Best Generator?

Busted? For what? Harmonics? The same as when you switch the e-motor on is going back, so no problem. Island? How? This is an intrinsic safe system!!! KISS, only no off grid possible

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The same price as Victron? Only Victron has more to offer?

This system is for grid tied peak shaving. Going from 50A to 25A saves us $1000 a year. No decision made about batteries. Brand new 10kWh LifePo4 waiting to get assembled. It should do the job for peak shaving but if the grid falls the party ends real quick.

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That price is with the battery. The GroWatt 5600 watt is only $800 USD.

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The main problem is that the coil can be energized by someone else who is also generating which is usually someone who plugs their generator in without flipping the mains off. (which happens a lot in the states). If I recall correctly, if you have two motors, they will energize each other but they skew based on the transmission time delay. It is basically propagation delay. So if you are 1 milisecond behind the generation station, then you are amplifying the signal that is 1 millisecond behind, which can of course go back the other way down the line.

Some of this has to do with the utility not liking the fact you are running your meter backwards. And the harmonics noise issue is because if you are running your meter backwards, you aren’t going to use a small motor. You are going to use a big motor and a bearing issue in the big motor causes more noise then a smaller motor.

Now we are allowed to use it as a generator, but over a certain size you need approval, and even larger 50kw, you have to schedule when you are able to turn it on. If they approve one motor, you can only use exactly that motor model. you also need blowable breakers and a physical disconnect switch accessible by the utility and other emergency workers It was going to be at least 5k to get the utility requirements installed plus an engineering fee. (Not including anything to do with generation) when I came up with the grand scheme to do it with woodgas 15+ years ago. Now solar inverters automatically island themselves to your residence if the mains goes down.
I think you still need a visible and accessible physical disconnect for emergency workers. But it is simply easier and cheaper to bypass all the utility red-tape and use a solar inverter in an off-grid maner. If you try to do netmetering, then they get their hands involved because you are putting power on their grid. Then you end up with a second meter that you have to pay a monthly fee for, etc. And all of this varies by utility, and there are over 200 distribution utilities in the US.

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Good Morning Ashley
Lots of very good information has been put up by the fellows now.
To sort it for your use separate it out by their Goals Intents:
Supplement their big installed PV solar systems
Bulk charge their huge already made up battery banks
Make engine heat liquid pumpable for their Combined Heat and Power goals
Become fully Grid-Free self-powering

Yours will always be limited by your business produced available fuel wood.
Feed your shop First exclusively. You will still need to be Grid capable safe and “legal”. Why both Dave and I say to start just individually each machine cord it directly. Learn before you spend out the big moneys. But safely.
The house can be temporarily DYI power fed in a Grid-Downs. Heavy duty cords.
Either: DO Disconnect from the power Grid.
Here USA there are simple hand manual slide plate distribution panel lock-outs can be added to insure this.

Regards
Steve Unruh

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Hi Guys,

Had a very good run tonight, good couple of hours. Managed to run the lawnmower too, a little tricky getting the air to gas ratio right when trying to funnel it in from a 2” pipe! Ran fine though for a good half hour!

Some pictures of the flare attached (sorry for the improvised bean tin!, there wasn’t enough air getting in without it).


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Do I need to upload a video through YouTube?

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Yes that’s the easiest way to do it

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Thanks, I’ll get on it tonight. I don’t think I even have an account on YouTube.

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YouTube is free to use and upload videos.

A lot of guys for some reason set their videos to Kids Only which prevents comments and likes. When YouTube asks if this video is for Children, click No.

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Nice job Ashley. That’s definitely a manly flare. Air/fuel on those little engines is always real touchy.

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That is a whopper of a flame. Burger King is jealous. :slight_smile:

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OT about Youtube and the “made for kids” -or not, settings:
When youtube made that change several years ago, I tried to argue that they were missing a setting that was the equivalent of a “G” movie rating. In other words, although I don’t make my (over 200 at present) videos specifically for kids, I NEVER have ANYTHING on my videos that kids couldn’t watch.
As you say, I finally gave up and chose “Not made for kids”…
I still wonder how many young “makers-to-be” might not get to see my stuff to get them started.

Pete Stanaitis

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Children can still watch the videos.

The Kids section is a specific zone for videos that people can’t comment on or give a rating. It also hides your video unless someone explicitly looks for it or links it, i.e. the Algorithm doesn’t promote it.

If you select that people under 18 can still watch it then children can see it.

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That’s a beautiful flare Ashley , I bet NASA would have liked something similar for the Artemis launch . just 1 point though get your self a man size fire extinguisher lol only kidding :grinning:
Dave

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No. NASA might have wanted one like that going the other direction, but definitely not the direction of Ashley’s flame. :slight_smile:

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Thanks everyone.

I may have caused a little confusion earlier (trying to use the American terminology!!) when I said “breaker” I meant a transfer switch (to stop me powering the grid), I didn’t realise that breaker actually meant fuse box!

I’m just in the process now of buying a few parts and wondered if there’s much difference in quality of transfer switches or if they’re all pretty standard (providing I get the correct amperage)? Thanks.

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image
Depending on your breaker box setup, a breaker interlock gizmo is a safe and inexpensive solution.

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Hi Ashley , i do not want to come over as a smart arse but honestly unless you are asking a Uk qualified sparky you really don’t want to be asking that as most peoples experience of change over switches will be totally different to yours unless they are in the UK .

My switches /breakers .are similar to the ones i had in the uk these are mine now in Australia .


the 4 pole switch on the right is my change over switch from mains in to generator

This is the rest of the box looks familiar to the one you have ?


and this is the male plug where i connect up the extension lead from my generator into the house mains

Try looking for companys like this that are local to you

Dave

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I avoiding this discussion because I think keeping your shop completely separate on generator power would be the way to go. Any electrical work requires permits and an inspector and from experience I can tell you that anytime an inspector gets into your house you are going to upgrade everything to newer codes and that can leave you short of an arm and a leg.

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