Your last generator Maintenance Run

[downsizingnow48]

Current and future generator setups. First the 3500w Craftsman generator that handles either the house OR the shop OR the well pump. I have got by with that for years always expecting the power situation to get better.

Second the recently acquired Honda 2200w that runs a few essentials during the night. The Craftsman uses a lot of gas and makes a lot of noise.

Third the 10kw Kubota diesel generator I am installing in a dedicated generator shed. Another week or so hope to have it ready. It will run everything except the electric clothes dryer.

Last week PG&E said they expect to continue large scale outages for the next 10 years. In that context the Kubota investment starts looking pretty good.

Today I topped up the two small generators, checked the oil, did a test run. All ready to go.

 

[ultrarunner]

Pulled out an old Champion 3500 my neighbor had for years in the garage... checked oil, aired tires and noted it was full of fuel.

Gave it a couple of pulls and nothing... took off air cleaner element and a shot of starting fluid... started first pull, but only runs sweet on 3/4 choke... runs at half to full choke but dies anything less than half.

Added some seafoam and showed my neighbor how to run it... maybe he will get lucky and running will clear the carb issue.

Evacuation of 50,000 is mandatory for Northern CA with perhaps a million PGE accounts being turned off for PSPS.

Wind Gust expected to 80 mph in fire zone... 10 to 15% humidity...

Wine Country evac is to be done by 4 pm when power is set to go out... this is so first responders can focus on fire and not rescue.

The PSPS map is effecting just about every one I know.

My "Neighborhood" Honda EM 5000 is gassed and ready for use with my 95 year old next door neighbor manning it as I will likely be spending lots of time at my Hospital job.

 

[3930dave]

A PTO generator is something that can be passed along.
It痴 a bit more effort to hook up but it痴 always in operational condition and the tractor is always ready for a long run.
Many years ago I ran my first fuel 8 hour consumption test while my wife doing laundry and using the electric dryer and it consumed 5 gallons in 8 hours.
I made mine very versatile with a 100 amp breaker panel and various protected circuits so I can bring significant power anywhere it痴 needed.
Being an electrical device care must be taken to ground it to avoid possible electrocution.
If you look carefully at my video you will see a heavy grounding cable clamped to my building.
I also make sure it is in firm contact with the ground.

90cummins

Big power available if/when your hybrid setup needs help ! Good points on elec. safety.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

I just got out both of my generators, ran them, serviced, and have them ready for the winter weather.

I sleep better, with chores like that done :thumbsup:

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Here we go again. PG&E would like to blame it on climate change but their history of neglect and mismanagement is too well understood.

https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article236663003.html

While I don't agree with the damages awarded from the previous fire, it wasn't just Enron that was more focused on arbitrage than reliablity.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

well, at hour two, for the first time, decided it was high time to put the new propane rv gen on load.
It fired up within three seconds on a damp low fifties morning and smoothly ran thereafter.
The longish exhaust pipe helps to dim the noise a little but it's still a whiner.
What was really interesting was to see a genuine rush of water out the tailpipe for a few seconds, then it ran
almost constantly for several minutes, then went from fast drip to slow drip. Good thing I pumped all that out.
Use it or lose it...

So once a huge amount of foggy smoke went away, all moisture related, the exhaust was clear and almost odorless.
My 1200 and 1400 watt electric heaters I take with me, nice quiet ones, put the 3600 gen to a good test.
Ran that for half an hour and turned it off. I'm supposed to change the oil at ten hours, that will take forever at this rate...
I might do it at 5.

Haven't owned an RV w. onboard gen, but did note the often extended placement of the gen. exhaust pipe.

Hadn't considered that issue, but it does make sense that the pipe could collect a lot of water, on a drive like you just did. With infrequent use (shore power mostly) I'd be tempted to find a coloured cap (like you use to temporarily cap-off a DWV pipe) the right size, and clamp it on with a gear-clamp.

Could lead to later sitting in the RV, cranking the Gen, and wondering:

"Why won't this brand-new gen fire up ?"......

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Current and future generator setups. First the 3500w Craftsman generator that handles either the house OR the shop OR the well pump. I have got by with that for years always expecting the power situation to get better.

Second the recently acquired Honda 2200w that runs a few essentials during the night. The Craftsman uses a lot of gas and makes a lot of noise.

Third the 10kw Kubota diesel generator I am installing in a dedicated generator shed. Another week or so hope to have it ready. It will run everything except the electric clothes dryer.

Last week PG&E said they expect to continue large scale outages for the next 10 years. In that context the Kubota investment starts looking pretty good.

Today I topped up the two small generators, checked the oil, did a test run. All ready to go.

I'm sure that many in your State would love to be that well optioned.... nicely done.

I say this, having spent some time in Silicon Valley on business...... it is ironic, that a State that considers itself a World leader in technology, has this much trouble Keeping the Lights On.

Acknowledging that getting the tech correct is only part of the puzzle...... and, while these fires are severe, it's not just Cali that has to contend with these type of severe events....

Hope everybody stays safe through this season....

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Pulled out an old Champion 3500 my neighbor had for years in the garage... checked oil, aired tires and noted it was full of fuel.

Gave it a couple of pulls and nothing... took off air cleaner element and a shot of starting fluid... started first pull, but only runs sweet on 3/4 choke... runs at half to full choke but dies anything less than half.

Added some seafoam and showed my neighbor how to run it... maybe he will get lucky and running will clear the carb issue.

Evacuation of 50,000 is mandatory for Northern CA with perhaps a million PGE accounts being turned off for PSPS.

Wind Gust expected to 80 mph in fire zone... 10 to 15% humidity...

Wine Country evac is to be done by 4 pm when power is set to go out... this is so first responders can focus on fire and not rescue.

The PSPS map is effecting just about every one I know.

My "Neighborhood" Honda EM 5000 is gassed and ready for use with my 95 year old next door neighbor manning it as I will likely be spending lots of time at my Hospital job.

Never a Bad Time, to have Good Neighbours, but definitely appreciated when Things Go Wrong......

With a bit of luck, that Champion may perk up with a bit of running. You'll be busy at the hospital, but keep us posted when you can.

Rgds, D.

 

[90cummins]

Third the 10kw Kubota diesel generator I am installing in a dedicated generator shed. Another week or so hope to have it ready. It will run everything except the electric clothes dryer.
Electric dryers typically draw 5500 watts at least all the ones I’ve had.
That would put a nice load on both gen & diesel.
Sounds like a nice system you’re putting together.
I’m currently in the final stages of getting my power house up & running.
I just moved it into position next to the house and ran 3.5 conduit thru the garage wall into the powerhouse for electrical connections.
Planning on installing 3 diesel generators in it.
3.7 kw Yanmar 120/240 volt
10 hp Yanmar driving a 450 amp 6 phase DC alternator and an MEP952b military DC unit with a 15hp Farymann diesel.

90cummins

 

[3930dave]

Thinking of ur at the hospital, reminded me of this article I read the other night....

What would happen in an apocalyptic blackout? - BBC Future

Some examples of how unprepared people, and some institutions, are. Good example of just 2 trees, creating a major cascade event.

Easy to forget, doesn't take much to go wrong to take everything down....

Rgds, D.