Your last generator Maintenance Run

[Rustyiron]

Thanks, mine is a 1000 watt and I'll experiment leaving it plugged in for a month when it's cold. We've been in the 30's to 50's (F) for highs lately and not concerned with starting at those temps. Mid to upper 20's overnight. If it cycles off at the water temp you mentioned I can live with that. The building is uninsulated, but I suppose throwing maybe a concrete "blanket" over it and tucking it in would not hurt things and maybe save a little power usage.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Sorry, thought I read 1800W.

 

[3930dave]

If your grid prices are like mine ($$) Rusty, I'd be looking at how fast your primary building looses heat.....

If you can tolerate a lag-time to start-up, something like a propane catalytic heater could raise your powerhouse interior temperature pretty quickly. Not quite as good a heat soak as continuous coolant heaters, but the gain would be pre-heating the "ambient" air with something like a 20-30 minute blast from a catalytic heater..... depending on your particular diesel, that might be enough.....

Rgds, D.

 

[ultrarunner]

That'll do, can I adopt that one?:laughing:

I can see it now... custom signage Ye Old Powerhouse...

 

[ultrarunner]

The 1800W is now 9 years old... The hoses come in a kit from Onan and are silicon and about 3" long just long enough to connect to the metal tubing...

According to the literature the heater installed in the prime rated 125kW Cummins Turbo maintains coolant at 140F.

Should the heater fail and coolant temp drops low coolant temp alarm.sounds engineering office and Director of Nursing office...

Coolant temp does make a difference in how well it starts.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

You must have the unicorn of heaters. I’ve never seen the high wattage beehive heaters last. I don’t think they even make them over 1500W anymore because the 5/8 hose just got too hot.

1500W and larger should be a tank heater with 3/4 or 1” ports and hoses in order to last.

 

[ultrarunner]

It could be the mild climate equates to less on time?

This is the second one after the first one melted after 5 years.

The freeze plug heaters were my nemesis...

The "Beehive" is frame mounted and the silicon hoses do get a workout when the engine shuts down.

I'll take a picture.

It was the dealer that suggested the Beehive after I complained of the short service life of the freeze plug heaters.

 

[grsthegreat]

It could be the mild climate equates to less on time?

This is the second one after the first one melted after 5 years.

The freeze plug heaters were my nemesis...

The "Beehive" is frame mounted and the silicon hoses do get a workout when the engine shuts down.

I'll take a picture.

It was the dealer that suggested the Beehive after I complained of the short service life of the freeze plug heaters.

Weird, my freeze plug heater in dodge has been replaced 1 time ...its a 1994 dodge. The 2004 F350 has the original heater. I wonder why yours go out so fast

 

[Industrial Toys]

If a heater isn't surrounded by coolant for whatever reason, it's toast! The higher your heater is in the block, the more possibility of this happening.

 

[3930dave]

Weird, my freeze plug heater in dodge has been replaced 1 time ...its a 1994 dodge. The 2004 F350 has the original heater. I wonder why yours go out so fast

Maybe Cali has outlawed ethylene glycol.

..... I probably shouldn't even jest....

Rgds, D.