3 KW gen set runs non-stop

[m139h2otruck]

Here in NH we had a real bad ice storm on Thursday night, and power is still out for over 120,000 homes. My son took the 3 KW unit to his condo and hooked-up the icebox, the heater, a few lights and the TV and hooked up the condo across the drive so the little kids over there could have heat from a pellet stove. With everything on, power draw was no more than 25%!! Unit has been running non-stop since early Friday, and burned about 35-40 gallons of gas & used 2 quarts of 10-30 oil. Not too bad for old junk.

 

[Recovry4x4]

I really like my little 3KW.

 

[mangus580]

Speaking of!

I have a 5kw ready to run... and a 5kw and 3kw that I could have together in short order...

$500 takes the 5kw's... $300 takes the 3kw

I could probably even be convinced to travel east to meet up with the needy.

 

[m139h2otruck]

Can the 5 KWs be hooked-up for 240 volts and connected direct to the house? Still can't figure out how to do this with the little 3 and 1.5 KW units. Currently the 3 KW is just being used @ 120 volts.

 

[FMJ]

Speaking of!

I have a 5kw ready to run... and a 5kw and 3kw that I could have together in short order...

$500 takes the 5kw's... $300 takes the 3kw

I could probably even be convinced to travel west to meet up with the needy.

How far west....?

 

[mangus580]

How far west....?

fixed

Can the 5 KWs be hooked-up for 240 volts and connected direct to the house? Still can't figure out how to do this with the little 3 and 1.5 KW units. Currently the 3 KW is just being used @ 120 volts.

Yes and no...

If you set the generator to 208 3phase... you will get 120v between the terminals.... with 3 sets.

You can effectively wire your house using just 2 of the 3 legs of 120v. The 3rd will just sit there 'wasted'

What I had always intended to do, was wire it up to the house like that, and just put a plug on the 3rd leg... to use for say a freezer or something. That way you still get the full capacity of the generator...

 

[m139h2otruck]

I have no idea if it will work, but will try it and see. Why won't the setting for the 240 volt 1 phase work (fried heater when we tried it)? Does it have something to do with the difference between "Y" and "delta" generator setup? Thanks

 

[Stonepicker1]

Can the 5 KWs be hooked-up for 240 volts and connected direct to the house? Still can't figure out how to do this with the little 3 and 1.5 KW units. Currently the 3 KW is just being used @ 120 volts.

On your 3kw, under the control box lid is the voltage selector switch. Always with the generator off, move the switch to the to the 240 1PH position. Your cable will be hooked to Terminals L1 & L2, hook your ground to Lo. You will only have about 15 amps on each leg so don't plan on running the hole house. You have 30 amps max.
You can back feed through the drier plug(quick fix). Always make sure the MAIN breaker for the house is off.(just in case the city power comes back online)

 

[grounded]

Dang mangus. Only if i had some extra money i would love to have both for that price.

 

[Stonepicker1]

I have no idea if it will work, but will try it and see. Why won't the setting for the 240 volt 1 phase work (fried heater when we tried it)? Does it have something to do with the difference between "Y" and "delta" generator setup? Thanks

Was the heater 240 or 120 Volt.
With the switch in 120 1PH you only have one hot leg. Move it to 240 1PH and now you have two hot legs.

 

[Westech]

mang.. trade you 100 bucks and a injection pump for the 3k unit

 

[mangus580]

240 single phase on these generators, is NOT the same as house voltage... You will not get the 120v split out of it....

 

[OPCOM]

IIRC you have to do some internal rewiring and add a switch position if you wish to retain factory operation and still have 120-0-120 house power. a long long time ago in an SS board far away I posted the diagrams for doing the wiring part of this, I think. also depended on the model.

 

[m139h2otruck]

Power finally came back on Tuesday @ about 5:00 pm. Little 3 KW ran almost the entire time, but gas use was about 60 gallons!! Never did get over 25% use/load so gas use seems high. Also, used about 4 quarts of oil total. Still better than no heat or lights! Only ran on 120 volt setting as everything was normal house voltage. Will try the 3 phase two leg split when we get a chance.

 

[mangus580]

Power finally came back on Tuesday @ about 5:00 pm. Little 3 KW ran almost the entire time, but gas use was about 60 gallons!! Never did get over 25% use/load so gas use seems high. Also, used about 4 quarts of oil total. Still better than no heat or lights! Only ran on 120 volt setting as everything was normal house voltage. Will try the 3 phase two leg split when we get a chance.

How much time did it actually run? See the note from the TM below

(5) Average fuel consumption
is 0.95 gal. per hour
of continuous operation.

 

[rmgill]

This is perhaps redundant, but Critical.

IF you back feed into the house, be ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that your mains are off. Backfeeding to the grid can kill a lineman if he contacts what are supposed to be dead lines.

If your gen set is connected to a household plug and feeding your panel, the current where go anywhere it has conductivity. It can travel up stream and energize other components outside of your house. A transfer switch is a much safer way of handling this, if more expensive. Though, I can imagine that a lawsuit and charges would be more expensive.

 

[mangus580]

This is perhaps redundant, but Critical.

IF you back feed into the house, be ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that your mains are off. Backfeeding to the grid can kill a lineman if he contacts what are supposed to be dead lines.

If your gen set is connected to a household plug and feeding your panel, the current where go anywhere it has conductivity. It can travel up stream and energize other components outside of your house. A transfer switch is a much safer way of handling this, if more expensive. Though, I can imagine that a lawsuit and charges would be more expensive.

On this topic...

I just found this page

http://www.nooutage.com/TCA-1.HTM

Great prices on 'simple' transfer switches. I prefer these... so I dont have to pick and choose which circuit I might want.

 

[m139h2otruck]

Power was fed using cords and boxes, not through the house system. My father worked for PSNH for 30+ years, so we know all about backfeeding!! Good to let people know anyway.

Not sure how long the gen set ran, as I never looked at the hour meter before it was setup. Has to be at least 65-70 hours, so fuel use is about right on.

 

[Jersey 93 Ty]

On this topic...

I just found this page

http://www.nooutage.com/TCA-1.HTM

Great prices on 'simple' transfer switches. I prefer these... so I dont have to pick and choose which circuit I might want.

That website scares me quite a bit... but I work in the test lab of one of the largest Automatic Transfer Switch manufacturers. I've looked over their website briefly and for some reason I can't find any details about their UL certification. I'm quite a bit biased, but I've never liked Circuit Breaker-based TS's.

 

[mangus580]

That website scares me quite a bit... but I work in the test lab of one of the largest Automatic Transfer Switch manufacturers. I've looked over their website briefly and for some reason I can't find any details about their UL certification. I'm quite a bit biased, but I've never liked Circuit Breaker-based TS's.

I never liked them either... but hell, its all i can afford!! damn near cant even afford that.

I also think for the couple times a year if that, that its needed, it should be fine. Biggest trick is, dont switch the load live.