Posted: 11/15/2008 4:31:19 PM EDT
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I have been looking for a 5Kw to 7Kw diesel generator; having storage for 550 gallons of #2 fuel oil in the basement makes it the logical choice. Unfortunately, they are pretty pricey when compared to a gas equivalent.
Northern Tool has a couple that look interesting: One for about $3400.00 with the Yanmar (well respected) engine http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_8792_8792 and another for $1300.00 with a ????? engine. http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200360138_200360138 (Lowes has what seems to be the same setup for $3200.00 made in China). Does any one have any experience with either of these or any other diesel in this size generator? My first choice if I wanted to spend on the high end would be a Lister, but at 1300# it is not quite what I would consider portable. |
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My primary concern is to the reliability of the Chinese units, they being $2k less than a Yanmar, Hatz or Lister. I am aware of the reasons for the higher prices of diesel - basically everything needs to be heavier in order to survive the higher forces inherent to the technology. I am almost ready to commit to a trailerable (Lister) system in order to insure the reliability. |
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Howdy,
Couple things to consider. My quess is that your 550 gal tank is for fuel oil. How do you intend to get the fuel to the genset? You can not run this generator indoors, it will kill you. If you fill up your tank with Diesel and don't burn it all for a few years. Fungus can grow in the fuel and clog everything up. I have bought a number of items from Northern (never a genset), never had a problem. If you are just looking for a back-up in case the power dies. The cheaper one should work fine. If it get's below 32, you want to run #1 Diesel, not #2. You may want to fire it up about once a month and run it at 50 - 100% load for an hour. Plugging in 4-5 electric space heaters should do the trick. Even if you hardly use it, change the oil once per year. |
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Howdy,
Couple things to consider. My quess is that your 550 gal tank is for fuel oil. How do you intend to get the fuel to the genset? You can not run this generator indoors, it will kill you. If you fill up your tank with Diesel and don't burn it all for a few years. Fungus can grow in the fuel and clog everything up. I have bought a number of items from Northern (never a genset), never had a problem. If you are just looking for a back-up in case the power dies. The cheaper one should work fine. If it get's below 32, you want to run #1 Diesel, not #2. You may want to fire it up about once a month and run it at 50 - 100% load for an hour. Plugging in 4-5 electric space heaters should do the trick. Even if you hardly use it, change the oil once per year. |
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Given that I burn 500 to 700 gallons of furnace oil per year, stale fuel should not be a problem.
The only problem I have seen with #2 (diesel) when the temperature drops is that it will gel at sub-zero temperatures. That rarely occurs here and should that happen, an anti-gel additive will handle that. While the total capture of the heat energy with a properly vented basement installation is tempting, a portable (un-plug and go) system is my intention. The Lister on a trailer would be a possible solution. |
| http://www.colemans.com/index.php this place has stuff that guys like us like to look at. military gens tend to be rated lower than they really are. |
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You might want to take a look at the Miller line of diesel powered welders. I purchased a Bobcat 250D. Designed for very heavy duty service and parts are as close as the nearest Miller welding dealership. They are a first class generator. Mine has several receptacles including a 50 amp. Generator is rated at 11KW.
When I bought mine, I opted for the light duty trailer - now I can get power to every corner of the farm. These units are not cheap, but you do get the advantage of a first class welding setup at no extra cost - When I priced them several years ago, they were priced about the same as a decent diesel powered generator - the welder came along for the ride. Note - mine is powered by a Kubota diesel. Not sure if the current production still use the Kubota engine. |
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Quoted:
I have been looking for a 5Kw to 7Kw diesel generator; having storage for 550 gallons of #2 fuel oil in the basement makes it the logical choice. Unfortunately, they are pretty pricey when compared to a gas equivalent. Northern Tool has a couple that look interesting: One for about $3400.00 with the Yanmar (well respected) engine http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_8792_8792 and another for $1300.00 with a ????? engine. http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200360138_200360138 (Lowes has what seems to be the same setup for $3200.00 made in China). Does any one have any experience with either of these or any other diesel in this size generator? My first choice if I wanted to spend on the high end would be a Lister, but at 1300# it is not quite what I would consider portable. The Yanmar is a good engine. I have a Chinese made diesel generator. It's a Titan unit but a similar engine to the one above. They are Yanmar clones. Actually, pretty well made. If you are considering one, Google Aurora Generators. They sell arguably the best Yanmar clone units. You won't go wrong with the Yanmar unit. The clones are pretty decent IMO. |
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Thanks ColtRifle, I was trying to track down some information on that engine. That is the kind of information that I was looking for.
Just read this review, it looks like it might do the trick. Of particular interest was his comment on customer service. http://www.savingcivilization.org/aurora-generators-diesel-backup-generator-2.html |
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The only way to install a genset inside would be to run an exhaust pipe up into the chimney. Outside of that it would be an ideal installation, heat the house with the waste heat from the genset and gravity feed the fuel. If the tanks are in the basement, you son't need to add anti gel, although it's still a good idea.
I have one of the Chinese gasoline gensets to use with my RV. While it wworks fine so far, I don't have enough hours on it to comment. I'd lean toward a used engine or used genset before I'd buy a Chinese set. YMMV Edited to add: If you have a diesel tractor, buy a PTO generator and drive it with the tractor. Ops |
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Quoted:
Thanks ColtRifle, I was trying to track down some information on that engine. That is the kind of information that I was looking for. Just read this review, it looks like it might do the trick. Of particular interest was his comment on customer service. http://www.savingcivilization.org/aurora-generators-diesel-backup-generator-2.html No problem. The one that I have seems to be pretty well made and a good clone of the Yanmar. They are noisy so I'd get the "silent" version unless you have a good enclosed area to put it in. I got a good deal on mine so I put up with the noise. Id rather have the silent one though. I have pull started mine but you HAVE to use the compression release on the head. It's not too hard to start with two people, one to hold the compression release down until the second person gets it spinning. The cheap lawnmower batteries are marginal to start the generator. I replaced mine with a quality car type battery. Might not be able to do that on the silent type ones though since even the smallest car batteries are quite a bit bigger than a lawnmower type. I don't feel that the lawnmower type batteries have enough amps to reliably start the diesel generator in cold temps. Here is mine hooked up. 
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Keep an eye on craigslist
Between our current financial situation as a country and a short time until christmas now is a prime time for a deal I bought a 10kw used lombardini for $600 earlier this year. This way you can get a name brand unit with repair parts available locally for the cost of a clone. |
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Quoted:
Howdy, Couple things to consider. My quess is that your 550 gal tank is for fuel oil. How do you intend to get the fuel to the genset? You can not run this generator indoors, it will kill you. If you fill up your tank with Diesel and don't burn it all for a few years. Fungus can grow in the fuel and clog everything up. I have bought a number of items from Northern (never a genset), never had a problem. If you are just looking for a back-up in case the power dies. The cheaper one should work fine. If it get's below 32, you want to run #1 Diesel, not #2. You may want to fire it up about once a month and run it at 50 - 100% load for an hour. Plugging in 4-5 electric space heaters should do the trick. Even if you hardly use it, change the oil once per year. Fungus can grow in your diesel even if it isn't old. We had it growing in our underground tanks twice and we are filled at least twice a week. It was a pain replacing fuel filters and cleaning the slime out.Check with your fuel supplier for a biocide that you can add that will kill it and prevent it from happening.Also ask your fuel supplier if they add it to all their fuel,some do. If you store diesel you should be using some protection,I have had great luck using Racor Diesel Biocide The problems stopped after using this stuff. Red |
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I'm one of the few that bought an outright Chinese generator that is powered by a Yang Dong 3 cylinder New Holland knock off (Chicago Industries). Have not had an issue yet with it.. Yeah, it was kinda hard to start in the beginning, but it evened out with time.
12KW of juice on push button demand, and almost literally only "sips" diesel is goodness.. I have a 550 gallon tank on site, but have not yet filled it for the generator. Guess I better get to it soon, before the prices go back up 
c0 ____________________________ Failure to plan on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine. http://Tpass.org |