[RE-wrenches] Question on Back up generators

[drake.chamberlin at redwoodalliance.org]

you wrote:

The Penalty - If you get caught running a “standby power only” generator
the fine is now $39,000 per day!

....you are allowed 100 hours of run time for standby power and
maintenance per year.
***************************************************************
Can this really be true? Is there any clarification on this? Does this
mean that if a residence that was in a blackout that lasted a week ran the
generator the entire time, which would be three days or running over the
100 hour mark, the owner could be fined $117,000?

We had a 10 day blackout a few years back. With this scenario, everyone in
our village who ran generators would have lost their houses.



>>
>>
>> I just got off of a phone call with my Onan generator supplier. Last
>> conversation with Kohler was the same story basically.
>>
>>
>>
>> I was informed that their smallest water cooled generator, the RS22 (22
>> KW) is now no longer “rated “for off grid. They actually called me
>> to
>> confirm that this generator was for backup power to a utility inter
>> connected house. Tier 4 generators in the EPA CFR 40 is the Federal code
>> what covers this, & you are allowed 100 hours of run time for standby
>> power
>> and maintenance per year.
>>
>> Q - Why am I using ridiculous sized generators for something that an
>> 82-8300 watt generator does just fine?
>>
>> A - The EPA current requirements, a shrinking economy, & manufacturers
>> that have to meet very expensive air quality compliance.
>>
>> The Penalty - If you get caught running a “standby power only”
>> generator
>> the fine is now $39,000 per day!
>>
>> Now I am far from a polluting kind of individual and all for air quality
>> but this is getting the best of us. The 13KW air cooled generators are
>> only
>> good for 2000 hours, & the water cooled go 20 years of moderate usage
>> but
>> cost a boat load. I hate having the “Generator” talk with a new
>> client they
>> look at me like I am crazy. So the air cooled units are basically
>> throwaways and the 22KW units are way more than we need and what a
>> client
>> needs to spend money on, unless you are at 10,000 ft el.
>>
>>
>>
>> If you figure 30 amps/120 VAC input per inverter +/- x 2 = 7.2KW plus
>> say
>> 10-15% fudge or elevation factors would require an 8200-8300 watt
>> generator. Air cooled at 3600 RPM = 80 MPH & 1800 RPM = 40 MPH.  Even if
>> the generator were a bit smaller, ran slow (1200-1800 rpm) and ran a bit
>> longer that would be acceptable.
>>
>> So, why are we installing even 13KW air cooled or 22 KW water
>> generators?
>>
>> There is a business opportunity here folks.
>>
>>
>>
>> What are you all installing?
>>
>> Why?
>>
>> Is it reliable?
>>
>> Would you use it on your house?
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks for sharing all the wisdom and knowledge.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> *Dana Orzel*
>>
>> *Great Solar Works, Inc -  NABCEP # 051112-136*
>>
>> *E* - dana at solarwork.com  - *Web* - solarwork.com
>>
>> *O* - 970.626.5253  *C *- 208.721.7003 - No FAX Line
>>
>> *"Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988"  *
>>
>> *P* Please consider the environment before printing this email.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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