[AT] Generator LP fuel consumption

Sun Oct 18 09:28:34 PDT 2009

I should be ok then, I use a manual whole house transfer switch.

There is a 35' cable about the thickness of my thumb that is kept at the 
switch at the pole.  If we lose power, I simply throw the switch down, roll 
the generator out to a covered area next to the barn, connect the cable, 
start the generator and follow my check list.

So we know when the main is back on, we also had a light mounted just above 
the box that runs on the main after the meter and before the switch.  The 
light fixture has a switch on it. I just flip that switch on. When the power 
is back on, that light is on and I know I can start shutting the generator 
down.

Thanks for the info.

Dick

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Cecil Bearden" <crbearden at copper.net>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Sunday, October 18, 2009 7:33 AM
Subject: Re: [AT] Generator LP fuel consumption

If it is a 1800 rpm unit it might not be too bad, providing you do not
load it to capacity very often.  One of the worst attributes to these is
  when they are equipped with an automatic start transfer switch.  When
you have an ice storm in a rural area, the first line to snap is the
ground line, or neutral.  This causes an immediate power surge in the
hot line.  I could go into all the reasons, but suffice to say it
happens.  When we had the ice storm of 07 here in Oklahoma, I had a few
friends who had greenhouses for exotic flowers.  They all had auto
transfer switches.  The generator would start up, come up to power then
shut down.  Manual restart, same thing.  There is a circuit board that
checks to see if the generator is running by the exciter power voltage.
  That board was fried by the power surge.  Generac servicemen were in
very short supply.  I got called in as the guy who could make anything
run.  After about a half hour of consulting on the phone, and then a
site visit, I confirmed what it was, not having any experience on
Generac systems.  I too, am fascinated by generators, and have somewhere
close to 30 around here from 1kw to 65kw, and ranging in age from 2
years to 60years.  Anyway, Generac would not warranty these boards, and
the cstomer was stuck for a $400 dollar circuit board.  I wired around
the shutdown and got the units running, 8 in all, and they ran without
safety shutdowns for 6 days until the power was restored.  I prefer a
manual system all the way, I like a sight tube in the oil pan, and
manual transfer switches.  The 3600 rpm units in the motorhomes never
lasted  very long.  Here in OK, we have ice that can knock out power for
weeks.  I ran a 60Kw detroit 3-71 with a Brown & Boveri 75kw end for 21
days in '02.  It replaced my 15kw Onan gasoline.  The detroit used 75
gallons a day, but it was running 2 homes and a shop very well.  I
replaced it last year with a 65KW Onan self contained unit.  It has an
Allis Chalmers engine the same as my 7030 Allis tractor.  I have not ran
it long enough to really test it.  It also has a circuit board problem
as the starter will not disengage.  I wired around that and installed a
switch to manually crank it.  Onan dealer wanted $1500 to repair the
board.  I guess what I am really getting at is that these gfenerators
that have all this solid state crap are not reliable in a rural
environment.  I prefer a slightly oversized old style generator.
Driving an oversized generator with a smaller powered engine will allow
the generator to start heavy loads easier without paying for the fuel of
the larger engine.  It also stops the power surges and spikes when
motors stop on the line.  If you have central heat, it is better to run
the fan constant than to cycle on a generator.  Less power spikes.

I hope this makes sense, If it serves your purpose, it wasn't a mistake.
  Just keep a service schematic around and know how to wire around the
circuits..

Cecil in OKla

Dick Day wrote:
> Cecil,
>
> I have a Generac 7.5KW gas unit that has maybe 1 hour on since we bought 
> it
> 4 years ago.  Prior to us buying it, it seemed like we were in the dark at
> least several times each year. Now that we own one.... :)
>
> I have a fascination of generators, not sure why.  I've looked at the
> pto-driven units that both Northern and Harbor Freight carry.  If Generacs
> really are junk, should we consider moving to one of the pto units?  Last
> year, we dodged the black-out bullet by half a mile. People that close to 
> us
> were without power for up to 3 weeks.  Our lights flickered and that was
> all.
>
> One of these times we will need the generator and now I'm concerned that
> maybe buying the Generac was a mistake.
>
> Suggestions?  Comments on what's wrong with that brand?
>
> Thanks for the info.
>
> Dick
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Cecil Bearden" <crbearden at copper.net>
> To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" 
> <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Saturday, October 17, 2009 10:15 PM
> Subject: Re: [AT] Generator LP fuel consumption
>
>
> Fully loaded it will burn 60 gallons per 24 hour day on gasoline.  On
> propane, add about 20%.  half load would be about 55% of full.   If you
> need this much power, ok.  However, I have sized generators for many
> different uses, and if you can get by with the smallest unit possible,
> the cost savings on fuel will outweigh the original cost.  Diesel is
> half the cost of gasoline on the same loading.
>
> Most of those Generacs were junk and meant to sell to homeowners with
> nat gas available.  They had a bad habit of blowing the shutdown circuit
> board when they detected a power surge in the power company line.  It
> would then start but not run.
>
> Cecil in OKla
>
> charliehill wrote:
>> Don, I can't help you with the fuel burn.  If I were buying it I'd want 
>> to
>> run it and look at the AC output to make sure it's in the proper range 
>> and
>> clean enough to run your electronic stuff on.  If that's ok it should be 
>> a
>> good unit.  I have a friend who has one of them hooked up with auto start
>> up
>> on his house.  I'd ask him about fuel consumption but I know he has never
>> had to run it for more than an hour or so and I'm sure he has no idea.
>>
>> Charlie
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Don Bowen" <don.bowen at earthlink.net>
>> To: "'Antique tractor email discussion group'"
>> <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
>> Sent: Saturday, October 17, 2009 10:09 AM
>> Subject: [AT] Generator LP fuel consumption
>>
>>
>>> I have the opportunity to buy a 20 KW Generac LP fired generator with
>>> less
>>> than 120 hours.  Has anyone any experience with these?  I am concerned
>>> about
>>> fuel consumption.  What is its per hour consumption of LP under half 
>>> load
>>> conditions.  I have some rough numbers but I am looking for real world
>>> figures.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Don Bowen  KI6DIU
>>>
>>> New ruralize pages, follow the link off http://www.ruralize.com
>>>
>>> http://www.braingarage.com/Dons/Travels/journal/Journal.html
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> AT mailing list
>>> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>> _______________________________________________
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