Posted: 1/23/2016 9:56:57 PM EDT
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folks, over the past couple of weeks i have spent a little bit of time each night constructing a generator oracle to answer the most common questions related to standby generators. due to the east coast blizzard today, i had a bit more free time to clean up some sections and flesh out others. nevertheless, there is still quite a bit of work to do. what i thought might be useful at this point is to have the SF folks here take a look at it, and comment on structure, content, flow, gaps, etc. -- in other words, is it headed in a direction that will benefit folks looking to purchase and interconnect a standby generator? and furthermore, if you want to (re)write a section you can do that too. 
clicky: http://losdos.dyndns.org/wiki/reference:generator_oracle // DRAFT VERSION a few comments: -- it is presented via advertising-free, open source wiki engine. -- it is presented on a simple wiki vs an ARFCOM thread for four reasons: 1) eventually, multiple authors can contribute/maintain, 2) automated link-checking tools can be employed, 3) the integration of text and graphics is somewhat easier, and 4) the wiki auto-detects desktop vs mobile browsers and does some magic to optimize output. -- it is not possible to cover EVERYTHING in detail in one document. for example, i started making a table of common appliance loads in watts (refrigerator, coffee maker, etc). but these data and the tools to sum these data are EVERYWHERE, including on the websites of the generator manufacturer's themselves. so in this case i abandoned trying to recreate a load-calculation template and instead just linked to the already-debugged versions present on the web. -- keep in mind that reader expertise spans from "what's a generator" to "i'm a master electrician". the first rule of writing a document is "know your audience", but in this case the audience is very broad, so by definition the document has to account for this. anyway... thoughts, ideas, concepts, refactoring, hate mail, etc are all welcome. ar-jedi |
| When I was researching generators about 12 years ago, I found this website helpful with understanding various features of generators... It may be basic, but it's helpful for novices. Seems as though the information there would lend itself to the "Aspects of Generator Selection" section (and maybe some others)... |
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You Suck! Well you said you wanted hate mail... Great idea by the way. I have always been impressed with your sense of organization and abilities. ------------------------------- Under Output Capacity, Load calculation, Too small Not only can having too small a generator damage the generator, it can also damage the load if it cause the generator to run in a "brown out" condition. For example if you put a well pump on that uses 10 amps running and 40 amps start and you start it with a 7500 watt generator, it will probably start and run, but the low voltage caused when it starts may damage the pump. Maybe including the load in your statement might impact those of us who are technically challenged. ------------------------------ Under Diesel, Storage Life In the BP article you linked to: It says: "Always purchase fuel to replenish stocks in the winter season April - August. This will ensure that the fuel will not cause wax problems whatever season it is used." This article was published for the southern hemisphere, specifically Australia, so that may throw off a few of us Northern Hemisphere folks. The rest of the article went into more detail than any other that I could find. I would hate to see it trashed because of that one line, but that could really throw off some folks... --------------------------------------- Under the Interconnection Header there should be wording in the first paragraph that details the danger to line men in the event of a back feed situation from a generator. It needs to be in simple, easy to read terms so that it can't be skimmed over by folks who are challenged by technical terms. I am sure those guys are taught to test all lines before handling them, but I can imagine mistakes can be made when you have been up for well over 24 hours repairing lines everywhere after an emergency. ---------------------------------------- I have worked on generators from 1000 watts on up to "who knows how many watts backing up telecommunications equipment 100 miles from nowhere". But that does not mean I am an expert of any kind. I believe what I have said to be correct, but if I am wrong, please explain it to this dumb West Texas hick in terms I can understand. |
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Looks great and very useful. Thanks AR for the hard work you have put into this.
I just briefly skimmed thru it and didn't check any of the links you provided, but you might want to consider adding these into the fuels section. http://www.motorsnorkel.com/propane-consumption-rate?___SID=U http://www.motorsnorkel.com/installation-pipe-sizing?___SID=U This one might help in the sizing section. http://www.motorsnorkel.com/generator-sizing?___SID=U As far as hate mail goes. I hate that I am not as talented and educated as you. |
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Any reason you don't get into storing fuel in NATO or other sealed metal containers for longer term storage? ETA: To avoid another comment, I have re-wired our well pump to plug into a while-in-use outlet. When the power is out, just un-plug the well pump from the outlet, plug into generator. Poof! Safely powered. In the section where you discourage generators for large well pumps, consider dropping in that a better/cheaper option just for water may be a hand piston pump (even a home-made PVC pump). Water is too important to not utilize your well if you have one IMHO. |
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Quoted:
Any reason you don't get into storing fuel in NATO or other sealed metal containers for longer term storage? Not speaking for AR, but just my opinion. The database for gasoline and diesel storage is so broad and differing opinions on what is proper that it would take more than just one person could handle. For example just look at the NATO fuel can oracle here on ARFCOM. There were many different metal but similar clone cans produced from various nations. Now if you want to stick strictly to Metal NATO cans made to the exact standards then that will narrow it some. Still leaves open the rats nest of opinion of what is the best way to store and preserve gasoline and diesel. Imagine someone being told they can store gasoline in 55 gallon drums with no problems. They go out in 20 degree weather and fill their drums to the top so they can store the most amount in the least amount of containers. Now summer comes and the metal storage building they store their drums in gets to 120 degrees inside. I can see failures on multiple levels. Common sense plays more into fuel storage than any written knowledge. |
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