Best diesel generator

[Mur Huwcun]

Is there a long life diesel available (non biodiesel) that wont go off in a standby generator?
Or is the trick to change the fuel ever 6 months, or run it dry?

Ideally if you have a generator it should be run for a few hours at least every couple of months to warm up and dry the windings.

 

[TheTallGuy]

Is there a long life diesel available (non biodiesel) that wont go off in a standby generator?
Or is the trick to change the fuel ever 6 months, or run it dry?

There are additives that can be used, although I've never used them personally. If I was using a genny solely for standby purposes then I would probably only have a few hours diesel in the tank itself & top it up when it kicks in, or after a maintenance run cycle every six weeks.

 

[upnortheast]

Is there a long life diesel available (non biodiesel) that wont go off in a standby generator?
Or is the trick to change the fuel ever 6 months, or run it dry?

Always refill our standby genny with diesel that has some additive added.
Like to keep it full. Nowt worse than trying to fill the genny at 2 in the morning in a blizzard

 

[upnortheast]

Go big... Something ~30kVA+ might seem overkill,

Bit of logic there. Years ago we had a 16kva transformer. Seemed logical to get the same size genny. Never any bother on mains but the genny was prone to tripping off. Favourite trick was just after all the units were on in the parlour, the cake auger came on & off went the trip. Needed to make sure no water heaters were on & the oven was off in the house

 

[puntabrava]

How do you connect a generator into the domestic supply?

 

[Netherfield]

Careful though, some of the power ratings aren't for continuous use, a bit like the first Mig welder I bought, fine for 20 mins full blast, then needed a to lie down for an hour to cool down.

 

[Netherfield]

How do you connect a generator into the domestic supply?

With an interlocked changeover switch ideally, linesmen don't like you sending a voltage back up the lines they're working on.

 

[upnortheast]

How do you connect a generator into the domestic supply?

Need to get your sparky to fit a "Change over switch" between your meter & fuse board ( called a consumer unit these days ). Idea is to make it impossible for power to flow back into the network & possibly endanger someone working on the line
something like -

80A 2 Pole IP65 Plastic Rotary Changeover Switch - Protek UK

Here at Protek we supply 80A 2 Pole IP65 Plastic Rotary Changeover Switch direct to the wholesaler with free shipping on all orders over £250

protekuk.co.uk

 

[Wellpark]

Buy one with a constant rated load above what you need . A lot of cheap generators will rated at peak load
. Definitely get one that runs 1500 rpm , FG Wilson would be a good make using quality engine/genny
Don't be scared of a bit of hours on a second hand one
If fitting a changeover switch get one with an auto start panel
It all depends what you want to spend really

 

[steveR]

There are additives that can be used, although I've never used them personally. If I was using a genny solely for standby purposes then I would probably only have a few hours diesel in the tank itself & top it up when it kicks in, or after a maintenance run cycle every six weeks.

I always used to have some Aspen 4T petrol in my gennie for standby.... Petrol can has Sta-bil treated fuel now, but put it in a car after 6 months or so...
.

 

[Exfarmer]

You MUST have a change over switch. Trying to power the national grid is guaranteed to wreck any gennie in seconds!

 

[steveR]

Ideally if you have a generator it should be run for a few hours at least every couple of months to warm up and dry the windings.

Didn'y know that... ta.

 

[TheTallGuy]

Buy one with a constant rated load above what you need . A lot of cheap generators will rated at peak load
. Definitely get one that runs 1500 rpm , FG Wilson would be a good make using quality engine/genny
Don't be scared of a bit of hours on a second hand one
If fitting a changeover switch get one with an auto start panel
It all depends what you want to spend really

I bagged a JCB 35kVA cheap at auction due to high hours - a quick service & it runs a treat. The output is fully regulated & even with the mig going full chat is solid & spike free. The control panel is capable of auto start & controlling an auto transfer switch, which is pointless given that I don't have a mains feed!

 

[TheTallGuy]

Didn'y know that... ta.

Also keeps the fuel pump primed and the battery charged if electric start.

 

[steveR]

Also keeps the fuel pump primed and the battery charged if electric start.

My diesel gennie is a single cylinder engine with a pull start with decompressor.... kicks like a bloody mule....

Easy Start stored close by

 

[fermerboy]

Something that folk often overlook is that a 3 phase genny might have say 30kva, but when using single phase you can only get a third of that output.
We have a 10kva single phase pto genny running on an 82hp old International on the 1000 shaft so it's just ticking over.
Tractor maybe isn't for everyone but if you have an old tractor sitting about it could be an option.
Will run the house no bother and I must admit uses very little diesel, much less than I expected.

 

[Wellpark]

Something that folk often overlook is that a 3 phase genny might have say 30kva, but when using single phase you can only get a third of that output.
We have a 10kva single phase pto genny running on an 82hp old International on the 1000 shaft so it's just ticking over.
Tractor maybe isn't for everyone but if you have an old tractor sitting about it could be an option.
Will run the house no bother and I must admit uses very little diesel, much less than I expected.

You could take a seperate single phase supply of each of the phases though

 

[Timbo]

You could take a seperate single phase supply of each of the phases though

Omg Do you have a death wish ?

 

[fermerboy]

You could take a seperate single phase supply of each of the phases though

Yes, I think you could, but with care, the OP could power each property with a different phase, or in our case (we have split phase here) power the buildings with one and the house with the other.
Don't think that having two phase in a 240v property would be right though.
That setup wouldn't manage our 480v split phase drier or bruiser though.

 

[Wellpark]

Omg Do you have a death wish ?

It's called load balancing and as long as the phases are used independently no issue at all with safety