Your last generator Maintenance Run

[Looking4new]

I bought a Rigid 9k generator when we were building the house. Used it for about 2 months during the build. Then planned to keep it as our back up if power went out. I made the mistake of not running it periodically and the carb was gunned up after 2 years... Then we needed it for a 1 week power outage. I got it going with starter fluid and running at 1/4 choke. After we got power back, I had a new carb installed and now I run it dry before storing.

IF you can get it, use non-ethanol gas, it helps.

 

[ultrarunner]

Right now I have 4 gasoline gen-sets that won't run... they will start with a whiff of starting fluid... all were solid and dependable.

Guess the fuel got to them... one Honda and 3 others.

When I bought my first one in 1990 the Honda shop said to always keep the tank full to minimize moister problems and tank rust...

 

[Tomtint]

IF you can get it, use non-ethanol gas, it helps.

I don't have access to it locally. I was actually thinking about running a small amount of the premix canned fuel that is sold at the local Agway store. It's what's people here use in chain saws or other 2 stroke motors that may sit for a while. I suspect it may foul a plug but that's a easy fix.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I NEVER have any of those problems with my pto powered gen set, my tractor is always ready to go!

SR

 

[Wnc3]

M

Not sure if you are joking, or just really disciplined.....

If it's the latter..... why that day/time ?

Rgds, D.

It is on a auto exercise schedule. It does not transfer load ever week. I do a full load transfer every 6 months, unless we have had an outage.
Generac SVO 70 kW on natural gas. It is overkill, but the home owners version was a 40kw that crapped out after 24 hrs of straight use. (Long story) they gave me full credit and I went commercial grade.

 

[farmer2009]

M It is on a auto exercise schedule. It does not transfer load ever week. I do a full load transfer every 6 months, unless we have had an outage. Generac SVO 70 kW on natural gas. It is overkill, but the home owners version was a 40kw that crapped out after 24 hrs of straight use. (Long story) they gave me full credit and I went commercial grade.

Why doesn't it transfer load?

My 80kw is on a 400 amp auto switch. Starts every Sunday morning. Better chance I'm home and temperatures are cool. It transfers load every time.

 

[grsthegreat]

Ive stored all my portable generators with full fuel for over 20 years now... Mind you i ONLY use non ethanol fuel in them.

By not filling tank you will create moisture instead of fuel.

Its the ethanol that gums up the works. My newest 6 kw briggs unit has sat all summer with full tank. I used it a few weeks ago while i swapoed out a house main panel that was located in dark basement. It started and ran forhours with a couple of pulls.

 

[grsthegreat]

Ive stored all my portable generators with full fuel for over 20 years now... Mind you i ONLY use non ethanol fuel in them.

By not filling tank you will create moisture instead of fuel.

Its the ethanol that gums up the works. My newest 6 kw briggs unit has sat all summer with full tank. I used it a few weeks ago while i swapped oed out a house main panel that was located in dark basement. It started and ran for hours with a couple of pulls.

 

[GaryLock]

I have two Honda Eu2000's hooked together for the ~4000 watt output. I keep them in an outdoor small enclosure that I put ventilation ports in and also an old-school metal box fan for output venting. When either generator is running, the fan is as well. I also have the caps modified with external fuel lines, tee'd together into a 12 gallon marine gas tank. I can pull the tank out, and refill with fuel without turning off either generator. I get between 28-105 hrs. of run-time before having to refill the tank. At full load, I would refill the tank once a day, but I tend to average every 2-1/2 days without running below 1/4 tank. Nice to know it will run while I sleep. The enclosure is placed at the back of my garage, with interior access only to it from the garage, and stacks of 7 cords of wood in front and sides of it. From all points outside, with both generators running full load, you can barely hear it from the road, but if you do, it just sounds like a generator or mower running somewhere down the road, or a street over, or somewhere, but can not be pin pointed due to the wood piles bouncing the sound all around. I always carry 40+ gallons of additional fuel on hand, stabilized and rotated so that no gas in my system is more than a year old. The 12 gallon tank, I use my loader to lift and hold, while I use a siphon pump to drain into my SUV once a year. I start both of the generators bi-monthly and let them run for an hour. I have them hooked to a simple Reliance 6 circuit kit, which does everything important in the house, except the 220v water tank and stove. Stove is easy to replace with using my propane grill/stoves and the water tank is set up to flip two sets of plumbing bypasses and switch to a 110v small cabin tank I have installed. Finally, I will turn off the main breaker, go find my wife and say something like "Oops, the power must be out in a bad blizzard, and I am at work or out of town. Hope you don't freeze to death. What are you going to do?" She will run through the whole startup process (via a laminated sheet that is located in several places en route to the generators.) I also have auto-on emergency lights installed in the outlets to light up the dark house and path and even have a headlamp placed at the top of the stairs for her to put on. I have tried to think of it all, for her safety, more than my convenience. She is good at starting it all up. I'm always home now at nights, but it is good to know she can survive if I am not. And, I just think it is fun to sit down and design all this stuff out. love it!!

 

[buickanddeere]

I have two Honda Eu2000's hooked together for the ~4000 watt output. I keep them in an outdoor small enclosure that I put ventilation ports in and also an old-school metal box fan for output venting. When either generator is running, the fan is as well. I also have the caps modified with external fuel lines, tee'd together into a 12 gallon marine gas tank. I can pull the tank out, and refill with fuel without turning off either generator. I get between 28-105 hrs. of run-time before having to refill the tank. At full load, I would refill the tank once a day, but I tend to average every 2-1/2 days without running below 1/4 tank. Nice to know it will run while I sleep. The enclosure is placed at the back of my garage, with interior access only to it from the garage, and stacks of 7 cords of wood in front and sides of it. From all points outside, with both generators running full load, you can barely hear it from the road, but if you do, it just sounds like a generator or mower running somewhere down the road, or a street over, or somewhere, but can not be pin pointed due to the wood piles bouncing the sound all around. I always carry 40+ gallons of additional fuel on hand, stabilized and rotated so that no gas in my system is more than a year old. The 12 gallon tank, I use my loader to lift and hold, while I use a siphon pump to drain into my SUV once a year. I start both of the generators bi-monthly and let them run for an hour. I have them hooked to a simple Reliance 6 circuit kit, which does everything important in the house, except the 220v water tank and stove. Stove is easy to replace with using my propane grill/stoves and the water tank is set up to flip two sets of plumbing bypasses and switch to a 110v small cabin tank I have installed. Finally, I will turn off the main breaker, go find my wife and say something like "Oops, the power must be out in a bad blizzard, and I am at work or out of town. Hope you don't freeze to death. What are you going to do?" She will run through the whole startup process (via a laminated sheet that is located in several places en route to the generators.) I also have auto-on emergency lights installed in the outlets to light up the dark house and path and even have a headlamp placed at the top of the stairs for her to put on. I have tried to think of it all, for her safety, more than my convenience. She is good at starting it all up. I'm always home now at nights, but it is good to know she can survive if I am not. And, I just think it is fun to sit down and design all this stuff out. love it!!

Shutting off the main breaker ??? Are you not using a proper transfer switch ? Is there a CO detector in the house and garage ?

 

[GaryLock]

Shutting off the main breaker ??? Are you not using a proper transfer switch ? Is there a CO detector in the house and garage ?

Yes, I have CO detectors. Yes I have a transfer switch system in place. As I detailed above, I use a 6 circuit transfer system to bring 110v to six critical circuits in the house. The generators are totally isolated from the line at all times. I only flip the main breaker to kill the house power and have my wife do a "drill". I could have used a whole house transfer switch, but then I would need a whole house generator setup and I would get nowhere near the quietness and fuel efficiency of my current system. The enclosure is outside, behind the garage (ie:concrete foundation walls) with the only access being a locking door exiting the garage, or moving a whole bunch of wood off the piles if you can actually find its location. And what I also like is that before bed, I can access the generators, and kill one for the night to conserve even more fuel. One 2000i will power my furnace and fridges without any issues, extending my fuel reserve by much.

 

[ultrarunner]

4,000 watts is plenty when used intelligently for most...

Refrigeration, lighting and a few convenience items... other things can be rotated in and out as needed.

My CREE LED lightening has reduced my lighting load in the house about 80%...

For the last 25 years I've been responsible for Hospital Emergency power systems... when I see residential applications with 40kW or even 100kW is gives me pause because the larger units require more fuel and I just would not be comfortable spending.

Good move having the laminated checklist... it provides peace of mind for all parties.

I like the redundancy of having two generators... just like a hospital system where everything has at least on backup.

 

[arto98607]

IF you can get it, use non-ethanol gas, it helps.

Sure it helps but my choice was a Diesel powered generator few years ago - little bit of Biobor biocide mixed with fuel and no issues.
Propane is another great fuel for long term storage.

:thumbsup:

 

[Looking4new]

Sure it helps but my choice was a Diesel powered generator few years ago - little bit of Biobor biocide mixed with fuel and no issues.
:thumbsup:

OOPS! No gasoline for you, then.

 

[buickanddeere]

Yes, I have CO detectors. Yes I have a transfer switch system in place. As I detailed above, I use a 6 circuit transfer system to bring 110v to six critical circuits in the house. The generators are totally isolated from the line at all times. I only flip the main breaker to kill the house power and have my wife do a "drill". I could have used a whole house transfer switch, but then I would need a whole house generator setup and I would get nowhere near the quietness and fuel efficiency of my current system. The enclosure is outside, behind the garage (ie:concrete foundation walls) with the only access being a locking door exiting the garage, or moving a whole bunch of wood off the piles if you can actually find its location. And what I also like is that before bed, I can access the generators, and kill one for the night to conserve even more fuel. One 2000i will power my furnace and fridges without any issues, extending my fuel reserve by much.

You are opening the main breaker as part of the test and practice to ensure your Mrs can start and load everything ?
Or the main breaker has to opened when ever one or both of the generators are being used with the six circuit panel ?

 

[ultrarunner]

The first to simulate a power outage and the practice the steps necessary to get up and running when the power is out... at least this is how I read it.

 

[Texasmark]

I have a Generac whole house permanent installation. It runw every Wednesday around 1 pm for 15 minutes. It tells me when it's time to check the oil and battery. Hooked to a dedicated propane tank. No more portable headaches for me!

 

[Looking4new]

I have a Generac whole house permanent installation. It runw every Wednesday around 1 pm for 15 minutes. It tells me when it's time to check the oil and battery. Hooked to a dedicated propane tank. No more portable headaches for me!

How is that Generac working for you?
How long have you had it?
How much propane would you go through in a typical power outage of 12 hours at 75% load?

 

[3930dave]

M

It is on a auto exercise schedule. It does not transfer load ever week. I do a full load transfer every 6 months, unless we have had an outage.
Generac SVO 70 kW on natural gas. It is overkill, but the home owners version was a 40kw that crapped out after 24 hrs of straight use. (Long story) they gave me full credit and I went commercial grade.

makes sense now.... :thumbsup:

Small or big, a healthy gen is great to have around.

Curious.... I'm guessing that 40kw was liquid cooled - Y/N ?

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Right now I have 4 gasoline gen-sets that won't run... they will start with a whiff of starting fluid... all were solid and dependable.

Guess the fuel got to them... one Honda and 3 others.

When I bought my first one in 1990 the Honda shop said to always keep the tank full to minimize moister problems and tank rust...

Hopefully Seafoam or equiv. can help you avoid a carb rebuild/replacement.... let us know how goes....

Rgds, D.