Generator etiquette

[Jims5543]

I bought the 15KW Generac. It cost me $2975 at Home Depot complete with circuit box and auto sensing switching.. The killer is the Propane tank. In hindsight, I should have purchased a Propane hot water heater, then I would have been able to rent a propane tank. Because its for a generator they will not rent. So I had to buy a 250 gallon for $1000 then they buried it and hooked it up another $1000. Then they filled it another $500+. Then you have to get the circuit box wired $600-$1200 depending.

Then if you pulled a permit those costs...

In hindsight? I would have purchased a really good portable deisel unit and been done with it.

[notfarnow]

Originally posted by fastpat
You can have the trees appraised for value by an Arborist and then bill them for the value and the appraisal. Then take them to court for non-payment of a valid debt.

I have been considering doing just that, but they were just a couple of maples, maybe 12" around. They weren't worth much more than firewood, but they served a purpose... blocked a lot of noise and the view of their house.

I have spoken to them about it, and told them they can stack the firewood for me when they're done splitting it (please and thank you). I don't want it to escalate further. They are the loose cannon type, and to be frank I'm afraid they'd do something rotten like poison my dogs.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by Jim Cesiro
I bought the 15KW Generac. It cost me $2975 at Home Depot complete with circuit box and auto sensing switching.. The killer is the Propane tank. In hindsight, I should have purchased a Propane hot water heater, then I would have been able to rent a propane tank. Because its for a generator they will not rent. So I had to buy a 250 gallon for $1000 then they buried it and hooked it up another $1000. Then they filled it another $500+. Then you have to get the circuit box wired $600-$1200 depending.

Then if you pulled a permit those costs...

In hindsight? I would have purchased a really good portable diesel unit and been done with it.

I've looked at both fuel types mostly because I was considering a large diesel fuel tank for the tractor fuel, the propane or CNG units seem to be more common for the use that you, and I, have which is standby home use. My tractor sips fuel, so it's not practical to have a fuel that will spoil sitting around for a long time. I'm going to a gas cooktop, so I might be able to rent a tank. I already have a propane tank here for the fireplace logs,up under the deck which is not where I want the generator to be located. It's not 250 gallons either, more like 100 gallons if I had to guess. The wiring I can handle, but I don't mess with gas plumbing.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Interesting and well-timed thread.

This past weekend (when it was hotter than f*ck out here) we lost power on Saturday afternoon. Called CA Edison and reported it and sat and waited, and waited, and waited. After talking with a few of my neighbors and figuring out who did/didn't have power it became apparent that the problem was the pole-mounted transformer that feeds our building and about 6-7 others around it. This thing was a relic - very old, 50s vintage and charred black from years of hard use. It obviously had done its time and could no longer handle the demands of a modern society.

So Sunday morning (after a restless night's sleep with no fans and no break in the torrid heat/humidity) the Edison guy finally shows up and replaces the fusible link from the transformer to ground - evidently what blew. All was well and I went back to my air-conditioned, fan-blown-cool-air bliss for the next several hours.

Then it blew again. Fury ensued. I was like "f*ck this" and went out and bought a portable generator (one of the 1.8kW Coleman/Subaru ones). Went home and set it up on my balcony. In the middle of rigging everything up my neighbor (the obnoxious one) came out of her place and gave a dirty look asking "what IS that?", to which I replied simply "a generator".

The look of horror was priceless.

I've been dealing with her and her two a-hole roommates for the last 3-4 months sitting on our balcony blowing their cheap second-hand cigarette smoke into our living room window, depriving us of being able to keep it open and enjoy the nice sea breeze we pay the better part of two grand a month for. On top of the unknown "friends" of theirs stomping back & forth at all hours, carrying on loud conversations right outside our window (the balcony is literally about two feet from our living room window), etc. She recently broke one of our flowerpots (a fairly large one with a double-walled "self watering" feature - about 40 bucks) and yes, I saw her do it, confronted her and she promised to locate a replacement or pay for it. Nothing (of course). Then was the day she decided to "help herself" to our chairs that we keep on the balcony for a couple of her friends to sit on - without asking of course.

Sometimes payback is a b1tch and I have to say I GREATLY enjoyed sitting in air-conditioned comfort with my lights working while my inconsiderate neighbors got a taste of their own medicine courtesy of my new 72 dB, 1800 Watt (2500 Watt peak) buddy humming away as they sat in their place in the sweltering heat - until Edison FINALLY showed up and replaced the transformer with a newer, higher-capacity unit like all the other ones around the neighborhood. . .



Maybe I should feel badly about this but I don't. Haven't heard a peep out of 'em all week. I think maybe just MAYBE they're taking the hint. FINALLY.

[notfarnow]

LOL, that's awesome Jeff.

A guy here at work has a 30 year old, 10 000W Lister diesel generator for sale. Maybe I should buy it set it up on the other side of my fence!

[Porsche-O-Phile]

10kW?!?! NIIIIIICE! LOL!!!

[Jims5543]

Fastpat - Have you considered a PTO genrator?

My buddy lives on 10 acres and has a Deisel tractor with a 10KW PTO generator.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by Jim Cesiro
Fastpat - Have you considered a PTO genrator?

My buddy lives on 10 acres and has a Deisel tractor with a 10KW PTO generator.

I haven't really. I wonder how much power would be required to run a 10kw generator? Mine is 45 hp. The other down side that I can see is the smallish 15 gallon fuel tank, though it does run quite a while on that amount, maybe 30 hours or so. And, unlike gasoline, it's relatively safe to refuel a diesel engined tractor while it's running.

Something to ponder.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by notfarnow
LOL, that's awesome Jeff.

A guy here at work has a 30 year old, 10 000W Lister diesel generator for sale. Maybe I should buy it set it up on the other side of my fence!

If you do that, make sure you use the fuel preservative they sell at marine stations and stores, it'll be a real headache if you don't. Things can grow in diesel that die in gasoline.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by Porsche-O-Phile
Interesting and well-timed thread.

This past weekend (when it was hotter than f*ck out here) we lost power on Saturday afternoon. Called CA Edison and reported it and sat and waited, and waited, and waited. After talking with a few of my neighbors and figuring out who did/didn't have power it became apparent that the problem was the pole-mounted transformer that feeds our building and about 6-7 others around it. This thing was a relic - very old, 50s vintage and charred black from years of hard use. It obviously had done its time and could no longer handle the demands of a modern society.

Be careful that absolutely no exhaust is pulled into your apartment. Last winter during the ice storm we had at least one husband and wife killed by carbon monoxide poisoning, the generator was outside on the ground, but the exhaust came through their closed window and did them in.

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by fastpat
If you do that, make sure you use the fuel preservative they sell at marine stations and stores, it'll be a real headache if you don't. Things can grow in diesel that die in gasoline.

There are various additives for this. We have this problem with fuel for our jets, which is about the same as diesel fuel. Put the additive in while fueling and the critters do not grow.

Have seen this crap while doing maintenance on planes years ago. Its a slimy green stuff, small critters that can grow in your fuel tank on a diesel.

[David]

We used to have a large company BBQ every year with about 150 teams. Most teams stay up all night cooking with their little generators running. We got tired of it so we rented a large diesel generator and asked all the teams around us to plug into our quiet generator. Problem solved everyone was happy.

On a side note, my next door neighbor just sold his house. My wife was talking to one of the sons next door about the sale and he told her that when we're talking out by our pool they can hear our conversion in their atrium as if we were right there with them. Hmm? I wonder if they heard any good stories?

[notfarnow]

Originally posted by fastpat
If you do that, make sure you use the fuel preservative they sell at marine stations and stores, it'll be a real headache if you don't. Things can grow in diesel that die in gasoline.

Ya, well if I do buy it I'll be running it on used canola, and you should see the stuff that grows in that if you don't dewater, filter and store it properly. Yoiks!

But I don't think I will buy it... Mrs Notfarnow is a patient gal, but not that patient. Too many projects on the go for me to haul a 30 yr old Lister home.

Joe, a few years ago I got some bad diesel that grew a revolting green algea. Plugged my filters and fuel lines solid. Over the past 4 years, I've had more trouble with diesel as a fuel than vegetable oil.


*Editted for speeling

[fastpat]

Here's the diesel Biocide and here's the diesel fuel preservatives. I think for long term diesel storage, in excess of 60 days or so, you need both.

[nostatic]

Originally posted by singpilot
I keep getting this deja'vu feeling.

again?

[turbo6bar]

2 HP for every kW on the PTO generators. Of course, if you don't use the rated power of the generator, you can get by with less tractor HP. Diesel engines are more efficient than gasoline, so a PTO generator is a good choice, particularly if you already have the tractor. A self-contained unit presents another engine to maintain.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

One of my clients is upgrading a 600kw generator (Detroit Diesel powered) to a 1.5 MW generator (Cat). I bet if you wanted to buy the DD, they'd sell it. . . (insert evil grin & maniacal laughter here).

[fastpat]

Originally posted by turbo6bar
2 HP for every kW on the PTO generators. Of course, if you don't use the rated power of the generator, you can get by with less tractor HP. Diesel engines are more efficient than gasoline, so a PTO generator is a good choice, particularly if you already have the tractor. A self-contained unit presents another engine to maintain.

Actually, my tractor only puts out 38 hp at the PTO, but that would be enough for our needs it would appear.

I'll take a look. Any URL's you might have would be appreciated.

[turbo6bar]

http://www.tractorbynet.com and search their "attachments" forum. After reading for a half hour or six hours, you should have a good basis. Then, off to ebay.com or other favorite vendor for a generator.

[fastpat]

Found a couple, here's an interesting one:
http://www.messicks.com/Articles/PTOGenerator.aspx

And this one:
http://www.generatorjoe.net/subcatmfgprod.asp?0=247&1=345&2=-1