Your last generator Maintenance Run

[3930dave]

gas logs = unvented propane burner dressed up as fake logs in a fake fireplace. No power needed for normal operation. Probably installed originally for "ambiance" but we just use it as a backup heat source.

Nick

Nice backup Nick. Do you know what the btu output is ?

Rgds, D.

 

[nikdfish]

Probably 25 - 30 thousand btu comparing appearance of flames to previous known units...

Nick

 

[3930dave]

Probably 25 - 30 thousand btu comparing appearance of flames to previous known units...

Nick

That should keep you nicely warm, down your way.

Rgds, D.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

We started our last Sunday afternoon but the ice storm that night did not cut our power but messed up the roads for several days.

Glad you had heat and got your power back quickly.

 

[varmint]

Reading these posts prompted me to pull out our generator (5250W Porter Cable) and run it. I put in some nice non-ethanol gas a friend got me, checked the oil (synthethic, for easy cold starts) and it fired up on the first pull- too long since I last ran it, to boot. I let it run for 25 minutes, powering an electric heater set up in the shop. I guess I should put a serious load on it, but not sure what that would be, other than 3 1500W heaters or something like that. Hooking in up to the house is a pain, avoided unless needed. Looks like all the power company tree trimming, done after several ice storm disasters p****d a lot of customers off, has paid off. One old limb could change all that, of course.

 

[3930dave]

Reading these posts prompted me to pull out our generator (5250W Porter Cable) and run it. I put in some nice non-ethanol gas a friend got me, checked the oil (synthethic, for easy cold starts) and it fired up on the first pull- too long since I last ran it, to boot. I let it run for 25 minutes, powering an electric heater set up in the shop. I guess I should put a serious load on it, but not sure what that would be, other than 3 1500W heaters or something like that. Hooking in up to the house is a pain, avoided unless needed. Looks like all the power company tree trimming, done after several ice storm disasters p****d a lot of customers off, has paid off. One old limb could change all that, of course.

If you went back that far Varmint, you'll see that I started this thread largely to help with my lousy memory.

It has helped me, and probably a few other people as well. Along the way, very good discussion and points have been raised about Owning and Operating generators - Thanks again to all who have dropped in here.

Ice and Wind are big outage factors, but even regular grid equipment failures can kick in. Transformers, Big (sub-station level) and small (pole-mount) can and do fail.... even when they aren't being hit by today's "careful" drivers.....

Reminds me... I need to start a gen next weekend.....

Rgds, D.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

This thread helped me this past year to be more mindful of ours. Both the RV and house back up generators got new plugs and the house generator got new fuel hoses, air filter after 25 years and this year we may change the oil in it for the second time.

 

[3930dave]

This thread helped me this past year to be more mindful of ours. Both the RV and house back up generators got new plugs and the house generator got new fuel hoses, air filter after 25 years and this year we may change the oil in it for the second time.

Murphy is always out there, but I'm sure that feels good to get that done Gale !

Extended grid outages are a PITA to begin with.... I know how p/o'd I'd be with myself on top of that if I was wasting time trying to start/fix a long idled gen - esp. at the times of the year when I know my sump pump should be running on at least a 50% duty cycle...

That house gen is probably wondering where all this TLC came from ! :thumbsup:

Rgds, D.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

The thing sets in the back of an open garage and has been super when needed but other than a 65 hour run in 2009 ice storm it has only had short runs for a few hours a few times. The starting battery is a 2002 DC-27 pulled off the motor home when we went to a two battery set up that refuses to die. It can set for months and still be at 12.6 volts. Never seen anything like that out of a battery.

Key to a long back up generator life is to live on a three phase grid I learned. Did not even know it was three phase when we bought. In 2009 when we were out for 65 hours we had neighbors out for 7-8 days or more. We are next to the last house before the grid goes single phase in three directions.

 

[Fi-Q]

I have 2 portable gen. One of the famous. Champion 3500/4000 ( in mossy oak color) and a odd no name 3500 watt with a yamaha engine I think is EnerG... I exercice them at least 3-4 times a year. I usually run them for 15 to 30 min with a 1500 watt space heater plug to it.

The last time we ran out of power for more than 2 hours was 3-4 years ago..... Making me think that It's about time to exercise them again , even if I am not worried about the winter because gas stay fresh longer when it is cold..... And this particular winter beeen really really cold.... I keep them close to empty as i do not use them oftenly. I always put gas already treated with stabill beofre running them. I should eventually change the oil in them as well, just cause it s getting old not because it is getting burnt.

I bought the champion for the rv 3 years ago but haven't been rving off the grid since then.

There is a 240v plug of the yamaha, thinking that someday I would try my well pump on it ( i will see the peak start power with a amp clamp before to see if it make sense) it is shallow well, pump is approx 15 feet below ground level, so I thunk it shouldn't have to work very hard to start.... But I know I can be surprise ! But even if I can't run the pump, I will be able to feed both leg of my panel, eventually when I will be all set. So far I have run a other 6 ga cable from my house panel to my small detaached garage while I had the trench open last year.... So eventually will go the interlock kit with a genny receptacle outside the garage....... Eventually.......

 

[90cummins]

The thing sets in the back of an open garage and has been super when needed but other than a 65 hour run in 2009 ice storm it has only had short runs for a few hours a few times. The starting battery is a 2002 DC-27 pulled off the motor home when we went to a two battery set up that refuses to die. It can set for months and still be at 12.6 volts. Never seen anything like that out of a battery.

Key to a long back up generator life is to live on a three phase grid I learned. Did not even know it was three phase when we bought. In 2009 when we were out for 65 hours we had neighbors out for 7-8 days or more. We are next to the last house before the grid goes single phase in three directions.

Are you saying that because you have 3ph you seldom lose power on all 3 legs?
My garage has 3ph also and most of the local outages which include my house does not effect the flood lights I have on the garage.
90cummins

 

[Looking4new]

I started mine for the first time since new and let it run for an hour with a 100 watt trouble light (so I could see that it was putting out power) and the block heater for the tractor plugged into it. Today I will run it again with the sump pump plugged in as well probable for about two or so hours. According to the manufacturer I need to break it in for 30 hours before I change the oil, so I will get that done before I go back to work.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I had to run my generator last week for the first time in an emergency situation...
It took about 5 or 6 pulls to get her fired up but she ran great...
I always keep her full of gas and keep stabil in the fuel system...
Since my local Marathon gas station now keeps non-ethanol gas at the pump that will go into the tank...
I typically fire her up twice a year for precaution and so far so good...

 

[3930dave]

I have 2 portable gen. One of the famous. Champion 3500/4000 ( in mossy oak color) and a odd no name 3500 watt with a yamaha engine I think is EnerG... I exercice them at least 3-4 times a year. I usually run them for 15 to 30 min with a 1500 watt space heater plug to it.

The last time we ran out of power for more than 2 hours was 3-4 years ago..... Making me think that It's about time to exercise them again , even if I am not worried about the winter because gas stay fresh longer when it is cold..... And this particular winter beeen really really cold.... I keep them close to empty as i do not use them oftenly. I always put gas already treated with stabill beofre running them. I should eventually change the oil in them as well, just cause it s getting old not because it is getting burnt.

I bought the champion for the rv 3 years ago but haven't been rving off the grid since then.

There is a 240v plug of the yamaha, thinking that someday I would try my well pump on it ( i will see the peak start power with a amp clamp before to see if it make sense) it is shallow well, pump is approx 15 feet below ground level, so I thunk it shouldn't have to work very hard to start.... But I know I can be surprise ! But even if I can't run the pump, I will be able to feed both leg of my panel, eventually when I will be all set. So far I have run a other 6 ga cable from my house panel to my small detaached garage while I had the trench open last year.... So eventually will go the interlock kit with a genny receptacle outside the garage....... Eventually.......

Nice to have 240 on a gen, and having 2 is great for a long power outage, or general flexibility (helping a neighbour, giving tribute to Murphy , etc....). It's a bonus getting a Yamaha engine in a generic, as their own branded ones are $$$$.

Haven't set up my interlock yet for my larger gen.... what I have learned so far is that most of the interlock switching that is code legal in the USA is not code acceptable in Ontario, as we need to switch the Neutral as well.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

The thing sets in the back of an open garage and has been super when needed but other than a 65 hour run in 2009 ice storm it has only had short runs for a few hours a few times. The starting battery is a 2002 DC-27 pulled off the motor home when we went to a two battery set up that refuses to die. It can set for months and still be at 12.6 volts. Never seen anything like that out of a battery.

Key to a long back up generator life is to live on a three phase grid I learned. Did not even know it was three phase when we bought. In 2009 when we were out for 65 hours we had neighbors out for 7-8 days or more. We are next to the last house before the grid goes single phase in three directions.

I have a Yuasa motorcycle battery like that... I keep it topped up with a maintenance charger every now and then, but for a standard flooded lead-acid battery (as opposed to an AGM like Optima), that particular battery has a very low self-discharge rate. I likely will go to a sealed battery when it needs a replacement, but if not, I'm buying another Yuasa !

Rgds, D.

 

[TimberXX]

Nice to have 240 on a gen, and having 2 is great for a long power outage, or general flexibility (helping a neighbour, giving tribute to Murphy , etc....). It's a bonus getting a Yamaha engine in a generic, as their own branded ones are $$$$. Haven't set up my interlock yet for my larger gen.... what I have learned so far is that most of the interlock switching that is code legal in the USA is not code acceptable in Ontario, as we need to switch the Neutral as well. Rgds, D.

Some Home Depot rigid brand gensets have yamahas. I have been pleased with my Yamaha engines.

 

[3930dave]

I started mine for the first time since new and let it run for an hour with a 100 watt trouble light (so I could see that it was putting out power) and the block heater for the tractor plugged into it. Today I will run it again with the sump pump plugged in as well probable for about two or so hours. According to the manufacturer I need to break it in for 30 hours before I change the oil, so I will get that done before I go back to work.

Always good to get the break-in done before you need full capacity out of the gen. I'm curious about the 30 hour period,what brand and size of generator do you have ?

Might have been you.... over in the Electricity Cost thread, somebody was quoting crazy high kwh prices for Northern Ontario..... is it going to be cheaper to run your house on your own generator than the grid ?

I'm partly joking, but given the trajectory that grid prices are on, the operating cost may cross-over sooner rather than later !

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

I had to run my generator last week for the first time in an emergency situation...
It took about 5 or 6 pulls to get her fired up but she ran great...
I always keep her full of gas and keep stabil in the fuel system...
Since my local Marathon gas station now keeps non-ethanol gas at the pump that will go into the tank...
I typically fire her up twice a year for precaution and so far so good...

You folks have seen more Winter down your way this year than in quite a while.... must have been great to have than gen fire up this time of year.

Likely mentioned on here at least once, but it bears repeating.... if the Non-E pump shares the same hose as the E-contaminated gas, run at least a gallon or 2 of the Non-E fuel into your car before you fill your can of generator gas. Chances are the last guy bought E-contaminated gas and you need to flush out what is held in the hose/pump assembly.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Some Home Depot rigid brand gensets have yamahas. I have been pleased with my Yamaha engines.

Thanks for mentioning that... I own some Ridgid products, but didn't realize that about their gens.

Rgds, D.

 

[Looking4new]

Always good to get the break-in done before you need full capacity out of the gen. I'm curious about the 30 hour period,what brand and size of generator do you have ?

Might have been you.... over in the Electricity Cost thread, somebody was quoting crazy high kwh prices for Northern Ontario..... is it going to be cheaper to run your house on your own generator than the grid ?

I'm partly joking, but given the trajectory that grid prices are on, the operating cost may cross-over sooner rather than later !

Rgds, D.

It is a Dayton 7.5 kw.

I take the total KW hours and divide that into the total $$ out of my pocket and that is the figure that I pay for hydro. I worked out the cost of running a diesel genny compared to the cost of grid hydro and I am still ahead by $25./day to be on the grid.

The same goes for home heating oil. Dealer says $1.239 + hose tax so that equates to $1.40/L.