jdonovan
Gold Member
I use Speedtest.net - The Global Broadband Speed Test It uses flash, which I dislike, so I just enable it when I want to run a speed test, and then return to disabled.
Building a stick frame house in the woods in 90 days
- Thread starter pclausen
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pclausen
Veteran Member
Yep, speedtest is what I use as well. We actually have it installed at work for our external customers to use for this very purpose. It's pretty fun watching the results when run from a workstation with a 10GB link to our core network. 
So I hauled my biggest load of logs, by far, this morning. Other than the Allison downshifting a little more than usual to maintain 55mph in a couple of spots, and needing to turn up the maxbrake controller from 45 to 50 to get decent breaking, it felt like any other run to the mill. This 11 year old duramax truck continues to impress.
I almost could not believe the numbers when he gave me the slip. Well over 11 tons of logs, and a gross of over 37,000 lbs!
Last night we have a power outage that lasted from around 2am until 6:30am. At 4am I finally got my generator started after going through almost a full bottle of starting fluid, but I'm pretty used to that at this point and will be addressing that issue soon.
The bigger issue was that mom's generator shut down after about 1 hour of running due to an overload condition. Didn't really have time to look at it this morning in my usual rush to get the logs to the mill and then head to work, but after I talked to her about it a little more this evening, she explained that the A/C was also acting up. So I took a look and the inside coil was completely frozen over.
I started checking the wiring, and it turns out the installer the builder had put this unit in completely fubar'ed the install. This is a 2 stage hp, and it was wired as a single stage one. In fact, it didn't even have the proper 6 conductors between the air handler and the outdoor unit, and the dip switches had never been set to indicate a dual stage hp and the tonnage dip switches were also not set right. On top of that, the settings on the Nest thermostat were off.
The aux heat for defrost was not even jumpered correctly.
I suspect that what happened (and this has probably been going in since it went online), is that it was running way to cool and then the aux heat came on at the same time to deal with the frost built up. That 10kw emergency heat elements are about the only thing I can think of that would cause the generator to go into overload. The only other appliance that mom has that could pull even close to 13kw would be the electric oven, and I'm pretty sure she wasn't using that between 2am and 6am. :laughing:
So I hauled my biggest load of logs, by far, this morning. Other than the Allison downshifting a little more than usual to maintain 55mph in a couple of spots, and needing to turn up the maxbrake controller from 45 to 50 to get decent breaking, it felt like any other run to the mill. This 11 year old duramax truck continues to impress.
I almost could not believe the numbers when he gave me the slip. Well over 11 tons of logs, and a gross of over 37,000 lbs!
Last night we have a power outage that lasted from around 2am until 6:30am. At 4am I finally got my generator started after going through almost a full bottle of starting fluid, but I'm pretty used to that at this point and will be addressing that issue soon.
The bigger issue was that mom's generator shut down after about 1 hour of running due to an overload condition. Didn't really have time to look at it this morning in my usual rush to get the logs to the mill and then head to work, but after I talked to her about it a little more this evening, she explained that the A/C was also acting up. So I took a look and the inside coil was completely frozen over.
I started checking the wiring, and it turns out the installer the builder had put this unit in completely fubar'ed the install. This is a 2 stage hp, and it was wired as a single stage one. In fact, it didn't even have the proper 6 conductors between the air handler and the outdoor unit, and the dip switches had never been set to indicate a dual stage hp and the tonnage dip switches were also not set right. On top of that, the settings on the Nest thermostat were off.
The aux heat for defrost was not even jumpered correctly.
I suspect that what happened (and this has probably been going in since it went online), is that it was running way to cool and then the aux heat came on at the same time to deal with the frost built up. That 10kw emergency heat elements are about the only thing I can think of that would cause the generator to go into overload. The only other appliance that mom has that could pull even close to 13kw would be the electric oven, and I'm pretty sure she wasn't using that between 2am and 6am. :laughing:
FairfaxStu
Gold Member
Speedtest, huh? I just got about 85 down and 40 up over FIOS which is pretty fast. They claim it is 75/75, but I will take it. With the information you provided, savvy people should be able to figure out what exactly it is you do for a living.
37,000 lbs? Jeez... Got that CDL yet?
Somehow, them goofing on your HVAC wiring is not surprising. Glad you figured out the problem and I am sure you will be addressing it soon.
As for your generator woes, you should get a Generac Tech out to figure out the fuel delivery problem. I spoke with the fat bastard the other night and he agrees. I also asked if he happened to have a spare LP carb laying around but he does not. And you will be proud, your old block is still running fine except for the fact that it smokes like crazy for a few minutes after startup. He has replaced most every component around it so the problem must be a micro-fracture in the block.
-Stu
37,000 lbs? Jeez... Got that CDL yet?
Somehow, them goofing on your HVAC wiring is not surprising. Glad you figured out the problem and I am sure you will be addressing it soon.
As for your generator woes, you should get a Generac Tech out to figure out the fuel delivery problem. I spoke with the fat bastard the other night and he agrees. I also asked if he happened to have a spare LP carb laying around but he does not. And you will be proud, your old block is still running fine except for the fact that it smokes like crazy for a few minutes after startup. He has replaced most every component around it so the problem must be a micro-fracture in the block.
-Stu
mkane09
Silver Member
Peter, I'll bet that left rear tire on your trailer can't believe it's 37,000 lbs either. Not sure I'd load that trailer that full on subsequent trips. If you had a blowout, fishtail, wiped out a schoolbus, I'm not sure what you'd tell the State Troopers... JMHO.
mkane09
mkane09
jdonovan
Gold Member
955Lincoln
Gold Member
Does your thermo allow both AC and heat (auto mode)? The only way it could go into defrost is in the heat mode and it did get a little chilly last night and that chunk of ice didn't help things either. Maybe the water heater came on at the same time if it's electric? This could become a problem during the winter if the power goes out when the heat pump goes into its normal defrost cycle which turns the resistance heat on. Could you wire it for like 5K of heat during defrost?
Peter,
If your theory about the Heat Pump is correct, you may be shocked if you look at the electric meter to see the total consumption since it was installed and/or since you turned the unit on after the plasterboard sanding was done.
Ron
If your theory about the Heat Pump is correct, you may be shocked if you look at the electric meter to see the total consumption since it was installed and/or since you turned the unit on after the plasterboard sanding was done.
Ron
tractchores
Veteran Member
Not totally on topic, but we put a generac 14kw generator at mynparents. It had tons of issues, most of which were solved by adding 2 propane tanks to increase the fuel feed rate, one tank couldn't vaporize enough propane to feed it. The remaining issues were solved by a new control board. I won't buy another one after that.
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pclausen
Veteran Member
I don't plan to go that extreme in the future for sure. I guess the fact that my straps did not reach and I had to extend them with a 2nd set should have been a clue.
The G.V.W.R of the trailer is 22,500#. Trailer empty is 5,800#, so the net load capacity is 16,700#, however, being a GN, 25% of the weight can be on the truck rear axle, which would add 5,625 back, so the effective net load capacity is 22,325#. At 22,800#, I was technically only 475# over.
That said, the poor truck was definitely way over what it was rated for. As far as stability, being a GN, there is zero sway/fishtailing since the point of attachment is directly over the rear axle of the truck as opposed to the bumper. 14 tires carrying all the weight, divided into 37,100# gives each tire a load of 2,650#, well with their 3,000# + ratings.
But all that said, I plan to go back to around 9 tons per load for the remainder.
PILOON
Super Star Member
Not only is vaporizing a problem with propane, but in much colder climates if the demand is high propane will freeze up. Also with lower the temps the pressure drops and you end up only using a portion of the available gas.
I.E. you pay for a full tank and only use a portion of it. Guess the answer would be to install some kind of wrap around heating blanket.