I have been looking into used military diesel generators for some time....
I was able to use my 5k gas gen, get the well pump working and the furnace.
(I have geo ground exchange) but that was about it, I did make some hot coffee.
The Mil units are way under rated, and for continuous use 24/7.
mep-002 5k and mep-003 10k

Sweet rig

Have not picked one up yet, but am still looking. good deals are out there.

I want a gen that I don't have to worry about the compunds in the fuel clogging jets, diesel algae, etc.
I want a natural gas one but the nearest line is over 3200 feet away and they will not run the pipe that far unless I come up with the total cost. The homes aren't dense enough in numbers ergo no profit.
So I've decided on a propane type. Propane is high but it doesn't foul the carburetor. I'll have derate the gen output wattage.

Now if I could find one that I could drain the tank and carb bowl then I might be persuaded.
I remember the old "Clinton" motors had a carb bowl drain but I haven't seen one since they went out of business back in the 60's.

Yep My nieghbor has a Propane whole house unit.

You can get propane conversions for standard gens.
http://propane-generators.com/
http://propane-generators.com/generators.htm

They make kits so you can use either gas or propane, or just propane.

Yes, fuel management is an issue with a generator.

When we went up to Barry's place in NC in late October... he had a military surplus turbine generator (Solar T-62 engine). It was rated at 50KW... however that was 400Htz... not suitable for most residential appliances. Barry said it was for sale... If it had been 60 Htz... I would have been interested... other than the AWFUL amount of noise it makes... Do like the smell of burnt JetA though...

What I do with my gasoline burning Lincoln generator welder (Kohler V-twin 20 HP engine) is twofold:
1) The generator is always full of fuel (about 10 gallons). Generator gas always gets 'Sta-Bil' in in it. Twice a year, I siphon it out and burn it in my HVAC service fan (good way to burn gas)... takes about 15 min to change the generator gas. I run the generator monthly... this keeps it 'feeling good'... so it will start and run when I need it. Always keep a can of starter fluid around.
2) When you know a generator situation is coming (like we had this winter), get some gas in cans. If the situation does not happen... just burn it in your vehicles.
The HVAC service van is rough on gas... so I have a ready means to 'use up' gas which is either old or was stockpiled. During 'busy season'... Easter to Labor day weekend... I can easily run $150-200/week of gas in the van.
This time around... I put in 20 gal in cans for the generator... got it for $3.04.9/gal. Now I see gas has gone up to $3.19.9-$3.29.9 (depending on location)... so I guess I won on the price of that 20 gallons of gas. And it is about time to do the Spring gas change in the generator anyway... so it will get done over the weekend.

There is a little management in having a generator... yet they surely are nice to have when one needs them...

BTW: I have a N-gas/propane regulator for mine... never used it. Most engines... propane will produce around 95% of the watts... however N-gas derates the output to 75-80%.

Hope all this trivia helps.

Thanks for the link. My father in law's generator has a gummed up carb and won't run right.
I'm going to try and take it apart a clean it. I hope it doesn't have those aggravating pressed in seals.
I will probably order one of those kits.

WHO KNOWS of a diesel generator that is not toooooo fussy about the purity of it's fuel ???

My neighbor (good guy) has been doing the bio-diesel thing used veggie oil from restaurants for yrs.

He's moving, and has his system for sale. (Including quite a bit of used veggie oil)

I'd like to GET a system going that could use (WW II ?) Diesel engine to make electricity. Maybe end up with 10-50kw system ????

Thots ?

fj

Jim,

How old is the generator engine? Specifically what I am asking: Does it have mechanical injection and NO electronics... as in electronic engine controls? Electronic engine controls like that dad-burn stuff on TiggyB that is giving you fits.... LOL!

If the answer to both is yes... and you are willing to set up dual fuel filters... and treat your fuel (additives which are readily available)... then IMO you should not have much of an issue. Remember to run it regularly... no less than once a month for 30 minutes. You do not need to load it fully (as in let it carry the load of the house)... just run something like a few lights or a saw... just to exercise the generator side of the unit.

If it were me... I would mix the bio-diesel with some of the regular fuel you run your farm machinery with. I would also not leave the fuel supply sitting for long times (like years)... rotate it through the farm machinery and keep fresh fuel for the generator.
The worst thing is to have a generator... that will not run when the power goes off... GRRRRRR...

Moisture is an enemy of these things... so I would keep it in a barn (as opposed to under a shed roof).

Again: RUN IT regularly...and treat the fuel... and keep the fuel filters clean... you should be fine.

Sorry I wasn't clear -

I'd like to know of a sturdy ENGINE (WW II ?). to use. A "Lister" engine perhaps ??

Easy access to fuel filter, injectors not a Bank Breaker, that sorta engine.

We have a JD 4020 that we could use, but don't really need 90 hp.

Jus' brainstorming',

fj

PS -

The neighbor was using it in an old Mercedes to drive 80/day to work & back.

fj

My apologies... I assumed (yeah...) the neighbor had a complete (older) generator set you were interested in.

Engines... that is an interesting topic.

I am not sure I can help much with diesel engines... other than to suggest a used one that has mechanical injection and no electronic controls...

Perhaps look at smallish tractors or large water pumps?

A construction equipment reseller?

Sorry I am not much help on this one.

If you already have tractors at your disposal, you could get a PTO driven gen.
That way you would not have to worry about another engine.

http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com ... p5887.html

http://www.ctpowerandsport.com/pages/Br ... tail/94536

Would maybe try and avoid tying up a 90 hp tractor to run a gen when 20-30 hp would do the job.

Jus brainstorming' with Friendlies !

fj

Perhaps a diesel engine from a wrecked car... however that might not handle dirty fuel very well.

I had a diesel rabbit (VW) back in the early 1990's... not a bad car. Not sure that engine would be what you are looking for.

Have you looked at catalogs like:

Northern Tool
Harbor Freight
Tractor Supply

While all of these are expensive... they may give one some ideas.

Listers are good, I have heard that the Yanmar are less fussy than the perkins etc. Detroit diesel if you want to go BIG.
If you go diesel you want a 4 pole Gen, 1800 rpm. or the 6 pole 1200rpm.
Don't go with a 3600rpm diesel chinese cheapy.

Check your ratings also.

Useful info:
UNDERSTANDING EQUIPMENT APPLICATIONS AND CAPABILITIES

Available ratings have changed in recent years, and more sophisticated switchgear can be integrated with generator sets. That means more flexibility to specify generating systems that closely match users’ requirements. The key to choosing the right rating is to understand the application in detail. That means knowing the type of duty and answering several key questions:


•What is the average load factor?
•What is the maximum required load?
•How many hours per year will the generator sets run?
•Will the generator sets be run isolated from or in parallel with the utility?


RATINGS DEFINED

Caterpillar defines five basic generator set ratings:


•Standby
•Emergency Standby Power (ESP)
•Mission Critical Standby
•Prime
•Continuous


Cat generator set ratings differ in certain respects from those defined by the industry standard ISO 8528-1. Basic descriptions of the Caterpillar genset ratings are offered below.


STANDBY RATING

In this application, the generator set is capable of providing emergency backup power at the nameplate rating for the duration of an outage.

The average load factor of a Standby rated generator set should be no more than 70% of the nameplate rating and applied to varying loads. A Standby generator set can run for a maximum of 500 hours per year. The normal standby rating is not for use in utility paralleling applications. For example, a 3 MW standby rated generator set will provide power for the duration of an outage. It should be run for up to 500 hours per year and have an average load factor of 2.1 MW.


EMERGENCY STANDBY POWER (ESP) RATING

The ESP rating differs from the Standby rating only in the number of running hours allowed per year. ESP ratings allow a maximum running time of 200 hours per year at a 70% average load factor with varying load.


MISSION CRITICAL STANDBY RATING

In this application, the generator set is capable of providing emergency backup power at the nameplate rating for the duration of an outage. The average load factor of a mission critical standby rated generator set should be no more than 85% of the nameplate rating with varying loads. A mission critical standby generator set can run for a maximum of 500 hours per year.

Typical peak demand is 100% of the rating for maximum of 5% of the operating time. The mission critical standby rating is not for use in utility paralleling applications. For example, a 3 MW mission critical standby rated generator set will provide power for the duration of an outage. It should be run for up to 500 hours per year and have an average load factor of up to 2.55 MW.


PRIME RATING

In this application, the generator set is capable of providing power to a varying load for an unlimited number of hours per year. A Prime rated generator set is capable of providing full nameplate rating for a period of time, but must have an average load factor of no more than 70% of the Prime rating. Ten percent overload is allowed for emergencies for a maximum of one hour in 12, and for no more than 25 hours per year. The standard prime rating is for use in either utility paralleling or isolated applications.

For example, a 2.7 MW rated unit may provide the full nameplate rating for a short duration, but should have a maximum average load of 1.89 MW (not including generator set non-running time per ISO8528-1). The generator set can also provide 3 MW of power in emergencies as defined above. An example of the Prime rating is shown in Chart 3.


LOAD MANAGEMENT RATING

The Load Management rating is simply a special application of the Prime rating. A Prime rated generator applied under load management guidelines allows for a Prime rated generator set to be used in parallel with the utility.

A Prime rated generator set under load management guidelines can run for a maximum of 500 hours per year. This generator set has the same nameplate rating as a Prime rated unit, but allows for an average load factor of up to 100%. The Prime rating with load management guidelines does not allow for a 10% overload capability. For example, these guidelines state that a 2.7 MW unit (same nameplate rating as the Prime rated unit) can be run at 2.7 MW for a maximum of 500 hours.

There are two basic load management practices: base loading and peak shaving. In base loading, the generator set operates at a fixed kW output, and the utility provides power for any peaks above that level. In this scenario the end user may export power to the grid if more power is being generated then is required by the facility loads, and the appropriate agreements with the utility are in place.


CONTINUOUS RATING

In this application, the generator set is able to provide power to a non-varying load for an unlimited number of hours per year. The average power output of the generator set is 70% to 100% of the rating. The rating is designed to provide 100% of the rating for 100% of the operating hours.

Typical Continuous rating applications include base loading in parallel with the utility and cogeneration operations. An example of a Continuous rated generator set is shown in Chart 6.


PERFORMING DUAL DUTY

Intelligent use of ratings also can help your customers use power systems for the added purpose of load management. Here, advanced switchgear is part of the equation.

Customers often want to use backup generators for load management to produce an additional return on their investment. However, standby rated generator sets are not intended for operation in parallel with the utility. To perform utility paralleling applications a prime rating with load management guidelines or a continuous rated unit are appropriate.

Paralleling switchgear combined with the correct prime rated units is required when operating under load management guidelines. The switchgear controls provide increased system flexibility allowing generator sets to operate in parallel with the utility. The switchgear is able to control the load on the generator sets and monitor the power supplied from the utility. This ensures that the generator sets are providing the proper load and are not operating outside of their rating guidelines.

MY HEAD JUST EXPLODED !!!!!!!!!

fj

I haven't herd Perkins mentioned since I worked in a sawmill back in the 70's. I'm speaking about Hyster and Cat forklift engines.
Tough damn engine compared to the Detroits and the Caterpillars. The Detroits were always stripping the splines off the blower shafts. Detroits had to be re-sleeved just about every other year. Cats lasted longer
Only had to put alternators and batteries in the Perkins. The Perkins seemed to run at a lower rpm and have a lot more torque.

My old Nasty Ferguson has a 3 cyl perkins, 35 hp.

Just get a gen that will run the TV, Fridge, and a coffee pot!