<html><body><span style="font-family:Verdana; color:#000000; font-size:10pt;"><div>We have had good luck with a product called "Kim Hot Start". We have one install that runs 24/7 and tokes some 800W (When it cycles). Another is set up for manual control (on a switch) that needs to be turned on a few hours before a start. I've been noodling with an Aux controlled contactor for auto operation, but haven't wrangled anything I'm real comfy with yet. there are diesel engines out there that pop off by them selves with no external heat, even at -20F. Good Luck. db<br></div><div><br></div><div><br>Dan Brown<br>Foxfire Energy Corp.<br>Renewable Energy Systems<br>(802)-483-2564<br><a href="http://www.Foxfire-Energy.com">www.Foxfire-Energy.com</a><br>NABCEP #092907-44</div><div><img id="sigimg0" title="signature image" src="cid:sigimg0@80e5a764d56d94e78cac678dce6d8b7c" alt="" border="0"></div><div><br><br></div>
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-------- Original Message --------<br>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Gen preheat in cold climates<br>
From: James Jefferson Jarvis <<a href="mailto:jj@aprsworld.com">jj@aprsworld.com</a>><br>
Date: Fri, April 03, 2015 11:21 am<br>
To: <a href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a><br>
<br>
On 4/3/2015 9:32 AM, <a href="mailto:drake.chamberlin@redwoodalliance.org">drake.chamberlin@redwoodalliance.org</a> wrote:<br>
> We are dealing with a generator that absolutely won't start when cold, so<br>
> I was considering a block heater. Below 20 deg F it has proven worthless,<br>
> and we can see -20 F on occasion.<br>
<br>
I had a generator like that. Below zero it wouldn't start. Replaced it's <br>
cranking battery with a bigger battery and it starts great. There are <br>
also super-capacitor based solutions to get better cranking. If you have <br>
a 24 volt system and your generator is near your battery bank, you may <br>
even be able to put a 24 volt starter on the generator and start from <br>
your battery bank.<br>
<br>
<br>
> My concern is using power from a low battery on a cold cloudy day to heat<br>
> a generator. How long does it take to make a difference? Has this method<br>
> proven 100% reliable?<br>
<br>
What type and how big of engine are you talking about? How big is the <br>
block heater? My limited block heater experience with vehicles, <br>
tractors, etc is that an hour won't be enough. A couple hours is needed. <br>
With coolant heaters and fuel injected engines, an hour can actually <br>
cause problems. A pocket of coolant gets warm and tricks the engine <br>
management computer into thinking the coolant is warm. Then it tries to <br>
do a warm start and fails.<br>
<br>
Getting a generator that starts reliably is the best solution I see for <br>
a moderate sized off grid installation. Otherwise you are putting a lot <br>
of energy into warming up an engine that might not start. And leaving <br>
you in a worse situation than you started.<br>
<br>
-James Jefferson Jarvis<br>
APRS World, LLC<br>
+1-507-454-2727<br>
<a href="http://www.aprsworld.com">www.aprsworld.com</a><br>
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