Your last generator Maintenance Run
- Thread starter 3930dave
- Start date
- Views: 1061005
BrokenTrack
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2018
- Messages
- 1,551
- Location
- Maine
- Tractor
- Tractors, Skidders, Bulldozers, Forestry Equipment
That's pretty much what "I" have in mind. I already have the Kubota refer diesel, it's 40hp and cost me $175.00, it's got less than 2000 hours on it,
Now I'm deciding what's going behind it...
SR
I have something similar; an Isuzu diesel engine for a reefer, but sadly mine will need to be rebuilt. Still it should make for a great team I think with my PTO generator. Myself I can get by with non-auto start as I am retired and home all the time anyway.
daugen
Epic Contributor
going to be a lot of gen action in New England shortly. My sister's home in Princeton NJ is supposed to get 7 inches of snow today and another 7 tonight.
14 inches of heavy wet snow. Bye bye power lines.
14 inches of heavy wet snow. Bye bye power lines.
shaeff
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2015
- Messages
- 1,046
- Location
- Hudson Valley, NY
- Tractor
- MF Utility 35 Gasser, JLG LJ500
Keepin' it alive.
I just picked up a 10kw/ 19.5 surge kw Porter Cable brushless with a 20hp Honda motor on it for $1000. Runs great with choke pulled out a touch. plugs look really good, gas tank was NASTY, fuel filter is hard to blow through. I've got two new fuel filters on the way for it, I'm betting that's my surging issue- running lean. The governor keeps trying to compensate for it.
My plan for it:
Pour a concrete pad, run schedule 40 conduit underground through my basement wall, having an electrician friend hook it into the panel to backfeed AFTER I install an interlock switch. I'll either build or buy a small shed for the generator, put in intake vents, a powered exhaust vent, and pipe the muffler outside. There will be provisions to open the whole shed in case it runs too warm. Main reason for the shed is so I don't have to drag this thing in and out during an outage. It's 350lbs, no wheel kit, and I don't want it in my basement, no room in the equipment shed.
I *might* convert it to tri-fuel so I can run a propane line to it, we'll see. Eventually it'll be replaced with a standby generator, but this will work very well for now. We've got two air handlers (attic and basement of two story home), combo boiler that does heat/hot water, well, and fridge are the main concerns. When I did a rough add-up of surge watts, it was 10,300ish, so I think I'll be golden to run nearly the whole house. All lights inside are LEDs, and I've NEVER heard both air handlers kick on at the same time.
Edit: I should note that I have access to ethanol free fuel, which I use in every powered machine on my property except the cars, and I'll be doing maintenance runs on it at least 2x a month under some sort of load. (though I don't think brushless gennys need that done?)
I just picked up a 10kw/ 19.5 surge kw Porter Cable brushless with a 20hp Honda motor on it for $1000. Runs great with choke pulled out a touch. plugs look really good, gas tank was NASTY, fuel filter is hard to blow through. I've got two new fuel filters on the way for it, I'm betting that's my surging issue- running lean. The governor keeps trying to compensate for it.
My plan for it:
Pour a concrete pad, run schedule 40 conduit underground through my basement wall, having an electrician friend hook it into the panel to backfeed AFTER I install an interlock switch. I'll either build or buy a small shed for the generator, put in intake vents, a powered exhaust vent, and pipe the muffler outside. There will be provisions to open the whole shed in case it runs too warm. Main reason for the shed is so I don't have to drag this thing in and out during an outage. It's 350lbs, no wheel kit, and I don't want it in my basement, no room in the equipment shed.
I *might* convert it to tri-fuel so I can run a propane line to it, we'll see. Eventually it'll be replaced with a standby generator, but this will work very well for now. We've got two air handlers (attic and basement of two story home), combo boiler that does heat/hot water, well, and fridge are the main concerns. When I did a rough add-up of surge watts, it was 10,300ish, so I think I'll be golden to run nearly the whole house. All lights inside are LEDs, and I've NEVER heard both air handlers kick on at the same time.
Edit: I should note that I have access to ethanol free fuel, which I use in every powered machine on my property except the cars, and I'll be doing maintenance runs on it at least 2x a month under some sort of load. (though I don't think brushless gennys need that done?)
Nice score ! Let us know how the fuel service plan works out.
Propane or natgas are definitely attractive generator options. Esp. in cold climates, I think of loaded runs in terms of heating the oil (re. condensation), not just gen magnetics. If that is a metal gas tank, consider using Stabil 360 Protection.
We'll definitely need pics of your new install !
Rgds, D.
thepumpguysc
Elite Member
Just remember the propane usage posted by another poster..
He had his 10k spec'd out at 2lbs an hour on a small grill tank w/ the last 2lbs unable to run enough pressure to keep the engine going.
So a 100lb cylinder would almost be a necessity for a long term outage...
He had his 10k spec'd out at 2lbs an hour on a small grill tank w/ the last 2lbs unable to run enough pressure to keep the engine going.
So a 100lb cylinder would almost be a necessity for a long term outage...
Generator or a startup company, always good to be mindful of your Burn Rate :fiery:
Definitely also have to watch propane tank surface area (wrt. ambient temperature), esp. up here half the year. Good example posted on here (might have been another thread ?) - I think it was a propane conversion of a zero turn or some other mower ?
Rgds, D.
shaeff
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2015
- Messages
- 1,046
- Location
- Hudson Valley, NY
- Tractor
- MF Utility 35 Gasser, JLG LJ500
Will do! It's got a plastic tank on it, top mounted. User manual says it'll go about 8hrs on a full tank (7 gallons) at 50% load, half that at 100% load. I'll definitely take pictures once I get everything to start the install, probably won't be for a few weeks, I want the frost out of the ground before I pour the slab.
My heating system is propane, I currently have three 120gal tanks on the side of the house. I'm hoping that before summer is over that I can get a 500 or 1000 gallon in ground tank setup. I don't like all those tanks near the house, or how they look out in the open. I'll also get a better deal on pricing out the propane with my own tank. I'd likely still stick with the company I currently use, they treat me well for the most part.
Generator or a startup company, always good to be mindful of your Burn Rate :fiery:
Definitely also have to watch propane tank surface area (wrt. ambient temperature), esp. up here half the year. Good example posted on here (might have been another thread ?) - I think it was a propane conversion of a zero turn or some other mower ?
Rgds, D.
Right on, I certainly wouldn't want a tank freeze-up in a no-power situation. I think the draw rate would be fine off of three 120 gal tanks.
dragoneggs
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2013
- Messages
- 14,548
- Location
- Seabeck, Washington
- Tractor
- Kubota BX-25D, Kubota Z122RKW-42
I used to have a 500gal LP tank but because it was leased, I couldn't shop around as no one else would fill it. I finally purchased a tank but downsized to 250gal because of cost. I can shop around for best price now but no one wants to fill unless it is less than 25% remaining. Always seems to happen during peak price season.
:smiley_aafz:
