Portable Diesel Generator Recommendations?

[cold1313]

I'm considering adding a diesel generator to my backup options. I keep a supply of diesel on hand.

My concern is if there are any issues with these and how well they might work in cold temperatures?

I currently have a propane, portable generator that I run off of BBQ tanks. It is okay but I wish it had an electric start and I cannot tell the fuel level.

My primary goal for my next generator would be for use in the winter, so I can supply heat in the home. I would like to get something with electric start, just in case the wife needs to start it.

(Not looking for a standby unit like Generac - can't justify the $8k+ price tag for the entire project)

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have a YANMAR portable air cooled single cylinder. It is 3.7 K which I have put into my 200 amp whole house transfer switch and it worked great, with load observation/management of course. They do make larger versions. They are a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for.



It is a terribly noisy beast, but I know it will always start even when very cold. It has a decompression lever. I consider it my "Portable Generator" but two guys struggle to lift it.

 

[Rebeldad1]

I think the OP needs a much larger generator.
he says "my next generator would be for use in the winter, so I can supply heat in the home"
I'm no expert but guessing a 10K or more to be efficient

 

[4570Man]

I don’t foresee buying a liquid cooled electric start diesel generator of adequate size and doing a decent job wiring it for much if any less than the $8k for the standby unit. If I was buying a diesel generator I’d want a good one that’s quite and built with durability in mind vs a cheaper air cooled noisy one.

 

[cold1313]

I think the OP needs a much larger generator.
he says "my next generator would be for use in the winter, so I can supply heat in the home"
I'm no expert but guessing a 10K or more to be efficient

My propane unit is 5500 watts and it handles the furnace just fine. I can power the fridge as well. Being in the country, I just want it reliable for if we have the power go out and need the heat on. Wiring is already in place.

 

[dalola]

I think the OP needs a much larger generator.
he says "my next generator would be for use in the winter, so I can supply heat in the home"
I'm no expert but guessing a 10K or more to be efficient

Most forced air furnaces (assuming this is what the OP has..) are fairly low in their power consumption....no where near 10KW. I use a Honda EU2000 for home backup, it runs my furnace and much more with ease.

OP, they are not diesel, but the inverter style portable Honda's are handy for lots of jobs, including home backup. As long as you are willing to control your manual switches, they will run the basics very well....furnace, fridge, TV, lights, etc.. Just something to consider.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Power went out on the weekend for a few hours and I used my main 7.5KW 1800 rpm Liquid cooled Diesel. Used a bit of electric heat, but had a fire going already. So life went on EXACTLY as usual. BUT, you won't get that for 8K!

Oh yeah, that Yanmar is a 3600 rpm screamer! Terrible to do tht to a diesel.

 

[Richard]

Backup heat: What about a ventless fireplace? Uses propane...you already have it.

We've got a ventless on each floor of the house. (I also live in the country and the power goes off on its own whim)

In general, if I use the fireplace in the basement, it will work its way up to the rest of the house so that's the one that usually gets used in winter (unless we have company over and have one going for "atmosphere")

Then, you can maybe get by with smaller generator to power lights and to warm your taco's.

 

[Industrial Toys]

This question comes up all the time and it's hard to answer without knowing a persons lifestyle and expectations or what they value. Some people want a 6000 square foot house and a generator that they don't even have to think about. Others live in a modest house and enjoy running cords and feel proud to look after themselves.

 

[downslope]

My propane unit is 5500 watts and it handles the furnace just fine. I can power the fridge as well. Being in the country, I just want it reliable for if we have the power go out and need the heat on. Wiring is already in place.

Why the interest with diesel? Diesel and winter don't often get along. You seem to be satisfied with propane, why not just buy another propane unit with electric start, add a few more propane tanks, keep the old one for backup and be done with it?

e.g., or larger:

A-iPower SUA6000ED - 5500 Watt Dual Fuel Electric Start Portable Generator CARB

 

[4570Man]

This question comes up all the time and it's hard to answer without knowing a persons lifestyle and expectations or what they value. Some people want a 6000 square foot house and a generator that they don't even have to think about. Others live in a modest house and enjoy running cords and feel proud to look after themselves.

A 10-15000 watt diesel generator isn’t going to burn much more fuel than a 5500 watt unit while both are doing the same work so you might as well have power to spare.

 

[cold1313]

I can run the furnace for emergency heat (instead of my geothermal) and then have 2 pellets stoves if needed. So several backups.

The negative to the propane tanks is I never know when it will run out. Only an issue if a pellet stove is going. I am considering diesel since I have a storage tank here on the farm.

 

[TheMan419]

Why the interest with diesel? Diesel and winter don't often get along. You seem to be satisfied with propane, why not just buy another propane unit with electric start, add a few more propane tanks, keep the old one for backup and be done with it?

This is an excellent answer. Electric start is great. My wife could never get the generator running if she had to pull start it. If you are good with the propane unit get another one with electric start and call it a day. If you are worried about fuel supply add a couple more BBQ tanks or a larger tank or two.

People who think you need 10K watts are thinking you must have electric heat. Since it appears you have natural gas to the house there are units that can be converted to run on natural gas. Of course you take a wattage penalty as nat gas has less energy in it than gasoline or propane.

 

[4570Man]

Most forced air furnaces (assuming this is what the OP has..) are fairly low in their power consumption....no where near 10KW. I use a Honda EU2000 for home backup, it runs my furnace and much more with ease.

OP, they are not diesel, but the inverter style portable Honda's are handy for lots of jobs, including home backup. As long as you are willing to control your manual switches, they will run the basics very well....furnace, fridge, TV, lights, etc.. Just something to consider.

A fuel fired furnace doesn’t take much power to run the blower. An electric furnace which the OP apparently doesn’t have takes huge power. An electric water heater and stove also take a bunch of amps.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Well for one, a Diesel will wet stack if run under too light a load.

I was running my 7.5 last summer during an outage and my draw for fridge and freezer and a bunch of electronics was something like 500 watts. To me, that's even a waste to have a Diesel running. I do run my water heater at half power, mostly to kep calcium buildup down and never ever noticed a loss of hot water (only me here and another on the weekends). The 7.5 handles the water heater and water pump without issue, but really, if push came to shov, I could shut them off. I have a pressure tank and the hot water stays hot a long time.

With the exception of effort required to manage loads, life goes on as usual and I'm not in the dark. Not in any room or buidling. Place is usually lit up outside at night, during an outage like a ball park, just because I can. All for 7.5KW.

 

[ponytug]

FWIW: I have a yanmar clone 5kw (6500 surge). It is 3600rpm, loud. They make silent versions, but everything is enclosed, and if there is an issue, e.g. a fuel leak, the first sign is the generator burning up. Still, they work for lots of people.

It is an electric start. It has needed a few repairs due to low quality QC/parts due I think to the nature of it being a "clone". The decompression release is essential. It can be manually started. "Can be", as in if you really needed to, you could. It is a high compression diesel, so it isn't easy. I keep a few spare on hand now.

It easily runs our house during winter storms. I have a backup backup generator just in case this one fails. It has only failed catastrophically once, when I misadjusted the valve clearance, and it threw a tappet push rod. (The rod bent, and it took me five days to get a replacement.)

If you would consider gasoline powered, have a look at Northern tool's Powerhorse 7000W inverter generator.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Why the interest with diesel? Diesel and winter don't often get along.

There's a myth that just seems to keep being repeated over and over!

SR

 

[Industrial Toys]

Like Diesels don't start in the "winter". I would put more faith in a diesel, then a propane unit in extreme cold. But that's just from cases I have heard and may not be based in reality. I can say, my Propane conversion 83 Police Malibu did not start in the cold. Just flooded!

I saw some video of a brand new Yanmar air cooled chinese clone that just turned into a torch. It was funny and sad at the same time.

 

[Randy Gann]

The OP’s profile shows a Kubota tractor and a F3990 mower. You could get a pto generator for the tractor. If you don’t want to tie up your tractor during a power outage you might be able to connect a pto generator to the F3990. My understanding is F3990 is 36hp diesel with drive shaft pto to run the mower deck or sweeper or other attachments. I wonder if Kubota makes proper hook ups to use standard pto shaft attachments?

 

[4570Man]

Like Diesels don't start in the "winter". I would put more faith in a diesel, then a propane unit in extreme cold. But that's just from cases I have heard and may not be based in reality. I can say, my Propane conversion 83 Police Malibu did not start in the cold. Just flooded!

I saw some video of a brand new Yanmar air cooled chinese clone that just turned into a torch. It was funny and sad at the same time.

I wouldn’t put much faith in propane without a heated regulator not freezing up.