290T China Diesel/Inverter [RE-wrenches]

[Gary Higbee, Solutions from the Land]

Hi Wrenches,

I'm working with a client who has a 1988 model 290T China Diesel generator.
I recently installed a bunch of PV's, SW inverter, etc., and we would like
to automate this or another generator. I don't have a lot of experience with
generators, and my experience with automation can be counted on a couple
fingers (both of which I kept!)

I'd appreciate your input on a couple questions:

1) What's your opinion of this generator? I've heard some good and some bad
(see http://www.suntrekenergy.com/China%20Diesel.htm). Should we consider
finding a new home for it and put in something else? This installation is on
a retreat on Maui which will soon be on the market, and we want a
trustworthy and nice looking system. The existing China Diesel looks pretty
messy, and I have no idea how many hours are on it. I sure don't want any of
the over/under speed problems with the SW, and I want to make the best call
for my client, who has a lot of faith in me (to date!). Go with the China
Diesel and adapt it to work with the SW OR bite the bullet and put in
something new?

2) Is it possible (easy?) to interface this particular model to the SW for
automatic control. The start and stop procedure for this generator has me
wondering whether (and how) this model can be automated. SEE BELOW.

The motor is a 20HP China Diesel model 290T (coupled to a 12KW
Stamford-Newage generator). Here's how the motor is started and stopped(on a
red box near the unit):

START
1) Press the black button
2) Press the starter button
3) Press the black button repeatedly until the generator reaches full speed

STOP
1) Hold the throttle lever to the right until the unit quits

I'm guessing that the "black button" is the glowplug, though I have no idea
why one would press it repeatedly to start the generator(keep it warm?).
Maybe I should have my client see if either not pushing the black button
after pushing the starter or if holding the black button in would do the
same thing?

The stop function is mechanical, and I don't know if there's an electrical
way to do this. I would hope there'd be a low oil cutout. Worst case maybe I
could put in a solenoid for shutdown(but it's still scary if there's no
low-oil cutout). Maybe I've got to find some schematics for the thing.


I greatly appreciate your input. Thank you!

Gary

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     Gary Higbee  (ghigbee at efn.org)
             (541)607-1818
    Solutions from the Land--solar,
  wind, and hydro site analysis, design,
      and installation assistance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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