Your last generator Maintenance Run

[3930dave]

I just ran across this thread earlier today, and saw your comment about the engine temperature. I hope I'm not stepping on anyone's toes coming on here. I mean this only to be helpful to those not aware.

If a diesel is running lightly loaded (not really working) it doesn't reach normal operating temps (about 180-190). The engine could be experiencing wet-stacking, and prolonged running like that can cause damage to the engine. As a reference:Wet stacking - Wikipedia

Best thing for any diesel is to work it. I apologize if you feel I'm out of line here. This is a very interesting and informative thread, and I like your installation. Very nice build and well thought out.

Thanks for stopping by Will.

Politely Done (as you did well), Oh Yeah, By The Way....... reminders are always welcome here.

Some of the most frustrating problems are often self created...... I threw down the thread title "a while" back, to try and head off problems in the I Know Better, Why Did I Let This Happen category. I was hoping a few folks would show up, to help remind me of my deficits in this area.......

It's been fun. We've fixed a few gens along the way, and exchanged some good 411, including on big systems that I don't get near these days.

Scattered amongst the pages are a few small diesel rebuilds. often due to being under-loaded for a long time. People have posted up a few interesting load-banks, from purpose built home-brew to original military-spec units..... it's all watts, so whatever gets the job done (No Fires !) is good.....

Instrumentation is a bonus on any engine, but if nothing else, IR guns are dirt cheap today and can serve for spot checks.

Typing that, now I'm wondering if anybody makes aftermarket dipstick oil temp gauges for gens...... like you can get for a HD cycle....

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

some of the older Briggs singles are a joy to look at, so much metal in there....
not anymore

going to run my gen today when temps get to 50 in heat of day and see if it runs on propane.

Try the single tank start (if manifolded), and let us know....... 50F sounds tropical up here :laughing:

Rgds, D.

 

[Will S]

Thanks for stopping by Will.

Politely Done (as you did well), Oh Yeah, By The Way....... reminders are always welcome here.

Some of the most frustrating problems are often self created...... I threw down the thread title "a while" back, to try and head off problems in the I Know Better, Why Did I Let This Happen category. I was hoping a few folks would show up, to help remind me of my deficits in this area.......

It's been fun. We've fixed a few gens along the way, and exchanged some good 411, including on big systems that I don't get near these days.

Scattered amongst the pages are a few small diesel rebuilds. often due to being under-loaded for a long time. People have posted up a few interesting load-banks, from purpose built home-brew to original military-spec units..... it's all watts, so whatever gets the job done (No Fires !) is good.....

Instrumentation is a bonus on any engine, but if nothing else, IR guns are dirt cheap today and can serve for spot checks.

Typing that, now I'm wondering if anybody makes aftermarket dipstick oil temp gauges for gens...... like you can get for a HD cycle....

Rgds, D.

Thanks Dave,

I installed a standby gen just about a month ago, and tried to size it properly. I added up up what peak and average power is consumed during an average day, both winter and summer. I've got an Emporia Vue energy monitor that helps with that, and gives me both instantaneous power draw, and hourly/daily/weekly/monthly history, per individual circuit and total draw. I found that 13.5 kw would be a good fit; running 60-75% of capacity a good bit of the time; at times less, and others more. But even with many things in the house and shop on, it still started the 5 ton AC. :smile: I was concerned with wet stacking if I bought something too big, so I chose the 13 over the 20kw.

 

[3930dave]

Thanks Dave,

I installed a standby gen just about a month ago, and tried to size it properly. I added up up what peak and average power is consumed during an average day, both winter and summer. I've got an Emporia Vue energy monitor that helps with that, and gives me both instantaneous power draw, and hourly/daily/weekly/monthly history, per individual circuit and total draw. I found that 13.5 kw would be a good fit; running 60-75% of capacity a good bit of the time; at times less, and others more. But even with many things in the house and shop on, it still started the 5 ton AC. :smile: I was concerned with wet stacking if I bought something too big, so I chose the 13 over the 20kw.

Southern AC units seem large to me, but I've been to Phoenix, I get it.......

Diesel has a torque advantage, but that 5 ton will likely get noticed by yours. You may have something in place already, but if not, we had a good discussion on here this Fall about soft-start (I'm using the Kleenex term here....) units really helping with compressor startup. Happier gen, and less sag for everything else.

Rgds, D.

 

[grsthegreat]

A HyperEngineering Softstarter

Hyper Engineering | Home

does wonders for starting loads on large ac and heat pump units. Ive installed many of them, and its amazing how good they work. On my own 4 ton ac unit, my generator hardly even notices my ac startup anymore. Lights dont dim any longer.

And a soft start unit isnt cheap.....in the area of $275. Whereas a hard start may be in the neighborhood of $20. There NOT even close in how they work.

 

[daugen]

GRS, if Generac were smart, and caught up..., they could offer soft start option wired from the factory, for 400 extra of course.

48 degrees out and sunny, gen started right up, 246 volts, let it run for fifteen minutes on propane, turned it off and checked the oil which was
full as before. Hook arrangement seems to work to keep side panels off hot spots, though I didn't run it that long.

 

[grsthegreat]

The soft start isnt on the generator, its on the ac unit. Every generac installer knows what a soft start is. Whether or not they sell and install them is anyones guess.

All i know is i have seen heat pump units fail to work on a generator, but magically work when attached with soft start. Like smoke and mirrors.

I put one on my own unit

 

[3930dave]

GRS, if Generac were smart, and caught up..., they could offer soft start option wired from the factory, for 400 extra of course.

48 degrees out and sunny, gen started right up, 246 volts, let it run for fifteen minutes on propane, turned it off and checked the oil which was
full as before. Hook arrangement seems to work to keep side panels off hot spots, though I didn't run it that long.

Guessing the exhaust is on back, so that corner should retain a bit of heat for the tank. Max load would be the best test (re. propane flow), but your Winter lows are mild enough, with a bit of luck you won't have to resort to gasoline. 30lb tank gives you a bit more vapourization area too....

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Like smoke and mirrors.

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."

Clarke's three laws - Wikipedia

Rgds, D.

 

[Will S]

Yes that old 5 ton is a lot, but when I was running everything last week, I had the oven on, at the same time as the clothes dryer. Every light in the house, garage and pole barn. All the low draw stuff that's always on, and the water heater kicked on for a bit. With everything running except the AC, I pulled close to 13kw (my gen says it will power 13.5 continuously and 15kw for one hour out of every 10). So I turned off the oven, and turned on the AC. It started, and I only hear a very momentary change in the sound of the engine as the AC licked on. everything still kept running as it should. After 15 minutes, I gradually reduced the loads until it was powering only about 2kw. Then switched back to utility, where the controller still keeps the gen running for a cool-down period (programmable). Mine is set to 3 minutes, then it shuts down.

My AC unit is 25 years old this year, and other than me replacing the start cap and putting in a hard start unit in about 5 years ago, it has never been serviced. Each year I plan on replacing it with something more efficient (it might be 10 SEER), but then it runs fine, and I let it go. If I keep it any longer, I'll put a HyperTherm Softstarter on it. When I do replace the system, I will plan on moving the soft-start over to the new unit, as I am sure they do not come with one installed. Either way, I think the gen should be fine handling a 5 ton