Your last generator Maintenance Run

[Rustyiron]

This is probably meaningless to most of you, but I finally got a pilot light in the shop indicating grid power. My meter and transfer switch is 200' from the house and up until now I had to walk out and look at my (smart) meter to see if the power was back on.
I had a spare 1/2" conduit and pulled 3 14g thhn through from the transfer sw to the shop (attached to the house). Several outages I'd talk to a neighbor a day later asking if they lost power only to find out that it was only out for a couple of hours and I ran the Genny all night long! It's a long cold 200' walk in the middle of the night to check it, I've done it plenty, most of the time only to find the power is still out.
It's a little thing but that's one of the finishing touches and only a way of turning on the block heater from the house is left.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

This is probably meaningless to most of you, but I finally got a pilot light in the shop indicating grid power. My meter and transfer switch is 200' from the house and up until now I had to walk out and look at my (smart) meter to see if the power was back on.
I had a spare 1/2" conduit and pulled 3 14g thhn through from the transfer sw to the shop (attached to the house). Several outages I'd talk to a neighbor a day later asking if they lost power only to find out that it was only out for a couple of hours and I ran the Genny all night long! It's a long cold 200' walk in the middle of the night to check it, I've done it plenty, most of the time only to find the power is still out.
It's a little thing but that's one of the finishing touches and only a way of turning on the block heater from the house is left.

Our security lights are direct grid fed so that works good for me at night if I look out and see light I know I can go shut my generator off.

 

[3930dave]

When a minor, but useful, detail gets knocked off The List..... It's a good day !

I like being outdoors year round, but Remote Status at a glance is nice, esp. when it's really gnarly out....

I prefer KISS on many things, but I do have to admit, remote detailed telemetry (like grs uses) on these systems is the bees knees, at least for us gearheads....

Block htr..... if no room left (conduit) for a dedicated circuit, long range wifi ? Depending how vicious your grid rates are, and your standby needs, I might be tempted to just use a low temperature thermostat on the block heater.....

The Last of the Project Details..... I know well how long it can take ......

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Had not cranked it in a while, got out the JD -Subaru 404cc 14hp genny. Fresh fuel -full choke ' hit E start ' fired rite up . Have had it for years , never a lick of trouble. Wish Subaru still made gennys . Tough son of a gun . Reminds me of the old 22R Toyota engine Of course anything near perfect they conveniently to them they quit fabricating .

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22R..... People today are used to huge power out of truck engines, but a few of us still "get" the 22R...... all sorts of stuff goes for big money today, but you'll see some of those clean Toy 22's going large on Bring A Trailer....

Things that Just Work..... almost Indefinitely .

Rgds, D.

 

[daugen]

Drew - did you get your battery-start issue sorted out

thanks for reminding me, have to order a new on off switch. Power to switch, nothing thereafter

 

[3930dave]

Drew - did you get your battery-start issue sorted out

thanks for reminding me, have to order a new on off switch. Power to switch, nothing thereafter

You've been around long enough to hear me repeat why I started this thread........ Personal lack of RoundTuit's !

Glad to be of service.....

Rgds, D.

 

[daugen]

thanks Dave. Ten dollar switch, five dollar shipping, not worth a warranty claim

 

[3930dave]

thanks Dave. Ten dollar switch, five dollar shipping, not worth a warranty claim

I tend to forget how low-cost shipping is down your way.... seems like a letter-stamp up here is now the better part of $5 !

Roger that.... warranty is often not worth the hassle on the small stuff.....

Rgds, D.

 

[RalphVa]

Ours is coming up on 10 year coolant change. Have any of you drained the coolant and managed to catch it all? Our Isuzu has a petcock on the left side of the radiator and a 17 mm plug to drain the block. Have thought about using that putty stuff to make chutes for each area.

Our generator is right in the middle of a little veggie garden area.

 

[3930dave]

Unless a drain has a stub that you can get a hose temporarily pushed onto, I usually end up with fluid splattering, or maybe I'm just not that good at this game yet.....

It may not be relevant to your situation Ralph, but I've seen these used to drain (big) transformers of oil - a kids hard-sided plastic wading pool. The plastic is strong enough to handle 10" or so of water, but low cost, and easy enough to trim for clearance.....

You may have your new coolant sourced already, but given your site, consider non-toxic formulas if it meets spec. If I had taken better notes in Chem 201, I might recall the formulation, but one place I've seen it listed is Amsoil.

Rgds, D.