gas generator recommendations [RE-wrenches]

[William Miller]

<x-flowed>

John:

Good questions:  It sounds like there are two different systems to consider 
here:  The solar electric system and the genset.  I am a coastal California 
dweller so I am no expert, but I'd like to suggest separate consideration 
of the two systems.

Allow me to speculate further:

In the solar electric system , the batteries are the one component that is 
susceptible to freezing conditions.  With a moderate solar charge, proper 
insulation and basically no power consumption, the batteries can stay in a 
fully charged condition.  I imagine a very steep PV angle is required to 
keep the snow off.  One must make certain the charge voltage will be low 
enough to not boil batteries dry.

The genset can be winterized and shut down.  This requires making certain 
the fuel and coolant systems are protected from freezing.  The cranking 
battery can be taken to town or put on a solar trickle, as long as the rate 
is minimal to prevent drying the cells.  Refer to SOPs from the 
manufacturer for more complete winterizing and spring restart procedures.

This is the limit of my experience (left over from growing up in a colder 
climate).  Anyone else?

William Miller

PS:  I am fairly unconcerned about a generator running excessively IF the 
interface is not complex.  If you are using a genset with a factory 
two-wire start connected directly to an Outback FX (through a simple 12 V 
coil relay) or to a Xantrex SW with built-in relays, there is little to 
fail.  Both systems have an over-run timer.  Once you add third party gen. 
start interfaces, all bets are off.  Not having used any of the commonly 
available devices, and having heard some stories of unreliable operation, I 
would want to log some time using such a device before I'd recommend a 
customer travel away from a system in automatic operation.

WM

At 06:06 PM 10/28/2007, you wrote:

>Great generator discussions...  I have a related question about 
>auto-starting philosophies.
>
>I lean toward's Jay's point of view, it's ultimately the customer's 
>choice.  But I'd add a qualifier - I'm not crazy about auto-start being 
>enabled when the homeowner is away for a period of time, as many of my 
>customers are.  First off it's not needed usually, as the house idle loads 
>are very small so the system will keep up fine, and if there was a problem 
>the inverter would eventually cut out to protect from serious discharge.
>
>My question is, what do folks think about auto-exercising?  I've got 
>systems way up in the mountains that will sit completely unattended for as 
>much as 6-7 months straight, depending on when the snow clears.  Are the 
>benefits of periodic exercising not worth the risks of a system control 
>problem that might use up the available fuel and/or run the generator into 
>the ground?  Would your answer be different for a propane vs. a diesel genny?
>
>Thanks,
>John Raynes
>RE Solar
>Torrey UT


- - - -
Hosted by Home Power magazine

To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com

Archive of previous messages: http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/read

List rules & how to change your email address: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquette.php

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
--^----------------------------------------------------------------
This email was sent to: michael.welch at re-wrenches.org

EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Qcs.bz9JC9.bWljaGFl
Or send an email to: RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com

For Topica's complete suite of email marketing solutions visit:
http://www.topica.com/?p=TEXFOOTER
--^----------------------------------------------------------------


</x-flowed>