Small Diesel Generator

My Titan 6500 watt is 120/ 240 volt . I don't know that it has AVR but I would assume so. every thing runs on it correctly .
Most early generators are mechanically governed to match the needs of 60 hertz, a poor but effective method for control.
Newer stuff has an inverter so they can run virtually at any speed and only rev up to supply amperage ,which is very fuel efficient .
If I had the money I would build a diesel with inverter controls ,providing optimum efficiency for the fuel reserves.
There are some new battery /capacitor systems that are going to turn around the power industry . Had I the money I would jump into it right now. Capacitors charge in a split second and apparently some one has developed the means to temper the discharge.
For me this is an exciting time in power manufacturing and preservation and distribution and though I am not a electronics nerd I enjoy playing with it all.

 

This thing is 3000w which is perfect for me, the batteries draw about 1500w when they are charging. Usually my wife takes the opportunity to wash clothes when the generator is running which adds another 300-500w and it is usually shower time so the water heater kicks on and draws another 400w. I am hoping to see a big fuel savings over my 30kw mep-005a, that thing drinks the fuel.

 

Sometimes when I get something new I like to test it.
As with a generator, I set up an external amp meter or two or three, (one per leg), and start loading up and just see how things go.
Most equipment is over rated no matter who makes it.
With that in mind, be gentle .
Remember that stuff with motors pull up to 3 times their running loaded amperage . refrigerators air conditioning and so forth.
Avoid at all costs running an air compressor from a generator as they tend to diminish it's life .
If you tend to use compressed air a lot get one with a Gas engine and constant speed controls . please don't jerry rig .

 

Yeah, I ruined my air compressor running off of my Onan 5CCK. It was winter and the generator was cold, it started surging and before I could get to the air compressor to shut it down the electric motor on the air compressor let it's smoke out. I switched to one with a gas motor. I have thought about re-powering my old AC one with a gas engine but I have never gotten around to it.

 

Electric air compressors and generators are natural enemies.

 

Well, as these things go my wife ran the dryer for a couple hours around dusk/dark last night and I came home to some low batteries. I went out to start the generator (MEP-005A) and the fan belt had apparently broke last time I ran it. With no time to look up part numbers and go find a new belt I was forced to add a 9000w Predator to my generator collection. I have all the filters to get my new Onan up and going but at 7:45 PM a trip to Harbor Freight was pretty much my only option.

 

I sorta hate to ask this, but is her maiden name Murphy? (Or was it you that forgot spares ---)

 

I knew I was running a risk with only one generator functional and it came back to bite me.

 

Maytag made a gas engine washing machine.
I got to thinking that with a simple engine one cold run both washer an dryer and use the heat off the engine to heat the dryer.

 

Mine makes hot water off the exhaust when I run it, but it's back up and not off grid.

 

That is genius .

 

If you think about it there is a lot of wasted energy coming off the small engine that could be exploited .

 

I got that old Onan 3.0DJA running (see attached video) last night. I have been working on it when I have time and my neighbor has been helping me. We changed all the filters and bled the air out of the fuel system. Below is a video of me starting it. It had no feet so it was trying to vibrate across the floor, you can see me trying to hold it in the video. I made some feet for it out of an old trailer tire. I need to figure out an exhaust and how to connect it to that big fuel tank sitting next to it. I started it by submerging the fuel lines in a solo cup of diesel. I checked the power output and it is making 260 volts which is too high, I should be able to slow down the engine RPMs and bring it down. It was originally a train caboose generator, once I get it all setup it will be a backup for our house.

 

I have had our little Onan in service for a couple of months now and I love it. It starts every time and just chugs along without complaint. I found a big fuel tank for it that holds about 60 gallons of diesel and had some hydraulic lines made up to connect the tank and the generator. We usually draw 1500-2500 watts to charge the batteries, make a tank of hot water and dry a load of clothes and this thing works perfectly.

 

Since our house is partially underground it stays pretty cool with minimal air conditioning. However, I have recently removed most of the dirt from the sides of the house in order to add on some bedrooms for the kids which is causing the temperature to rise inside. In order to counter the rise in temperature I have been running the air conditioner and generator at night and I am amazed a how little fuel this generator uses. It is only about a 500w load but it runs all night most nights with no complaint and very little fuel.

 

Can you not suck down the temp during the day and when the day work / dinner ends have the house cool enough for the night ? as We do , when we get heat (Canada) white north !!
Sloth

 

We usually cool it off during the day with solar power and leave the air conditioner off at night but with the exterior walls exposed to the sun right now we cannot cool it off.