Good morning!!!!

[sodamo]

Generator info:

This is a Kohler 14RESA, 14kw, propane. Normal warranty is 5 years/2000 hours, or 18 months/1000 hours off grid.
Seems both Kohler and Generac are much less generous in their off grid offerings. Only certain models allowed.

We are off grid. Primary purpose of generator is battery charging. Currently that is happening every day for us lately. Don’t know if my orphaned, bankrupt batteries are beginning to fail (not holding power thru the night), a gremlin in the system, or a setting needs tweaking. So at this point generator does run a couple hours daily.

This generator replaces the 24kw diesel that wife’s washer didn’t like. It is a companion for my 10kw MEP 803A diesel. Rationale for choice. Concerned with ‘whatif’. Not getting any younger and when I’m no longer capable, was concerned wife can manage. No way I expect her to hump 5 gal cans of fuel. Propane I was able to extend line from current tank (remember my summer challenge) so propane delivery takes care of fuel. This is in addition to the 500 diesel storage I set up earlier, giving great redundancy. I’ll figure out a shared use schedule.

Setting up this generator has taken longer due to wife’s suggestion for space utilization - move the MEP. Doing so requires a whole new wiring scheme, being able to choose which generator runs. Takes a bit more thought when using current conduit runs in concrete. This one exhausts out the side, so I decided to install an exhaust fan in the wall that will be powered on whenever generator runs. Just using an old box fan for now, but will likely replace with something more permanent when I install the upper concrete board (after I get Tundra back).

This setup requires a custom transfer switch that allows which gen supplies power to my inverter/chargers and a component to select which gen is activated by Autostart call from the Outback. While I had previously built one for earlier setup, couldn’t resist trying to improve. This needs to be near foolproof, not only for wife but times we may have a housesitter.

This is what I have so far


Mostly done except breaker interlock and tidy up. Haven’t started on Autostart relays yet, just hooked into old setup for now.

This Kohler is a bit quieter than the big diesel. Wife commented she couldn’t smell it.

 

[sodamo]

Nice truck, Buppies. Bet you’ll be quite happy with it. Any reason for 3/4 vs 1/2 ton?

 

[sodamo]

Toyota discussion.
We have had a number of Toyotas over the years. No complaints. Compared to my last GMC, very happy.
Up to this point, any Tundra problems have not been Toyota faults. Only 2 major issues had to do with rodent damaged wiring. I honestly think this current problem may be also. A certain black cat maybe living too charmed a life!!!! Of course I’ve mentioned this to the service people, but but sure if the tech got the info.

Somewhat interesting, wife kinda chided me for not getting a new truck as she suggested. But I did get my new tractor

 

[toppop52]

Ill try

Great looking truck and a real gear shift, not a knob like my brother’s.

 

[toppop52]

1.93 “ of rain since 6 this morning, .63 in the last hour, gotta go to church in a couple of minutes.
Went to visit mom and Ellen’s dad already.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Toyota discussion.
We have had a number of Toyotas over the years. No complaints. Compared to my last GMC, very happy.
Up to this point, any Tundra problems have not been Toyota faults. Only 2 major issues had to do with rodent damaged wiring. I honestly think this current problem may be also. A certain black cat maybe living too charmed a life!!!! Of course I’ve mentioned this to the service people, but but sure if the tech got the info.

Somewhat interesting, wife kinda chided me for not getting a new truck as she suggested. But I did get my new tractor

If you need a mouser, make sure you get a female cat or two. Get them "fixed". Males get lazy and stop mousing.

 

[Looking4new]

Nice truck Buppies. Good luck with it.

 

[jbrumberg]

David- I hope the techs figure out your Tundra's electrical gremlins soon. I am totally fascinated with your and Sophie's "off the grid" living and all your projects and system backups supporting the operation. Thanks for sharing.

It seems that my vehicular corrosion problems increased when MA started using more de-icing chemicals than just salt and sand; but I sm not sure.

It was not supposed to get this far north and west, but we did get some light rain showers this PM = sitting in my easy chair by the wood stove nodding off while watching/listening to today's football games and "chumming" for ticks.

 

[Thomas]

53F cloudy with on/off rain sprinkle.

Couple small projects done even took back pack blower for walk.
Just about every time I turn around Jake turkey was close by...hmm.
Watch some football nascar from recliner until pillow time.

Enjoy the evening all.

 

[txdon]

If you need a mouser, make sure you get a female cat or two. Get them "fixed". Males get lazy and stop mousing.

Gray2 says "FAKE NEWS"! He's an 11 year-old male.

 

[toppop52]

2.7” of rain, and it seems about over at this point, water standing everywhere, now the wind is starting.

 

[jbrumberg]

Gray2 says "FAKE NEWS"! He's an 11 year-old male.View attachment 625433

Gray2 is trying to get you to eat some animal based protein. Our pets know us better than we do

 

[RoyJackson]

Well, mowed...probably the last time this season. Most of the fallen leaves were mulched or blown off the lawn.
Fortunately, the rain held off..
Also, greased the tractor's snow blower and dropped the bucket...plow went on. Guess I'm about ready for winter...

 

[sodamo]

Simba is a male cat, think he hunts for entertainment not necessity as he is too well fed.

 

[txdon]

Simba is a male cat, think he hunts for entertainment not necessity as he is too well fed.

Just like almost all human hunters.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Gray2 says "FAKE NEWS"! He's an 11 year-old male.View attachment 625433

He must really be bored, living in the city.

I mean, what do male cats have to do nowadays that they aren't making console TV's to lie on to stay warm?

Gray2's trying to show you that he's supplementing his vegey diet.

 

[sodamo]

Good day, just not as I envisioned. Basically didn’t improve on the Kohler install at all. What I did do was a clean up from what I did. Then I disconnected the MEP generator, old wires pulled back, and got it up on pipes ready to move. Needs to pivot 90°. Weighs about 1200 lbs, about 3x the Kohler. Suggested to wife that best way to move into open bay to get forks under might be the backhoe, using boom swing with a strap to pull and turn. Plan is to get it on the forks, give it a good look over then place close to final spot, but it will have to be rolled into place much like the Kohler.

Tenn / LA was exciting finish.

 

[Looking4new]

Well, I got done what I set out to do. Be pain free most of the day.

 

[mostly_gas]

Good evening all. 52F for the start, clear sky, calm wind. Wind stayed low until late afternoon, mostly clear until late afternoon, thunderstorms in area, high temp 86F. Radar estimates under .3 inch, more thunderstorms forecast for about midnight for me. Choir sang at chapel this morning, made wife breakfast, then into energy conservation mode until nap time. Pulled truck into garage and checked for water, ear plugs and light in tornado shelter.
Buppies congrats on the new pick up. Have fun learning to run the electronics
Drew, safe travel tomorrow.
RNG, thanks for the trip recap, sounds like nice trip overall.
David, My inlaws that live in the Ozarks leave the hood up when the vehicle won't be driven for a while. driving it once a day deters the rodents and putting the hood up also slows them down, they almost never get mice nest in engine compartment anymore.
Kyle, always had outside cat in MO, we had a fixed male who was hunting less got a fixed female, and his hunting went back up. Fox got the female, and his hunting stayed up, we figured he did not want a second cat around
David good luck moving generator safely.
prayers for all.

 

[RoyJackson]

2019-10-21, .0306

42 right now...high about 60 today...
Back to the grind...