Portable Generators

/ Portable Generators #162  
Couldn't have put it better myself!

It's easy to cause these folks to totally go "tilt" like the robots in Stepford Wives. As long as growth is being promoted it doesn't matter what the fuel source is, growth will eventually outrun it. The exponential function is pretty simple, and it only every produces the same end result: "to the moon." The delusion is intentionally masked by the "gatekeepers," and this allows them to retain their positions of "authority." The planet goes through cycles, we're in the inter-glacial period, and inter-glacial periods are, in geologic time, rather short; next up to bat is the glacial period, and there's nothing mortals, even if all "together," can do to stop this: we "might" be able to alter the time-frame, but that's a big "might." This glacial->inter-glacial->glacial[...]"infinity" cycle is nature's way of tilling the soil(s): glaciers churn and redeposit critical minerals.

Eventually there won't be enough folks/energy to enforce a lot of nonsense. Everything is a bet. For me, for now, I store diesel and will run my diesel generator (in addition to tractors and such). Works for me:)

For reasons unknown many Governemt agencies that are not usually considered "enforcement" have been purchasing massive reserves of ammo and military weapons ? Makes a person wonder why?
 
/ Portable Generators #163  
Same here... one of my friends just retired from Consumer Affairs... career paper pusher... nice guy and all but fits the description to a t...

A couple of years back he was issued a service weapon for their enforcement duties... it was a small revolver... like a 38 Detective Special.

I asked if that was what he signed up for and he said no... problem was the women in the office flat out refused so he was sent to take the training... amazing is what I thought... pencil pusher, said in a nice way, now armed when going into the field...
 
/ Portable Generators #164  
Yanmar makes "portable" diesel generators. They run at 3,600rpm. (YDG5500 | Yanmar USA) The YDG5500 weighs 243 lbs.

Dry weight of a Honda EM6500 is 243 lbs.
Honda EM65S Model Info | Deluxe 65 Watt Portable Generator | Honda Generators
Take your pick.

Around here, if people have frequent outages and heat with oil, they will favor diesel because they store lots of fuel.

The vast majority of whole house are Propane or NG, and vast majority of portables are gas.

Yes, stove oil is basically #2 diesel fuel. I have put many hundreds of hours on diesel tractors running stove oil. A generator plumbed to run off of the heating oil tank would be a great solution for a high hour generator.

I have been watching YouTube videos of guys who have built home generators using Lister-Petter diesels. They are still manufactured in India. The small ones are hand start and will run on anything that will pour. At 800 rpm they will run virtually forever.
 
/ Portable Generators #165  
Yes, stove oil is basically #2 diesel fuel. I have put many hundreds of hours on diesel tractors running stove oil. A generator plumbed to run off of the heating oil tank would be a great solution for a high hour generator.

I have been watching YouTube videos of guys who have built home generators using Lister-Petter diesels. They are still manufactured in India. The small ones are hand start and will run on anything that will pour. At 800 rpm they will run virtually forever.



Better to find an original British built unit. The East Indian built units require complete disassembly , cleaning, blue print machining some components to spec, glyptol painting and a few components updated such as an offset idler gear shaft for the Lister.
 
/ Portable Generators #166  
I've been debating buying a PTO generator vs a gas powered one. I like the idea of not having an extra small gas engine around to maintain but not sure if I'd want to tie up the tractor during a power outage.
 
/ Portable Generators #167  
I've been debating buying a PTO generator vs a gas powered one. I like the idea of not having an extra small gas engine around to maintain but not sure if I'd want to tie up the tractor during a power outage.
I vote for gas... more options. It's a no brainer for my needs.
 
/ Portable Generators #168  
I've been debating buying a PTO generator vs a gas powered one. I like the idea of not having an extra small gas engine around to maintain but not sure if I'd want to tie up the tractor during a power outage.

I don't see that as much of a consideration. During an outage you only use a tractor for a few hours a day, and in most climates you only use a generator for a few hours a day. The hassle is getting out there in lousy conditions and changing implements. Also, small utility tractor engines are not big enough to suit the big generator crew. You need 45 PTO hp (~50 engine hp) to make 22 kw, and the frequency is going to vary a lot with load. Tractors are not designed to run at a precise RPM. However, if you need 100 kw for your milking operation, a big tractor PTO generator is just what you should looking at. You have several tractors anyway. ;)
 
/ Portable Generators #169  
Better to find an original British built unit. The East Indian built units require complete disassembly , cleaning, blue print machining some components to spec, glyptol painting and a few components updated such as an offset idler gear shaft for the Lister.

You don't need to go to Britain. There are plenty of US made Lister diesels around. They were the stationary power plant standard until WWII. If you buy an old one, you are going to rebuild it just like the Hindu models. Or you could just buy a restored endine from an antique power fair, but it would be cheaper just to buy a new diesel from the Chinese.
 
/ Portable Generators #170  
I don't see that as much of a consideration. During an outage you only use a tractor for a few hours a day, and in most climates you only use a generator for a few hours a day. The hassle is getting out there in lousy conditions and changing implements. Also, small utility tractor engines are not big enough to suit the big generator crew. You need 45 PTO hp (~50 engine hp) to make 22 kw, and the frequency is going to vary a lot with load. Tractors are not designed to run at a precise RPM. However, if you need 100 kw for your milking operation, a big tractor PTO generator is just what you should looking at. You have several tractors anyway. ;)
Why do you automatically think he needs 22kw???

I sure don't, in fact I don't even need the 15kw my pto genset is rated at, I just bought one that big so I could run my welder/compressor/lights and grinder when I'm away from the shop....and I've not even done that.

In fact, most times, I run my pto genset with a smaller tractor than the op, that asked the question, owns...

SR
 
/ Portable Generators #171  
Rob, I was wondering that as well.

Generators are supposed to be run at at least 1/2 power output (some say higher). If you have a big generator then you're going to have to apply a larger load. Larger load equals more fuel use.

I'm fortunate in that my electrical needs are low. And, when there's a power outage I figure I'm going to be more frugal with energy use: my grid power is very cheap (compared to most), no way that any generator can be run as cheaply. I'm not going to be doing any welding during an electrical outage: I don't make my living welding, so no urgency there. I've got a 7.5kW [diesel] generator.
 
/ Portable Generators #172  
I had thought about getting a listeroid.

One, I really don't need such a project, but two, I read bad reports about them getting gunked up in the combustion chamber if they are not run hot, meaning at good load. OR run on waste oil and such fluids.
 
/ Portable Generators #174  
/ Portable Generators #175  
Since this seems to be the "hot" generator thread at the moment.


Costco has the Champion 2800wt Running / 3100wt Peak Digital Inverter Gas Generator w/ Parallel Capability on sale for $699 add in the "parallel kit" for $70, a second generator and for $1500 you've got a package which can produce almost 3kW in 2 locations or 5.5kW when run together. And that's about the price of ONE Honda EU3000.
AND the Honda will still be running and on the job, when the two china generators are dead in the shed. lol

SR
 
/ Portable Generators #176  
Actually I would put my money on the Champions. They are one of the few companies that make a point of exceeding the quality of the name brand that they are copying.
Neighbour has used a pair of Champion 1600's at his trailer for several years for many hundreds of hours. All they need is fuel and oil.
 
/ Portable Generators #177  
A neighbor that just bought a new house with a Honda Portable (Not really a back-up) drove in during the big ice storm (years ago) because the (brand new) Honda had failed. He was rather irritated! I say again. A lawn mower does not a back up generator make!
 
/ Portable Generators
  • Thread Starter
#178  
It really comes down to HOW the generator is made rather than WHO made the generator.

Champion and other brands that sell for low prices are typically made of aluminum heads and even worse, aluminum windings. This will lead to running hot, dirty power (poor Sine Waves), and eventual failure of the generator.

Copper windings and copper heads (like those made by Honda) are the best way to go. These will last forever.

As far as the motors go. Honda makes good motors while some other brands make cheap (Chinese made) motors that run hot, burn oil, or misfire constantly. Honda motors start on the first pull and they tend to not burn oil or misfire.

Once again, more than brand names, it's WHAT'S inside that matter. Generators should be copper heads and windings. Aluminum is cheaper but will run hotter and put out dirty power. You get what you pay for.
 
/ Portable Generators #179  
I've got two champions in the garage that refuse to start... have not had time to look at them.

My brother's father-in-law bought them new... was going to toss them and that is how I got them... look like new... the small unit was used twice and the bigger one never except to check operation.
 
/ Portable Generators #180  
I've got two champions in the garage that refuse to start... have not had time to look at them.

My brother's father-in-law bought them new... was going to toss them and that is how I got them... look like new... the small unit was used twice and the bigger one never except to check operation.

Any neglected carb will bung up with old contaminated ethanol fuel. i would not blame the machine.
 

Marketplace Items

iDrive TDS-2010H ProJack M2 Electric Trailer Dolly (A59228)
iDrive TDS-2010H...
EZ-GO Utility Cart (A55851)
EZ-GO Utility Cart...
2019 CATERPILLAR  XQ35 GENERATOR (A58214)
2019 CATERPILLAR...
2020 MACK GRANITE (A58214)
2020 MACK GRANITE...
2017 New Holland T4.110 Cab 4WD w/ 655TL Loader – 1,619 hrs – Excellent Condition
2017 New Holland...
2007 CHEVROLET DUALLY PICKUP TRUCK (A59905)
2007 CHEVROLET...
 
Top