Your last generator Maintenance Run

[Popgadget]

From what I can tell, there seems to be 2 different units. Which one is the better choice?

I only have experience with the Hyper engineering Sure Start, I installed 2 of them at my place. They work great, and are intended for the exact application. That’s why I chose the Hyper.

 

[3930dave]

but I just want a 300 dollar optional gauge package please. No wifi needed but that could be another option.

grs has a nice optional telemetry package on his own setup, but in general (light vehicles, small gens...) this reminds me of Ford Sr....... You can have Any Gauge Package you want, so long as it's None !

At least light vehicles are typically standardized on OBDII , so you can drop in a generic screen for info (not as nice as a full set of analog gauges, but relatively easy/cheap to add). I don't know the automatic standby market well enough to be sure, but I'd strongly suspect each manufacturer has their own proprietary digital display options.

As technology increased and became commoditized, it seems consumers are deliberately shielded from what is going on. Many today are fine with that..... not so much the folks who hang out in this thread .

I was watching a Jay's Garage vid the other morning, of a British car of his, made by Bristol aerospace post-war. Going through some sections of the Owner's Manual, he showed the detailed diagram of the valve-train design (very different push-rod setup, as it was basically a WWII BMW design).

In the Comments section for the video, somebody posted "Yeah, compare that with today's Owner's Manuals..... all we get is a Safety Warning - Don't Drink the Contents of the Battery !

I had a look at an Owner's Manual for a 2012 (+/-) Ram 1500, for somebody at work...... doesn't even list Fluid Capacities (only types) anymore....... Progress !

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Thanks. It works well, and between the DynaGen programmable controller (supplied with the generator), and the Thomson programmable controller in the ATS, there are programmable schedules to run without load, other can be set to run with load; relay functions to control equipment such as remote alarms, remote gen controls, remote fuel pump operations, real-time displays of all engine and generator parameters, history log, and more. So far, I'm pretty pleased. Still tweaking the settings.
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Nicely configurable. I might have missed it - what make of Generator did you select ?

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

The city has opened warming centers but with Covid I suspect lots of ppl will be hesitant to go.

It's only been the top headline for 10 months, but I hadn't thought rolleyes of that aspect reading your earlier post. Hopefully they can pull in lots of remote (reciprocal agreement) crews to help with the line-work.

Rgds, D.

 

[Will S]

Not out of line at all Will:thumbsup: this generator just appeared on c/l and with the fuel tank it's sitting on included, with only 1052 hours and $4500 price, I was in. If I were shopping new, it would be smaller for sure. My first good test was a few weeks ago, 66 hours (iirc) and no apparent issues and a good clean exhaust.
I like to be able to run all my big stuff beyond the house if necessary, that includes a 5hp compressor, rotary phase converter, 250a welder and the plasma cutter. Then there's the go big or go home mentality that I struggle with.

Rusty, That was a smokin' deal, and I would have been on it, if a deal like that came up around here. What really makes your setup even better is, the generator shed you built not only protects it from the elements, but gives you a place for you spares/consumables, and a clean dry space for you to do the maintenance.

66 hrs since install! wow.

 

[Will S]

Nicely configurable. I might have missed it - what make of Generator did you select ?

Rgds, D.

It's an Aurora Generator. They use both Perkins and Yanmar engines. Good web site; company is located in Ontario. They have been great to work with

 

[fried1765]

Not out of line at all Will:thumbsup: this generator just appeared on c/l and with the fuel tank it's sitting on included, with only 1052 hours and $4500 price, I was in. If I were shopping new, it would be smaller for sure. My first good test was a few weeks ago, 66 hours (iirc) and no apparent issues and a good clean exhaust.
I like to be able to run all my big stuff beyond the house if necessary, that includes a 5hp compressor, rotary phase converter, 250a welder and the plasma cutter. Then there's the go big or go home mentality that I struggle with.

I suffer from the same "go big or go home" affliction.

 

[grsthegreat]

The soft start works directly with the motor windings and capacitor in the heat pump, to let the compressor start slower and use less current. It wouldn’t be possible to do the same thing on the power line supplying the unit.
The Generac load shedding works by interrupting the thermostat low voltage wiring to keep the compressor from starting at all. A much simpler approach, but a different solution.

Load shed can actually interrupt either 50 or 100 amps of utility power, such as an entire 100 amp subpanel, not just the thermostat wiring with the use of optional Smart Management Modules generac manufactures. These are a great way to keep non essential equipment from working against a generator if the generator is being overloaded.

The installation of a soft start can be difficult for someone unfamiliar with HVAC system wiring. The manufacturers have good instructional info out there, but its definitely not simple plug and play. Your wiring around the start and run capacitor and changing wire paths to the ac compressor.

 

[3930dave]

It's an Aurora Generator. They use both Perkins and Yanmar engines. Good web site; company is located in Ontario. They have been great to work with

Been a while since I was on their site, but they seemed to have a nice range of sizes - makes it easier to dial in a solution vs. load for residential/homestead use.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Load shed can actually interrupt either 50 or 100 amps of utility power, such as an entire 100 amp subpanel, not just the thermostat wiring with the use of optional Smart Management Modules generac manufactures. These are a great way to keep non essential equipment from working against a generator if the generator is being overloaded.

The installation of a soft start can be difficult for someone unfamiliar with HVAC system wiring. The manufacturers have good instructional info out there, but its definitely not simple plug and play. Your wiring around the start and run capacitor and changing wire paths to the ac compressor.

Thanks for the clarification g.

Rgds, D.