 hours of generator use, tractor just purred along.

Nicely done Lou..... good to hear grid is back now.

Rgds, D.

 

[not2old]

The generator I recently bought is working exactly as planned. The power has since gone out two times now and both times it came back on before I got up at 7:AM. I'm a believer in "be prepared and you won't need it".