Your last generator Maintenance Run

[Patrick Herd]

Nothing is stock for this gen.
I’m leaning towards removing this unit and installing my 4kw ac generator with the L70 Yanmar.
That engine is a special military version with extended 2qt sump, intake air heaters and bypass filter system.
This generator will work nicely with my auto start controller.
I can then work on a solution for the defective regulator.
This is the season for inside work.
90cummins

Found one supplier claiming to have the regulator CE Niehoff Voltage Regulator 28 Volts DC Fits Cat 1 & Cat 2 MRAP

 

[90cummins]

Nice find Thank you!!
I have the repair manual for this unit & it may have an electrical schematic I could use to integrate an aftermarket regulator.
But that’s down the road a bit.

90cummins

 

[LouNY]

I sure looked. But what I learned is that when it comes to a diesel genset it's gonna be expensive++, much bigger than we need and most probably not an inverter. Another thing is diesels like to work loaded - not just spinning at 1800 and basically freewheeling. Our sweet spot is 4500 kw and our typical max load is an easy 80% of that. Our generator time is 3 to 3.5 hours a day during generator season from mid Oct through Jan. The rest of the year is solar with the generator running rarely only because of multiday weather overcasts or maintenance runs.

So its a gas unit for us. I do have a Miller Bobcat in the shop for welding, large loads, 240vac, etc. I really screwed up not getting the diesel option there, though.

Edit: 4.5kw, sorry.

The smaller diesel lighting units are often 6Kw, some are smaller.

 

[3930dave]

Found one supplier claiming to have the regulator CE Niehoff Voltage Regulator 28 Volts DC Fits Cat 1 & Cat 2 MRAP

Team TBN, On The Job......

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

The smaller diesel lighting units are often 6Kw, some are smaller.

Was chatting with a young mechanic @ work about those recently...... if you can trust that the servicing was done regularly, that would be a great find for similar solar backup needs....

Rgds, D.

 

[90cummins]

The smaller diesel lighting units are often 6Kw, some are smaller.

I agree!
Diesels while robust do not tolerate operation with light loads.
I would suggest a light load is 20~25% of the rated load.
Please feel free to correct me on this.
Light loads can cause wet stacking and is a very real issue in cold weather especially with air cooled diesels.
My electrical loads are minimal so a 3.5kw Yanmar diesel generator works for me. When connected directly to my hybrid battery backup inverter I can program the inverter to assist the generator if the load exceeds 3kw.
This will support short term loads of 8kw.
For overnight support my Honda EU2000i and auxiliary fuel tank does the job nicely keeping the heat on along with selected lights and 2 electric blankets.
Can’t forget the tv!
My advice is don’t size a diesel generator for everything in your household size it for what you absolutely need.
If a long term outage occurs you will appreciate the fuel savings a small diesel offers.
90cummins