Posted: 1/25/2010 12:23:17 PM EDT
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I've finally decided its time to invest in a good quality diesel generator to keep at the house just in case! That being said... Im not sure how large of a genorator I would need. At any given time at night when Im home... I usually have the computer running, a few lights around the house, refrigerator, and the furnace (NG but i imagine the fan is electric).... based on that, I know a 6500 Watt would fullfill all my needs... not sure how much smaller I could go to just scrap by though. I dont want anything that is just going to suck up diesel and produce electricity I DONT need.
I've talked to a few people and everyone seems to be of the mindset "get a gas generator... theyre cheaper!" But they never seem to understand that they're loud as fawk, not as efficient, and require more maintenance. Not to mention... I stockpile diesel and diesel oil for my truck anyways.... so why add another fuel to the mix? That being said... I have two big requirements: first, it has to be a common, proven generator with easy to find parts. Second, it cant be so heavy two people cant load it in a pickup truck (if i have to get an engine hoist just to move it... fawk that!) So what generators would you guys suggest I look at? Im also not opposed to picking up a used one as this is going to be an expensive purchase; I'll tear the puppy down, buff n' shine and get it in top notch shape. Thanks Gents! One day Ill have a house on some big land and I'll go pick up a big Cummins mil-suplus one.... just not today. |
| A generator can't make more electricity than you need. If you hook up the biggest nuke plant there is to a single 40w lightbulb, that power plant will only output 40w. It has the capacity to output significantly more than that, but a generator can't "make" more electricity than the load to which it is connected. My only advice is that you make sure to buy a 900, 1200, or 1800 RPM generator, as most of the cheaper ones are 3600RPM and words can't state how loud those bastards are. I think about as small as you can go in decent diesel gensets is about 6500W, and from the sounds of things you don't need any more than that. I would be on the lookout for an Onan if I were you, as Onan is owned by Cummins, and have a solid track record. |
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I would be on the lookout for a Yanmar or Kubota but you are still going to have problems with the weight issue. They are awesome units but very expensive. Most of the small diesels I've seen are going to be more than two guys can lift. I have a Milsurp MEP002 (5kw) and I believe they have an MEP003 that is 10kw. Mine is trailer mounted which makes it mobile and as long as you can drive within the length of your cord you are good to go. To me it is actually more mobile because I don't need anybody to help me load/unload from the truck. I used to put one (12kw 650lbs) in the truck bed with the tractor loader but then I had no way to unload it at the other end. This way I backup to it and drive to where I need it.
Grove |
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yes, #2 fuel oil is #2 fuel oil. whether its called 'diesel' or 'heating oil.' its mainly a tax issue. high way diesel has fuel tax built in... off road diesel (red dyed, just like heating oil) isnt taxed
i run heating oil out of my house tank in my diesel tractor all the time. |
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Here is the one I have.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_8792_8792 It is very heavy and real loud. I bought it before I really knew anything about 1800 rpm diesels or I would have bought one of those instead. I am pretty happy with it and it has worked fine. If I don't start it for about two months then it takes a while to get up to speed. I don't know if the fuel drains out of the injectors or what but if I start it every month it starts right up. Otherwise it takes a while to get going. |
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Quoted:
Here is the one I have. http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_8792_8792 It is very heavy and real loud. I bought it before I really knew anything about 1800 rpm diesels or I would have bought one of those instead. I am pretty happy with it and it has worked fine. If I don't start it for about two months then it takes a while to get up to speed. I don't know if the fuel drains out of the injectors or what but if I start it every month it starts right up. Otherwise it takes a while to get going. A coworker has one of these and they are LOUD LOUD LOUD but it sips fuel compared to a gas burner and runs his house. I went the 2 eu2000i's route and a critical loads only route. |