Generators

[Stasher]

Just thought it might be useful to start a new thread given all the info people have been kind enough to offer in the main 'how are you preparing' thread

Big Bertha is an old but hugely reliable 1kw (we think, could be 2.....!) Lister. You can hit her with a hammer and she will work! I reckon a sherman tank would have problems flattening her

We are thinking about looking to replace the old girl simply because it is probable that there are newer, quieter, cheaper (?) just as reliable gennys out there that MAY be worth purchasing.

She is elderly and altho she always starts up and 'does her thang' we do wonder if we are asking a little too much of her and that a younger model may be the answer. This is not definite, we haven't yet explored the market
cost of genny
cost of running
how easily is she serviced
how often does she require a 'once over' (BB gets irregular attention and always comes up trumps)
and perhaps most importantly, can the new girl run for days without hiccup like BB?

I'm going to do some copying and pasting now. BRB

[Stasher]

preppergb wrote:
The best generator I ever saw related to prepping was owned by a couple of Off Gridders in Devon, it was a totally refurbished twin cylinder Lister diesel type unit with big brass heavy flywheel / pully turning two alternators 12VDC. proper Heath Robinson but utterly reliable. Good luck finding a replacement but could you please make apost on what you choose to get and why ?

Yorkshire Andy
Those lister engines are stupidly reliable and always seem to want to start regardless of time they sit abandoned and even in the cold....... Just ensure that the dog pin on the cranking handle is free and well greased or you'll be wanting a Sam splint for your broken arm!

How big a generator you looking I love the Honda suitcase 2kw jobbies but would have to sell both kidneys for the gas converted one I guess 45kg propane tank would last ages

Feisty
Can't think of anything more "prep" like. I would love a generator, but the whole thing is a bit scary at the moment, particularly the idea of storing enough fuel to keep it running. If Big Bertha is incredibly reliable, why are you thinking of replacing her? You know the old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Two generators, on the other hand, can't hurt. Big Bertha and a companion Lister, perhaps. Wonder how much you pay for those?

Yorkshire Andy
One thing with older generator sets is they are not stable / regulated unlike more modern Inverter based units....

Which is fine on a building site for power tools such as drills but most domestic appliances are packed full of electronics which really do not take kindly to the kicking a old generator units can provide (voltage / frequency / ampage spikes) due to the inherent design and fuel (stale fuel can cause poor running and jumpy running leads to spikes..)


http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com ... rator.html



the lister engined generators are home made and bloody noisy in comparison to a modern generator those who have ever seen a sky van in a shopping precinct showing off the new sky hd super dooper summer offers look at whats powering the van / tv (often chained to the front wheel)

http://www.justgenerators.co.uk/pages/HondaEU20i.htm

these are stupidly quiet 52db at 7m

my small site generator is closer to 70db

but it all depends what your planning to run off it obviously...

Its always wise to buy bigger than what you need as many appliences are run on an induction motor which needs an initial high current to start say a induction pressure washer water pump is rated at 2000 might need 4-5000 watts to start

Phew! Think that's it

[preppergb]

Ref noisy generators, I tried to find the link but its avoiding me but their was an article US based about making gennies quieter, some involved building insulated boxes around the genny but you have to be careful not to make the genny overheat, but another bit I found interesting was some guys had greatly reduced the noise from their China Diesel imports by extending the exhaust into a larger exhaust salvaged from a truck, and one had his exhaust venting into a pond so the exhaust outlet was under water.

[Hamradioop]

Why on earth would you want to get rid of a Lister powered generator? What you need is to refurbish it. Nothing made today can replace a Lister IMHO and people pay good money to restore them

whole thread on generators here
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=3211&hilit=lister

[Yorkshire Andy]

tried the box and overheated the generator (my last one) think thats what killed it dispite some rather big fans (4x 120mm pc fans on the inlet side 2x80mm pc fans on the side and a big combi boiler centrifugal fan at the top near the exhaust ... with the exhaust been ducted out..... problem is you cut the box up to install fans and the noise gets out.......


Same goes for modifying the exhaust air cooled engines need to dump heat via the exhaust simply extending the pipe can lead to overheating.... they need a very easy flow (if your going to extend it make the pipe larger than original spec)

as for silencing it in water your reducing gas flow due to it having to overcome the static water pressure.... and from my tinkering didnt make it much quieter but again the gen set run hotter.. (i have a IR contact-less thermometer )



I did find however in my wooden box ( i will grab pics if the rain stops) that with the lid off it dramatically reduces noise as it all goes upwards.. (( the box is lined with glass fibre insulation)

[preppergb]

Cheers for the feedback Andy, I remember someone saying the slower running 800 to 1800 rpm diesels are easier to muffle and reduce noise than the faster reving lightweight petrol jobs, thus taking us back to the Lister diesels.

[Yorkshire Andy]

if you plan to play about with a box enclosure this might be handy to monitor temperatures

http://www.lidl.co.uk/en/our-offers-249 ... l&id=15052

[Stasher]

Why on earth would you want to get rid of a Lister powered generator? What you need is to refurbish it. Nothing made today can replace a Lister IMHO and people pay good money to restore them

whole thread on generators here
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=3211&hilit=lister

Aha!

Having had a little look at the cost of a new genny and (IMO) how tinny they look maybe you're right. Bertha is a magnificent beast and it's only her age that is making us think of getting a new one. We know a man who can, and if he can't he'll know someone! Good advice , thanks for this Hamradioop

[Stasher]

Just an update

Bertha will be replaced following endless family discussions. The auto start doesn't work and I have been instructed that I am NOT allowed to start her as 'you'll hurt yourself', apparently she has a great kick. The clincher was 'we need at least 3kva' (Bertha is 1.5)

So

Having now discussed genny purchase with people outside the family we have been given strict instructions not to buy chinese, or own label as these are generally manufactured in China

It would appear the genny of choice is Honda

I have been concerned about down time, but it appears that as we already have a diesel feed we may not need to be concerned about that. People appear to think that the downtime is only because it runs out of fuel and is then too hot to add fresh fuel

So, purchase still not made, but research has proved very useful!

[unsure]

i have a 5.5 kva ,own brand and had no problems with it , elec start and rope pull . yes its petrol but can be converted to propane quite easy to do ,just needs a mixing ring fitting to it and plumbing up to a bottle .
like you i`m thinking about getting an older diesel one to replace it , purely because the older engines run on veg oil .