Generators

[the-gnole]

Probably because we don't as yet require them, I have a small generator to deal with occasional lack of power from the mains grid, I don't live off grid and probably never will, I have friends who have lister engines and go to the shows with it, so at least if the world goes down the swanny I know where to go to get one

[KalPrep]

Simple answer..... Space.

I read with interest a guy who did all he things you state with a lister running on veg oil. Problem is he had a whole shed just to put it in

I would love to have something like this in the future, if/when I can move somewhere with the space needed.

[analog man]

Ok, that makes sense. They are large.

[KalPrep]

http://www.powercubes.com/listers.html

Interesting read here that I was referring to. If only I had the space and the wife had the patience

[analog man]

Thats the fellow (Ken), who I was referring to who can run his on wood gas. The versitility of that engine is amazing (to me anyway), run it on diesel, kerosene, motor oil (new or used), transmition fluid, cooking oil, propane, wood gas, and likely others not coming to mind at the moment, and at a rpm range from 400 to 700 (roughly) depending on your power needs.
In fact I can run all my basic loads (lighting, tv, fridge, freezer, and such), at 400 rpm, (with a smaller pulley on the alt) .I dont throw heavy loads like a well pump on at 400 rpms, but for the basics it works great at low rpm.
I once ran the house for three days 24/7 when a bad ice/snow storm took out the power. Those large flywheels supply a lot of energy to carry motor loads on start up. The exaust note is so gental, but even more so at lower rpm levels.
Anyway, as you say if space is at a premium then I quess these get over looked or if considered ruled out.

[chris8472]

have a old petrol generator but dont use it often last used about two years ago so dont want to keep petrol stored for it so going to use the landrover as a back up generator as it as a two battery two alternater set up so fitted a small 150 watt inverter in it today ok for my chest freeser as it is only 75 watt (7.5 amps) so if the power goes out for more than a few days can use the landrover to recharge the batterys also have a 600 watt inverter and a 110 caravan battery to use for bigger things power tools so better store more diesel and going to get some solar panals as well

[Ian]

Chris, you may find that a 150 Watt inverter does not have the oomph to kick off your freezer as the motor starting current might be as much as three times the running current i.e. 225 Watts which will probably blow the inbuilt fuse. The 600 Watt one should cope. Try it before you need to use it in anger.

As your freezer is 230 Volts, if it is rated at 75 Watts (which seems low) it will pull 0.32 Amps from the mains so I am not sure where the 7.5 Amps comes in.

[chris8472]

Chris, you may find that a 150 Watt inverter does not have the oomph to kick off your freezer as the motor starting current might be as much as three times the running current i.e. 225 Watts which will probably blow the inbuilt fuse. The 600 Watt one should cope. Try it before you need to use it in anger.

As your freezer is 230 Volts, if it is rated at 75 Watts (which seems low) it will pull 0.32 Amps from the mains so I am not sure where the 7.5 Amps comes in.

thanks for the help m8 read in a old caravan mag to convert watts to amps you divide by 10

[Carrot Cruncher]

I may be remembering my evening classes wrong ...but (i'm pretty sure) to find the amps you divide the watts by the voltage,

In this instance 75 watts divided by 230 volts = 0.32 amps.

[scoobie]

Well, P=VI (power = voltage x current )

So I = P / V

Well rembered CC