Your last generator Maintenance Run

[Patrick Herd]

Nothing is stock for this gen.
I’m leaning towards removing this unit and installing my 4kw ac generator with the L70 Yanmar.
That engine is a special military version with extended 2qt sump, intake air heaters and bypass filter system.
This generator will work nicely with my auto start controller.
I can then work on a solution for the defective regulator.
This is the season for inside work.
90cummins

Found one supplier claiming to have the regulator CE Niehoff Voltage Regulator 28 Volts DC Fits Cat 1 & Cat 2 MRAP

 

[90cummins]

Nice find Thank you!!
I have the repair manual for this unit & it may have an electrical schematic I could use to integrate an aftermarket regulator.
But that’s down the road a bit.

90cummins

 

[LouNY]

I sure looked. But what I learned is that when it comes to a diesel genset it's gonna be expensive++, much bigger than we need and most probably not an inverter. Another thing is diesels like to work loaded - not just spinning at 1800 and basically freewheeling. Our sweet spot is 4500 kw and our typical max load is an easy 80% of that. Our generator time is 3 to 3.5 hours a day during generator season from mid Oct through Jan. The rest of the year is solar with the generator running rarely only because of multiday weather overcasts or maintenance runs.

So its a gas unit for us. I do have a Miller Bobcat in the shop for welding, large loads, 240vac, etc. I really screwed up not getting the diesel option there, though.

Edit: 4.5kw, sorry.

The smaller diesel lighting units are often 6Kw, some are smaller.

 

[3930dave]

Found one supplier claiming to have the regulator CE Niehoff Voltage Regulator 28 Volts DC Fits Cat 1 & Cat 2 MRAP

Team TBN, On The Job......

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

The smaller diesel lighting units are often 6Kw, some are smaller.

Was chatting with a young mechanic @ work about those recently...... if you can trust that the servicing was done regularly, that would be a great find for similar solar backup needs....

Rgds, D.

 

[90cummins]

The smaller diesel lighting units are often 6Kw, some are smaller.

I agree!
Diesels while robust do not tolerate operation with light loads.
I would suggest a light load is 20~25% of the rated load.
Please feel free to correct me on this.
Light loads can cause wet stacking and is a very real issue in cold weather especially with air cooled diesels.
My electrical loads are minimal so a 3.5kw Yanmar diesel generator works for me. When connected directly to my hybrid battery backup inverter I can program the inverter to assist the generator if the load exceeds 3kw.
This will support short term loads of 8kw.
For overnight support my Honda EU2000i and auxiliary fuel tank does the job nicely keeping the heat on along with selected lights and 2 electric blankets.
Can’t forget the tv!
My advice is don’t size a diesel generator for everything in your household size it for what you absolutely need.
If a long term outage occurs you will appreciate the fuel savings a small diesel offers.
90cummins

 

[arto98607]

I have been driving / using Diesel powered cars, pickups, tractor, bulldozer, lawnmowers, generator etc. since 1990 and have yet experience so called "wet stacking".

Long time ago older heavy equipment operators used to say about idling Diesel engines: do not let them idle at lowest idle speed for long time, instead speed up a little if you need to leave one idling.

This was in order to have "proper lubrication".

Not saying either is/was right or wrong, just wondering.

 

[ArlyA]

I agree!
For overnight support my Honda EU2000i and auxiliary fuel tank does the job nicely keeping the heat on along with selected lights and 2 electric blankets.

Does this "auxiliary fuel tank" attach directly to your 2000i tank??

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I have been driving / using Diesel powered cars, pickups, tractor, bulldozer, lawnmowers, generator etc. since 1990 and have yet experience so called "wet stacking".

I've owned diesels since 1982 (that I still own) and was running diesel equipment a long time before that, and I've never experienced it either, on MY equipment. I did see it on OLD equipment like the old CAT D-7's I used to run.

I don't think it's a problem with modern diesels, as my neighbor would rake hay at just above an idle for days on end, trying to save fuel. He never had wet stacking, and today I own that very tractor and it puts out good power and doesn't have any signs of ever wet stacking.

Same with other tractors I own that were ran light loaded for hours on end.

SR

 

[daugen]

a story I heard and considered sound advice during my 3 years as a yacht
broker in Ft Lauderdale around year 2000.
I believe the big yacht in question had MAN diesels, V12s in a 100 foot yacht and was coming down from New England
to Florida. Allegedly owner wanted to save fuel and told captain to run just over idle. Which he did and by the time
he got to Florida the engines were smoking and misfiring and needed major work, done at a local yard.
absolutely attributed to wet stacking. Engine had electronic controls, MAN is a primo engine builder.
Considered a high performance diesel.

what we were always told was the primary criteria of getting up to minimum operating temp, which let's say was 170 degrees.
You got to 170 and no problem. 180 was a lot better. Was always told diesels like some heat.
so unless you are operating in really cold water and are keel cooled, which most recreational boats aren't,
most boats don't have a problem.

My Detroits loved to slobber but they got their Italian tuneup regularly.
Actually I had to run at 85 percent power so those engines got plenty hot.
I was always checking the temp gauges to make sure they weren't climbing.
when the high temp alarm goes off, you shut down in a hurry but wonder what rubber impellers
or other soft parts are getting ruined in the process. Very easy to do in a boat. Suck a bag.
I had two engine intakes and one a/c intake.

thankfully something we don't have to worry about with gens.
I don't think a lot of gen air filters get dirty very quickly. I change mine once in a while
and it looks mighty clean.