Your last generator Maintenance Run

[ning]

in another thread story posted of neighbor in New England who had whole house generac put in,
installer aimed exhaust in direction of Bilco door, CO count in house 250.
CO sinks I believe so I guess it could go down the steps.
one more thing to remember, don't exhaust near basement steps.

CO is actually slightly lighter than air (0.967 the density of air). As such in a static space the CO will rise, but it doesn't take much movement at all to keep them mixed.

Being aimed at a bilco door wouldn't matter unless there was poor sealing and a negative pressure behind it.



Air = ~79% N₂ + ~1% CO₂ + ~20% O₂

Roughly speaking, C=12, N=14, O=16 and for gasses you can pretty much compare the atomic weights; in this case air ~28.96 vs CO ~28.

Propane on the other hand is C₃H₈ = ~44 which is significantly heavier than air.
Radon gas is 222, super dense!

(all the above are rough numbers and the relative densities assume the comparison is performed at the same pressure and temperature; STP for example.)

 

[daugen]

CO is actually slightly lighter than air (0.967 the density of air). As such in a static space the CO will rise, but it doesn't take much movement at all to keep them mixed.

Being aimed at a bilco door wouldn't matter unless there was poor sealing and a negative pressure behind it.



Air = ~79% N₂ + ~1% CO₂ + ~20% O₂

Roughly speaking, C=12, N=14, O=16 and for gasses you can pretty much compare the atomic weights; in this case air ~28.96 vs CO ~28.

Propane on the other hand is C₃H₈ = ~44 which is significantly heavier than air.
Radon gas is 222, super dense!

(all the above are rough numbers and the relative densities assume the comparison is performed at the same pressure and temperature; STP for example.)

the article I read blamed the Bilco door. ??
modern doors have seals, I grew up with ancient Bilcos that didn't. All the coats of forest green I painted that thing 60 years ago.
I have oil heat at home and one CO detector is near the oil burner, one in living room and one in bedroom.
dying in my sleep sounds fine but not by this.

thanks for the science, good to know.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Started second pull... With the storm tonight, it seemed like a perfect time to verify.

 

[Racer4]

Started second pull... With the storm tonight, it seemed like a perfect time to verify.
View attachment 3045775

Looks like you got the off road model! Nice!

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Looks like you got the off road model! Nice!

The stock wheels are about worthless on anything but concrete

 

[3930dave]

Started second pull... With the storm tonight, it seemed like a perfect time to verify.
View attachment 3045775

Testing Done - Check. Now, grid will stay up, no problem, and storm will pass you by.....

I love those wheels. Most factory wheels are useless outdoors.

In the Tech World (and elsewhere....), First Mover Advantage..... you get to enjoy (only briefly in Tech) a price-premium for a unique product.....

Thinking about that ^, while having a coffee-break..... In Canuckland, you'd think that The Wheel had just been invented, if you ever go to buy a decent equipment wheel.....

Rgds, D.

 

[daugen]

i think we all like those big wheels, what a good idea
maybe having one that locks?
cheesy wheel on my gen almost fell off

 

[3930dave]

It is described as an effluent pump, so mag-couple might (?) make sense..... spec-wise, this 1/2 hp one is rated to move something like 1000gph more than it's smaller brother - in my case, that capacity is welcome.

Rgds, D.

Knock wood, primary sump-pump is behaving/running properly.

Remembered today to finally check my high-water alarm - no noise with leads in-water. 9v battery OK. The sense leads look like old twin-lead TV wire, but solid copper. < Fortunately, clear insulation..... so I could see oxidation on the first 3/4" of the leads, under the insulation. Stripped the ends, cleaned oxide, now squawks like it should..... I'll hit the ends with Termin8r spray (No ox), before it goes back over the pit.

Rgds, D.

 

[grsthegreat]

My sump tank uses a float for the alarm

 

[3930dave]

My sump tank uses a float for the alarm

Nice to have that built-in. Won't matter @ your place (auto-standby gen), but is that alarm DC backed-up ?

Rgds, D.

 

[grsthegreat]

Nice to have that built-in. Won't matter @ your place (auto-standby gen), but is that alarm DC backed-up ?

Rgds, D.

No, 110 only. But like you said, house is on auto backup generator.

 

[90cummins]

3/17/2025

Lost power at 10:30 this morning and my battery backup also went down & that’s not supposed to happen!!!
With today’s political environment I briefly started thinking is this the big one??
Stop, relax & think logically.
Start at the power source, no dc power to inverter so I check the 300 amp inline dc fuse & find it blown. I replace fuse and system reboots & I have power to entire house which it should not have.
I designed the system to support essential circuits in event of outage so I check my breakers.
Oops I left the breaker on that energizes the entire house rather than the essentials.
My wife was vacuuming and the dishwasher was running along with the electric dryer & clothes washer. That caused an instant dc current overload.
No harm done just a reminder to double check all breakers after a test or real event.
This should not have happened however it did and the system worked as planned with no damage.
Went into powerhouse to manually start the Yanmar L100 to charge the battery pack.
That little engine always starts within 2~3 revolutions.

Powers back on & I’m back in my recliner

90cummins

 

[3930dave]

3/17/2025

Lost power at 10:30 this morning and my battery backup also went down & that’s not supposed to happen!!!
With today’s political environment I briefly started thinking is this the big one??
Stop, relax & think logically.
Start at the power source, no dc power to inverter so I check the 300 amp inline dc fuse & find it blown. I replace fuse and system reboots & I have power to entire house which it should not have.
I designed the system to support essential circuits in event of outage so I check my breakers.
Oops I left the breaker on that energizes the entire house rather than the essentials.
My wife was vacuuming and the dishwasher was running along with the electric dryer & clothes washer. That caused an instant dc current overload.
No harm done just a reminder to double check all breakers after a test or real event.
This should not have happened however it did and the system worked as planned with no damage.
Went into powerhouse to manually start the Yanmar L100 to charge the battery pack.
That little engine always starts within 2~3 revolutions.

Powers back on & I’m back in my recliner

90cummins

Hey.... at least you were @ home, to direct your generator-tech on what to do !

Good test, of what you designed.

Rgds, D.

 

[Alan W.]

Co-op had a line fall and ours was out for 9 hours. I have a small HF open frame inverter. My son has been using it on his home construct so it is getting ran and fresh gas so it fired up and never missed a beat. Needed heat for the chicks in the brooder plus tv and wifi.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

i think we all like those big wheels, what a good idea
maybe having one that locks?
cheesy wheel on my gen almost fell off

These wheels do lock too!

 

[3930dave]

Co-op had a line fall and ours was out for 9 hours. I have a small HF open frame inverter. My son has been using it on his home construct so it is getting ran and fresh gas so it fired up and never missed a beat. Needed heat for the chicks in the brooder plus tv and wifi.

Good to hear only 9 hours. HFi to the rescue !

Working on first coffee (I work late), reading your post.... FarSide comic drifted through my head... Chickens with TV and Wifi....

"Morning" Smile, D.

 

[3930dave]

These wheels do lock too!

Most anybody else, I'd be totally joking....

That thing AWD too ?

Rgds, D.

 

[grsthegreat]

I was just contemplating doing a loaded test run on my generator this week…..i guess mother nature is doing it for me. Not much on right now though.

 

[Popgadget]

Is that Gen Mon?

 

[grsthegreat]

Yes