Your last generator Maintenance Run

[nikdfish]

One last update on the Champion 7K dual fuel. After 5 more hours runtime (fast moving thunderstorms knocked out our power again...) I dumped the oil for a second change - no sparkles - no particulates, oil looks pretty much the same as when filled (maybe darker?).

Also, I cranked up the old Phillips scope & took a look at the waveform unloaded vs loaded (used a step down transformer between line voltage & scope)

First - mains power waveform:



Champion waveform, unloaded:



Champion waveform, 12A load on each leg:



Looks pretty good to me...

Hopefully subsequent posts will stay better on target

Nick

 

[3930dave]

Looking good on those waveforms Nick.

In the right hands, a 'scope is a useful diagnostic tool, so I find that right at home in a Maintenance thread..... besides, even when I'm OP, I usually don't mind some drift.....

Sounds like you are all set for another 15+ years :thumbsup:

Edit: (Scope newbies - take note of Nick's comment about using a transformer).

Rgds, D.

 

[bullbreaker]

Cranked up my JD Subaru powered AC-G8010S-E genny . It has electric start but battery dead on it . Haven't replaced it , cause one ,two yanks on recoil cord and thing always fires rite up . Ran it for about an hour , ran a small amount of Sea Foam through it . Then closed fuel petcock and ran dry and drained fuel . I have less than 5 hours on this unit. https://www.deere.com/en_US/product...rcial/large_frame_8000/large_frame_8000.page?

The 404 cc Subaru motor appears to be a winner (so far). Like I have said before only negatives I see/hear are unit is kinda noisy IMO compaired to like a Honda motor and no oil filter on 404 cc Subaru.

Bought it cause I got a good deal on it , it came with wheel kit and handles . I have yet to run into someone that has one of these , but I know these units are out there . I really like it so far .

If anybody has had any hands on experience with the 404 CC Subaru , sure would like to hear your opinion/ETC on them .

 

[3930dave]

With the parent company being Fuji, there's a lot of mechanical engineering depth there.

What surprised me a bit is the engine division is privately held, according to Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_Industrial_Power_Products

That article has me wondering about a connection to Wisconsin (company that is).

Sorry, I have no direct experience with that engine BB, but given it's lineage I anticipate good performance from it..... that, and I'd expect that JD did a thorough engineering review when selecting that engine.

Rgds, D.

 

[buickanddeere]

Wave forms will vary if the generator load is resistive or inductive.

 

[DarkBlack]

Also, I cranked up the old Phillips scope & took a look at the waveform unloaded vs loaded (used a step down transformer between line voltage & scope)


Nick

You don't have a probe that can connect to 240V?

 

[DarkBlack]

If you put a large switching supply load on it, you should see that waveform start to get ugly.

 

[bullbreaker]

With the parent company being Fuji, there's a lot of mechanical engineering depth there.
What surprised me a bit is the engine division is privately held, according to Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_Industrial_Power_Products
That article has me wondering about a connection to Wisconsin (company that is).
Sorry, I have no direct experience with that engine BB, but given it's lineage I anticipate good performance from it..... that, and I'd expect that JD did a thorough engineering review when selecting that engine.
Rgds, D.

Dave
Thanks for info !!!

 

[3930dave]

Dave
Thanks for info !!!

You're welcome. I'd seen a few Subaru small engines advertised on products up here, but didn't know much about them so was interested in doing a bit of reading myself.

Rgds, D.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I think it went, Wisconsin, then Wisconsin- Robin, then Robin-Subaru and now I see them just called Subaru's...

DM

 

[3930dave]

You don't have a probe that can connect to 240V?

Possibly common in the Utility or Power world..... somewhat less common on the Electronics side.

I wanted to highlight Nick's use of a transformer, to hopefully lessen the likelihood of somebody grabbing a borrowed scope to play with, and blowing a regular probe's ground clip into next week. I've "heard of a guy" doing that .

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

I think it went, Wisconsin, then Wisconsin- Robin, then Robin-Subaru and now I see them just called Subaru's...

DM

I was thinking it was something along those lines...... last I looked (2-3 years ago) Wisconsin still had a line of pretty serious (meaning non-consumer level) industrial small engines.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Date: July 16/15

Generator: 2kw Briggs

Activity: Shop Vac'd Civic, Ran 300 watt light, charged 2 batteries. 45 minute run.

Final Fueling notes: filled w. NonE gas. Red Stabil and Seafoam added already in fuel can.

Maintenance notes (Done, or Required): Oil level good.

Installed new spark plug. Started 2'nd pull, 3/4 choke.

Temperature 24 deg C.

Rgds, D.

 

[daybreak1998]

Howdy,
It's that mid-point time of year. Time for major re-fueling

Date: July 17, 2015

Generators: Coleman PowerPulse 1750, Honda ex4500, ETQ TG72K12, Generac 6500EXL, MEP-802A 5kw, MEP-803A 10kw

Activity: Gas units simple load of 2 1500w oil filled heaters,(1 unit on small coleman) voltage and Hz monitored, each loaded for at least 1 hour with fresh fuel. Diesel units were loaded with load bank for 100% load respectfully for 1 hour. All fuel topped off after workout.

Final Fueling notes: Siphoned all gas out of units, placed in truck, re-filled with fresh 100% gasoline and red stabil. Diesel units topped off.

Maintenance notes (Done, or Required): Oil changed in all gasoline units. 5w-30 synthetic. Diesel units oil level good.

All batteries placed on smart trickle changers for at least 3 days.

Conditions: Bright and sunny, 83 F deg.

 

[3930dave]

Howdy,
It's that mid-point time of year. Time for major re-fueling

Date: July 17, 2015

Generators: Coleman PowerPulse 1750, Honda ex4500, ETQ TG72K12, Generac 6500EXL, MEP-802A 5kw, MEP-803A 10kw

Activity: Gas units simple load of 2 1500w oil filled heaters,(1 unit on small coleman) voltage and Hz monitored, each loaded for at least 1 hour with fresh fuel. Diesel units were loaded with load bank for 100% load respectfully for 1 hour. All fuel topped off after workout.

Final Fueling notes: Siphoned all gas out of units, placed in truck, re-filled with fresh 100% gasoline and red stabil. Diesel units topped off.

Maintenance notes (Done, or Required): Oil changed in all gasoline units. 5w-30 synthetic. Diesel units oil level good.

All batteries placed on smart trickle changers for at least 3 days.

Conditions: Bright and sunny, 83 F deg.

On the farm, up early, getting lots of work done - I like your style Mike !

I'm curious, what are you using for a load-bank on those diesels ?

Rgds, D.

 

[daybreak1998]

On the farm, up early, getting lots of work done - I like your style Mike !

I'm curious, what are you using for a load-bank on those diesels ?

Rgds, D.

Howdy,
A surplus military load bank (Essex Electro Engineers A427 0-33kw) single phase and 3 phase

 

[3930dave]

Howdy,
A surplus military load bank (Essex Electro Engineers A427 0-33kw) single phase and 3 phase
View attachment 433526View attachment 433492

Now, that's a load bank !

One downside to hanging on TBN is that I keep finding New Toys I Want :shocked:

aka..... Critical Maintenance Tools.... depending on who is listening

All drooling aside.... it is fun to see what you get to play with when budgets are virtually irrelevant. In past for-hire work, I've made do with everything from dead batteries, light bulb arrays, and even a carbon pile..... watts is watts, but pushbutton at that power level would be fun.

Thanks for the equipment details and pics Mike !

Rgds, D.

 

[Garandman]

When we got our place in NH, we were advised that the area lost power "all the time." So we purchased and had installed a 14KW Kohler running off two 100 gal propane tanks and an automatic switch. So, of course, we didn't skip a beat through 10' of snow.

Last night one **** of a line of thunderstorms came through: if you want to see what it was like, fast forward to 15 seconds.

The lights flickered and went off at 7:12 and came back on a few seconds later with the genset. It was still running when I left at 10am, though power has now been restored. Wish I'd checked the fuel level at start to get some idea of consumption.

Engine is a 725cc air-cooled Kohler V-twin using 45-80 cfh (1.2 to 2.2 gph).
http://www.kohlergenerators.com/common/pdf/g4210.pdf

 

[3930dave]

When we got our place in NH, we were advised that the area lost power "all the time." So we purchased and had installed a 14KW Kohler running off two 100 gal propane tanks and an automatic switch. So, of course, we didn't skip a beat through 10' of snow.

Last night one **** of a line of thunderstorms came through: if you want to see what it was like, fast forward to 15 seconds.

The lights flickered and went off at 7:12 and came back on a few seconds later with the genset. It was still running when I left at 10am, though power has now been restored. Wish I'd checked the fuel level at start to get some idea of consumption.

Engine is a 725cc air-cooled Kohler V-twin using 45-80 cfh (1.2 to 2.2 gph).
http://www.kohlergenerators.com/common/pdf/g4210.pdf

Storing power (batteries driving inverters) seems to get more attractive to me as time goes on..... on that Kohler, going from 25% load to 100% load only doubles the propane consumption.

One thing I like about propane or natgas is how clean the engines run...... enough so that you can't go by "Change the Oil When it Gets Dark".....

Even at 100% output, you'd only have used about 35 gal in a 15 hour run.... nice setup :thumbsup: .

How quiet do you find that Kohler GM ? I haven't seen one of those yet.

Rgds, D.

 

[Garandman]

The specs are 63-67 dBA. The Kohler spec says the quietest competing systems are 58-63.

We mounted ours on the far side of the garage (that's where the fuel was) and with the windows closed on that side of the house you don't really hear it at all. If I had to do it over I wouldn't change a thing.