Load Testing Gensets

[eng251ine]

I recently purchased several nice sets from GL, two 003a's and one nice 004a. I have been reading the posts in this forum with great interest and learning quite a bit from the very knowledgable members here.

I have done quite a bit reading about the wet stacking and am anxious to devise a way to avoid ruining a perfectly good genset. I do find it a bit wasteful to hook up a bunch of load and run a generator just testing/excercising purposes.

I started thinking, rather than hook up a bunch of dummy loads and run the unit, could there be a more productive use for the power being generated? I started to think about people who install solar systems on their houses that put excess energy back into the grid during peak production. Wouldn't it be great to be able to hook a back up generator up inthe same fashion? I've read a bit in the TM's about paralleling the 004's...I know this isn't possible with the 003's. Could an 004 be paralleled with the grid so that energy produced during load testing/monthly excercising be put into the grid?

A quick google search revealed that for larger gensets (15kw) and above, this is a common practice in the UK and is billed as a way to offset the fuel costs associated with monthly excercising.

Any Thoughts?

 

[FireFighterHill]

Id contact your local Power Company, there may even be government programs to assist in the cost of setting it up.

 

[hoop]

In VA. 10KW max.

 

[Floridianson]

Here in Fl. I hook lead one to the front left leg, lead two to the right front leg and lead 3 to the left rear leg. Of course netrual goes to the tail. 5 min. load test the gator comes out done to perfection. Yum Yum tastes just like chicken.

 

[glcaines]

I recently purchased several nice sets from GL, two 003a's and one nice 004a. I have been reading the posts in this forum with great interest and learning quite a bit from the very knowledgable members here.

I have done quite a bit reading about the wet stacking and am anxious to devise a way to avoid ruining a perfectly good genset. I do find it a bit wasteful to hook up a bunch of load and run a generator just testing/excercising purposes.

I started thinking, rather than hook up a bunch of dummy loads and run the unit, could there be a more productive use for the power being generated? I started to think about people who install solar systems on their houses that put excess energy back into the grid during peak production. Wouldn't it be great to be able to hook a back up generator up inthe same fashion? I've read a bit in the TM's about paralleling the 004's...I know this isn't possible with the 003's. Could an 004 be paralleled with the grid so that energy produced during load testing/monthly excercising be put into the grid?

A quick google search revealed that for larger gensets (15kw) and above, this is a common practice in the UK and is billed as a way to offset the fuel costs associated with monthly excercising.

Any Thoughts?

It is possible to synchronize the MEP-003A gensets. This is common practice in the military. Normally if you see a trailer with two 003 gensets mounted, they are designed to be connected in this way. This allows one genset to be shut down for PM while the other genset continues to maintain power.

For load testing, I simply throw the transfer switch, which is connected to the whole house, and keep adding load. This is simple to do, and works well.

 

[storeman]

A friend in the HVAC field gave me a squirrel cage on its way to the dump. it has 2 5kw emergency heating strip heaters in it and when running, the squirrel cage keeps the heater strips from burning themselves out. I tested my best 002a sunday on 5 kw (70-75% on the load meter) then added a compressor to raise it to 6500 watts (100% on the load meter) and a hair drier to get it to 115% on the load meter. Then I disconnected the compressor and hair drier and jumped to the other 5kw strip heater and ran the unit. It choked to 55 hertz but didn't die in the 30 seconds or so I left it on the 10kw load.

BTW: To power the accessory loads, I used the convenience receptacle I asked questions about 3 weeks ago. Worked fine.

Only problem is the genny is throwing oil at the fan from behind the oil cover. Another gasket problem and I found the small err on the battery side of the oil cover is broken, not good news but i can get one from a donor unit.

Jerry

 

[sewerzuk]

For load testing, I simply throw the transfer switch, which is connected to the whole house, and keep adding load. This is simple to do, and works well.

That's what I used to do too (before I bought a load bank); I just waited until a load of laundry was ready to go into the dryer and then ran it on the generator. With this I could hold it at 80% or better load for an hour or two. Of course, this only works on -002 and -003's (I can't fully load my -004 even with everything in the house on at once).
This way it offsets power that you were going to pay for otherwise, without needing to sign up for net metering and all of the hassle that may go along with it.

 

[Grega]

I use an old oven with stove. Then you can watch the % meter as you turn on the elements.

 

[eng251ine]

I get all the different ways you can come up with some dummy loads to test the generator, especially the 003's. I too have an 004 and with oil heat in the house and an indirect water heater, short of running my welder at full tilt just to creat a load, I'll be in the same boat as sewerzuk....love your posts about rewiring the 004's btw.
We air dry most of our laundry, so that doesn't help much. What I'm really trying to lean toward is the feasability of some type of net metering arrangement where you get "credit" for the power being produced thereby somewhat offsetting some of your fuel costs associated with regular excercising and also providing the opportunity to really load down something as big as an 004 without having to run a bunch of heaters or elements or antyhing for no real value other than just to run the generator.

If its a pipe dream, no big deal. I just figure that if a guy with a bunch of Solar panels can get credit for his effort, so should a guy with a big genset.

 

[quickfarms]

GREGA I like your idea and they can be free if they have issues.

 

[PeterD]

For laughs... This is true, I promise.

In NH if you have a power generation facility you are required to sell your excess power to the 'grid'!

(Of course this is meaningless for us, testing diesel generators.)

In addition to various surplus and other electric heaters, you can also use an (old) water heater. The elements typically draw 4.5 KW (some draw more, some less however) and with a bit of simple work you can even force both elements to be on at the same time for an almost 9 KW load. However, realize that after a short while you will have about 40 gallons of very hot water! (and don't cap the ends off, so it won't build any pressure...)

My MEP-004 I use the house, turn on the electric heat, the coffee pot, the toaster oven, microwave, make sure both fridges are running, turn on all lights, the entertainment center, and anything else I can find... Sometimes I can even see the load meter move!

If I'm not interested in a big load, I use three 1500 watt space heaters, gives me a 4500 watt load, or about 30%.

 

[docfarmall]

I can hook ya up with a load bank to test them with PM me

 

[derf]

Those people with solar generators pay very big bucks for special meters and such to facilitate the power flowing from them to the grid. While they might get paid for it I think it would take years to generate enough excess power to pay for the cost of the special meters. There are HUGE tax incentives in some places to install solar systems. I know a guy who did one recently. It is a cool thing but the power company is not about to let things go to the point where many people will be selling their excess power to the grid. We just aren't there, yet.

I picked up an electric oven when a neighbor was remodeling and threw it out by the curb. I haven't uesd it yet but it is planned as a load test.

 

[cranetruck]

Load testing and wetstacking are two different issues. You will have to select a generator with the capacity best suited for your load situation.
Wetstacking is not good for a diesel, but not irreversible AFAIK.

My gas powered MEP018 doesn't have that problem, BUT watch out for non-balanced loading, I managed to burn out my generator head by not knowing about it...

 

[eng251ine]

I completely understand the idea of wetstacking. I also understand how load testing works and the reasons it is done.

As I stated in previous posts, I have no problem figuring out how to come up with a bunch of dummy loads if I wanted to accomplish a load test or an excercise.

What I'm really wondering, is there a way to do it more efficiently, by not wasting the power that is being generated. Can I configure my setup to dump the power back into the grid so that I can reuse the power later....build up a credit while the set is running, draw down the credit as needed.....Like people with solar arrays.

I know solar panels cost money. It is my understanding, at least what I've read from local utility, there is no additional cost for a new "Net Meter" . The big costs are associated with the installation of the Solar Panels.

I don't want solar panels, I have a nice genset.

If this idea is not practical, then so be it. But, I've read that this is common practice in the UK, so why not here? If you have to run your genset anyway, why not get credit for the power being produced. I know its not a money making venture, just a way to offset costs and properly load the unit at the same time.

 

[gimpyrobb]

I agree that most in this thread missed your question about "selling" power to the electric company. The best answer will come from them. Please post up and let us know what they say, I am interested in the outcome.

 

[WillWagner]

Just keep this in mind, If you choose to contact the local power company, they will most likely want to see the set up. You will need to have it inspected by your local inspectors and the power company. They MIGHT not let you use an older gen set due to emissions..both noise and exhaust... regulations.

 

[derf]

I personally do not think there is much of an issue with wetstacking of the air cooled 002s and 003s. I don't know about the bigger sets. But, I'm sure some soldiers have been in the boonies for weeks at a time with an 003 and running it with very little load.
Like selling power back to the grid, I think wetstacking is possible but rarely encountered.

 

[cranetruck]

Some numbers would be nice, how much the power co will credit you for power put back on the grid, fuel consumption, cost of extra equipment etc, not to mention the noise factor.

 

[storeman]

I think you are wasting your time if, as you described, you are only doing testing and exercising. I doubt it can be cleared with the authorities and the power company without some serious investment on your part.
Jerry