Your last generator Maintenance Run

   / Your last generator Maintenance Run #5,411  
I'm sure a setup could be made from scratch, however I would have a lot of hrs in research and testing to get it right, so probably not worth it.

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could be done with arudino's, i was eventually going to go this path, but we didn't get enough outages for that type of investment
 
   / Your last generator Maintenance Run #5,412  
If the original Generac controls are still intact, that might be the simplest route. If you have one or two questions, post-up here.... if grs gets a little better at "retiring" ;), he may have a little more time to put up his feet and do some recreational surfing here.... though he contributed plenty often, considering he was working flat-out before.

I just thought to mention that full-custom milsurp install, that was posted up here some time back, as a plan B or C Control. When a product comes along in the aftermarket that does a job well, and is reasonable priced, that's something that keeps an old hardware geek like myself hanging out on TBN :cool:.

Hopefully you have better luck coming up with RoundTuIts on this project, than I usually do :rolleyes: ; post-up when you do.

(P.S - I've come to appreciate the crude but potentially valuable aspect of belts..... as a Mechanical Fuse. You may need multiple rows, but they should do the job fine).

Rgds, D.
Controls are still there, it is an older unit that doesn't have the touch pad so might be easier to adapt.
The engine I'm planning on using ran hydraulic pumps via belts so I already have a double sheave pulley with spring tensioner.

Biggest job is going to be making the bearing support for the engine side of the gen head and the taper adaptor to mount the pulleys.

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   / Your last generator Maintenance Run #5,413  
   / Your last generator Maintenance Run #5,414  
Do you have a 400 amp main panel, or a 400 amp meter with 2 main breakers? Reason i ask is because 2 - 200 amp transfer switches are WAY cheaper than any 400 amp transfer switch. I have loads of 400 amp houses running twin 200 amp switches. But never on less than a 22 kw unit. Most houses running 400 amp have so much electrical heat, water heat, etc that a small 15 kw unit will probibly stall out.
i have also installed a smaller gen on a single 200 amp transfer switch from a 400 amp house, than moved all the huge circuits over to the unprotected panel, and moved all the stuff that could run without issue to the protected panel. Most people only wanted to protect frige, freezer, have lights and tv operating. They understand a 60 amp generator isnt going to run a 80 amp heat strip heater.
 
   / Your last generator Maintenance Run
  • Thread Starter
#5,415  
I'm sure a setup could be made from scratch, however I would have a lot of hrs in research and testing to get it right, so probably not worth it.

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I don't trust my memory of that TBN'ers post enough to comment further.

If I get enough time tonight (Monday night is already destroyed for me), or maybe Tues. night, I'll drift back through the timeline on this thread, and see how well my memory matches reality...... :unsure:

What I will say though, is I'm aware of Generic Controller ABC having been designed for HVAC systems.

For a given application (generator, HVAC, industrial machine....) I'd think the control functions are pretty standardized..... one manuf. may spec an additional sensor or actuator, but I suspect for the most part, they all look similar, technically.

Obviously, the manufacturers don't want the market to see their offerings that way, as it would erode their profit margins.

I won't say it's common, but I see no good technical reasons why any competent controls-engineering firm would not be able to design a generic/open-source Control board, for a given application.

I'll post, once I rewind the thread far enough.....

Rgds, D.
 
   / Your last generator Maintenance Run #5,417  
In Olympia the 400 amp service is split to two 200 amp panels.

Off to the side is a Gen Tran 8 circuit box with each circuit having a 3-way switch... Utility-Off-Generator.

Like has been said it has important circuits set up for 5000 watt generator.

Of course someone capable has to be there to run Generator and switch loads.

Not ideal but economical...
 
   / Your last generator Maintenance Run
  • Thread Starter
#5,419  
Check out this site

That logo seems familiar.... you might have nailed it g.

I will backtrack later..... I now want to make sure I didn't dream of the schematic that logo reminds me of....

(Going back outside now... back to "regular" automotive problems :cool:....)

Rgds, D.
 
   / Your last generator Maintenance Run #5,420  
Do you have a 400 amp main panel, or a 400 amp meter with 2 main breakers? Reason i ask is because 2 - 200 amp transfer switches are WAY cheaper than any 400 amp transfer switch. I have loads of 400 amp houses running twin 200 amp switches. But never on less than a 22 kw unit. Most houses running 400 amp have so much electrical heat, water heat, etc that a small 15 kw unit will probibly stall out.
i have also installed a smaller gen on a single 200 amp transfer switch from a 400 amp house, than moved all the huge circuits over to the unprotected panel, and moved all the stuff that could run without issue to the protected panel. Most people only wanted to protect frige, freezer, have lights and tv operating. They understand a 60 amp generator isnt going to run a 80 amp heat strip heater.
I have 2- 200amp panels, I was thinking about doing the 2- 200amp transfer switches but was hoping for a single switch for simplicity. From my understanding, the 400a Generac transfers actually just have 2- 200amp switches in them? Or the info on their site was wrong.

15kw will run everything I need, my loads are relative low, the only reason I was going to power both panels is because the loads I want to run are spread out pretty evenly between the 2.

Can you run the newer whole house transfer switches from an older control system? Also can you control load shedding through the transfer switch using an older gen controller?

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