[AT] Generator LP fuel consumption

Mon Oct 19 06:05:43 PDT 2009

Sorry if I sound paranoid, but reliability has been thrown out the 
window on a lot of these solid state controls lately.  However, I think 
the best thing that ever happened to our old tractors is Pertronix 
ignition systems...

Cecil in oKla

Dick Day wrote:
> 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
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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