Generators, Gen sheds, Gen fuel systems, etc.

[alyaz]

Thought I would share some information I found before building my generator shed and purchasing my generator/fuel tank etc.

Generator shed buildings:
http://www.hardysolar.com/off-grid/o...ystem-4kw.html
http://www.cashmanequipment.com/User...st-systems.pdf
http://www.baldor.com/downloads/manu...s/2400-405.pdf


Diesel generators:
http://www.hardydiesel.com/
http://www.generatorsales.com/diesel-generators.asp
http://www.ecodieselcanada.com/


Fuel tanks:
http://www.tidytanks.com/productlist.html

[techntrek]

Be careful about buying a diesel genset for a home environment. If you will be using it for defined and steady loads most of the time then you'll be ok - such as using it to always charge a battery bank or run a well pump. Loads are usually defined in commercial environments (office equipment or factory equipment and lights are always the same) so diesel gensets can be sized for the load. Homes can fluctuate from a few hundred watts to a few thousand with an occasional peak of several times that. Diesel gensets usually need to be loaded to at least 50% to prevent "wet stacking", easily done at a business, very hard for most homes but possible for some off-grid homes.

In many cases an inverter genset is the best choice now-a-days.

[alyaz]

Wire Suppliers:

http://www.wesbellwireandcable.com/Romex/UFB6-2.html

[alyaz]

Be careful about buying a diesel genset for a home environment. If you will be using it for defined and steady loads most of the time then you'll be ok - such as using it to always charge a battery bank or run a well pump. Loads are usually defined in commercial environments (office equipment or factory equipment and lights are always the same) so diesel gensets can be sized for the load. Homes can fluctuate from a few hundred watts to a few thousand with an occasional peak of several times that. Diesel gensets usually need to be loaded to at least 50% to prevent "wet stacking", easily done at a business, very hard for most homes but possible for some off-grid homes.

In many cases an inverter genset is the best choice now-a-days.

We tried the Honda EU6500iu generator and with less than 500 hours it was in the shop for a major repair... Not amused. Got it repaired (warranty covered most of it - but left us pretty nevous about its future) and it will be up for sale once the diesel gen is in place...

[TheBackRoads]

Wire Suppliers:

http://www.wesbellwireandcable.com/Romex/UFB6-2.html

Finally a place to buy welding wire for my inverter!

[techntrek]

Again, just make sure your system is designed to load up the diesel genset most of the time. Your typical house loads won't do that.

[alyaz]

Again, just make sure your system is designed to load up the diesel genset most of the time. Your typical house loads won't do that.

copy, thanks. the gens out this way are typically used to charge the batteries/equalize the batteries/or to charge the batteries while a few loads of wash and the vacuum in going, mostly in the winter months.

[alyaz]

Finally got the diesel generator installed. Thought I would share a few pictures, for anyone in the process of building or planning a gen shed.

I built an intake vent -with baffles and insulation - for cold intake and an exhaust vent - with baffles and insulation, for the radiator. I built the vents on the outside of the shed so as not to take any interior space. I poured a cement foundation for the gen and laid heavy rubber matting on the floor to help with sound. The walls and ceiling are insulated with 'Roxul safe and sound.' I used Armstrong ceiling panels on the walls to further help sound deadening. The exhaust pipes, muffler, and resonator are all wrapped with heat tape and a wall thimble was used to run the exhaust safely through the wall. I ran all the wires and fuel lines through conduit to keep things tidy. And finally the new battery was placed into an insulated wooden box.

It all turned out well and the noise level is barely audible from the house. A fun but time consuming project

[Ralph Day]

Your build sounds just about like mine. You might find, as I did, that a little more room between the generator and the walls would have been advisable. Not for heat buildup, but for ease of access (changing oil, maintenance etc). Trying to get 2 people working on the unit can be a problem in my shed.

Ralph

[alyaz]

Your build sounds just about like mine. You might find, as I did, that a little more room between the generator and the walls would have been advisable. Not for heat buildup, but for ease of access (changing oil, maintenance etc). Trying to get 2 people working on the unit can be a problem in my shed.

Ralph

I totally agree. The shed was already there (used to house the Honda eu6500iu) but in a perfect world it would have been bigger. I gave myself a bit more room on the 'oil change' side of the gen.