Your last generator Maintenance Run

[combustor]

Been running 3 days continuous now. Power is estimated to be restored in another 36 hours, we'll see! Good thing I have plenty of diesel in a xfer tank. Zeta knocked out power all across N. GA. I was hunting in the Dakotas when it happened but the wife is an experienced operator by now. It seems I'm always gone when we lose power so I'm glad she's self-sufficient.

 

[3930dave]

Those chirps can be costly.

The last round of Public Safety Power Shutoff generated a number of responses from utilities and fire departments...

Here are two from this week.

Power went out and CO detector started chirping. The renters panic and called a firefighter sibling and then evacuated and called 911 which generated fire and police and utility response. Turns out detector at end of life or timed out.

The other call to 911 because pipes rattling... the sprinklers were on when power went out leaving the Lawn Genie Valve have on which resulted in water hammer.

Can't make this stuff up and the cost in manpower to respond isn't free.

Modern Life: predicated on the grid being up.

Take that away, and Safety related "brown stuff" is going to happen........ Those shutoffs you are stuck with would be better designated as "Our Lawyers Decided We will Do This".

Making generator companies and sales folk rich......

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

On a side note... one of the Docs signed up for Tesla power wall with January install... that is January 2020 and he is still waiting...

That one had me chuckling.... reminded me of us saying "RSN" (and laughing) back in my heavy tech daze....... Real Soon Now !

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

had a customer call me to tell me his generator wasnt sounding right...not starting correctly. im actually surprised it was running at all. take a look at the brushes. View attachment 674968 i truly hate replacing brushes though. and of course it was raining and windy too boot. on the standby units it takes about 90 minutes to disassemble the side of the generator and remove the bearing carrier to access the slip rings. at least it happened now and not when its -10F outside and blowing snow.

What kind of hours would have been on that g ?

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

We've been using my trusty 3Kw Honda gen for the occasional outages. But the one thing I can't power with it is our well. The more I think about it, I think I should go bigger. Not sure I really want/need a thirsty whole house auto gen vs. just a bigger 'portable' unit that I can plug into my existing feed to a mechanical interlock.

This one is very appealing to me except the price!

Honda EU7i Model Info | Super Quiet 7 Watt Inverter Generator | Honda Generators

I did take note of CMs comment about combining large diesel gens and large UPS's (more to maintain etc....)..... but closer to normal home sizes, I'd be kicking around the #'s re. a 220v UPS and batteries, targeted to support the well-pump..... assuming you're not trying to irrigate 50+ acres :laughing:

There are things I like about that hybrid approach....... something along the lines of what 90cummins has set up. A bit more to maintain (not a big deal, but many folk don't want to deal with batteries), and modern inverters are pretty reliable (I prefer a separate dedicated inverter box). I like that you gain backup power independence w/o mandating the gen running.

Tho'..... if you need an alibi for the CFO........ "This bad Canuck with an old Ford tractor started a generator discussion, and since I've been hanging out there I now need to buy ________________________".

Glad to help

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

2 million folks out of power due to Beta.

I think it will be a miracle if my Westinghouse shows up on time next Wednesday

Fingers crossed for you d !

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

View attachment 675027Been running 3 days continuous now. Power is estimated to be restored in another 36 hours, we'll see! Good thing I have plenty of diesel in a xfer tank. Zeta knocked out power all across N. GA. I was hunting in the Dakotas when it happened but the wife is an experienced operator by now. It seems I'm always gone when we lose power so I'm glad she's self-sufficient.

Welcome to the thread..... and a great entrance BTW ! Looks like you'll be keeping the raptors off the electric fence no problem with that !

Tip of the hat to you (and esp. the wife) for staring down Murphy successfully.

Rgds, D.

 

[grsthegreat]

What kind of hours would have been on that g ?

Rgds, D.

actually only about 330 hours. You can see by the ridges that it wasny riding properly on the slip rings. The old Nexus series generacs are known for this to happen. Not every one, but enough. Replacing brushes with an added spacer solves the issue. Newer ... after 2013.. dont have this issue.

 

[daugen]

no joy on the t connection to the tanks. Just different kind of connectors at end.
Fine thread vs course thread, male vs female?
thoughts?
thanks Drew

 

[combustor]

Welcome to the thread..... and a great entrance BTW ! Looks like you'll be keeping the raptors off the electric fence no problem with that !

Tip of the hat to you (and esp. the wife) for staring down Murphy successfully.

Rgds, D.

Thanks Dave! I figured if someone was looking at gensets they might appreciate an alternative to the retail options. I'm sure Uncle Sam spent a lot of my tax dollars to buy this one, but I was able to buy it 'again', including trailer, with my after tax dollars for $4k and it only had about 90 hours on it when I got it. Runs a 4 ton heat pump, electric dryer, and well pump simultaneously (along with all the other smaller electrical appliances in the house). Rated at 10kw but it's probably equal to a 18kw+ residential unit, and much more durable with it's 1800 rpm, 4 pole alternator, and emissions exempt. About 1/2 gal of diesel per hour at 50% load.