Thread: Small Diesel Generator

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Yep...they're costly. I got the much less expensive maid option on mine.

Excellent but when I call her a "maid" she tends to hit me.

I have a 3kw petrol generator, it is able to run 1 air con in the bedroom 2 very large 55 inch tv's 2 freezers, 1 huge fridge, water pumps and all the lights, just forget the microwave, kettle or showers, showers ok if heater turned off, and 2 fans if required.
If you buy diesel do not get an air cooed one as they soon burn out.

What make is it myk, and what size ac? You are doing well to run all that off a 3kw generator. Yes, a liquid cooled diesel generator is the only way to go.

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

Yes, a liquid cooled diesel generator is the only way to go.

If you have a diesel generator, it should be cooled. As a back up, the 3Kw petrol/gasoline one has to be the way to go. It is essential that an estimate of the required electricity use is made and it is crazy to have a 7/9 Kw generator when a 3Kw will provide for ordinary needs.

By ordinary needs I mean

One air conditioner,
Lights,
Couple of fans,
Refrigerators,
TV.

Surely there is no need for more than this unless one lives in a mansion ?

I do not believe that a 3000w gasoline generator will power a 13,000 BTU split unit aircon + everything else.

Originally Posted by crackerjack101

Can you set up a gen. so that it automatically comes on when the mains power goes down?

You sure can by using an "automatic transfer switch" which senses the grid voltage and switches over to generator when grid is low or fails.
The basic requirement of the genset is that it has electrical start and electrical stop, then you can fit the transfer switch.

Originally Posted by lom

Originally Posted by crackerjack101

Can you set up a gen. so that it automatically comes on when the mains power goes down?

You sure can by using an "automatic transfer switch" which senses the grid voltage and switches over to generator when grid is low or fails.
The basic requirement of the genset is that it has electrical start and electrical stop, then you can fit the transfer switch.

Just remembered Square wave and sine wave add it together doesn't recognise so it doubles the voltage to 440 because the wave format is different so it lets both in when the power comes back on.

http://www.cooleasy.co.uk/5-3kw-1800...r-srk50zs.html

1800 BTU uses 1 kW

^
Do you mean 18,000 BTU?

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

^
Do you mean 18,000 BTU?

Yes, sorry for the error.

No problem, just trying to keep facts strait. If that calculation is accurate, using a 3KW generator would leave almost 2KW remaining to run everything else. It is my understanding that you should never run a generator at full capacity.

Yes, I guess it takes quite a bit to fire up an AC. I am still thinking about a 7-10 KW generator and the price goes up quick once you get past a 4KW set.

I think you need to sort out your arithmetic here. It is extremely rare for every appliance to be drawing current at the same time and it is not simply a question of adding up every wattage used by the individual items. As to the "three times" nonsense why stop there ? Why not have ten times ? In fact why not have heavy duty generator which would need to be towed around by a pickup truck ?

Bear in mind that this is a backup generator. If you were living in the heart of the jungle with no mains electricity you might need a huge generator. For the average farang living in Thailand anything more than 3kW is unnecessary.

The model I referred to above is one of the most popular on the planet and its popularity is due to its quietness, its efficiency and the fact that it produces "clean" electricity. Its automatic throttle control means that it produces only the amount of electricity demanded by appliances at a given moment and that enables it to have extended run times and better fuel efficiency.

Everybody will make his own choice. Does Davis really need 9 kW ? I doubt it but he seems that he is the sort of guy who will adopt the attitude of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". So, he uses the generator he has and doesn't worry about "efficiency" in the scientific sense.

I am hearing what you are saying Digby. Have you seen that particular generator in Thailand and any idea of cost here? The KW range is close to what I am thinking about.

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

I am hearing what you are saying Digby. Have you seen that particular generator in Thailand and any idea of cost here? The KW range is close to what I am thinking about.

I have not seen one in Thailand because I have not looked. My house build will have two bedrooms with a/c and a back up generator and the model referred to above is the one I will be seeking out.

My family in Thailand would not use air conditioning and I am not exactly a fan of it ( no pun intended ). I think a room with a/c may be more comfortable for me as I draw my last breaths and snuff it. If I am fit I am happier with fans.

The Honda 3000 will easily run everything I need in a power outage.

Originally Posted by Digby Fantona

18000 BTU uses 1 kW

So are you saying that a 3kw gen-set will run this air conditioner?

It may run the A/C but will you have frig, tv, lights, etc plugged in at the same time? That will not be enough then.

Whelp as for my .02

Personally I went through this twice. Once with a Lincoln Pipeliner welding machine that I was using in the states for work when I was real young. It had a 3kw "generator" (circuit) so you could power all associated fab tools off the same machine you welded from. It was huge and was in the back of my truck and I would use it when the power went out during storms. Would not, at all, run a window unit + accessories. The diesel motor would be in a perpetual state of bog and the circuit would trip. Could only run the air, or the 'other stuff'.

Later I bought something like this:



https://www.amazon.com/DuroMax-XP100...10kw+generator

Solved all problems. Could run the window unit and everything else I needed + 1 power tool like a circular saw.

10kw is not huge or massive for a standby emergency generator. My parents still have this generator at their place in the garage for storms.

Personally, for the price, I would not go any less than 10kw and I imagine it can be had easily.

If its on Alibaba - likely will be the same shit sold in places like watsadu and whatnot:

https://www.alibaba.com/showroom/10k...generator.html

I would recommend using an earthed type wiring & surge protector for sensitive electronics.

This has been my experience living in a hurricane & storm prone area of FL and apologies for the huge pic

An 18000 BTU (5.3 k/w) air con will draw a lot more than 1 k/w as per my previous post

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

What make is it myk, and what size ac? You are doing well to run all that off a 3kw generator. Yes, a liquid cooled diesel generator is the only way to go.

Rick, I will be back home sunday and will give you the details, it runs all as listed easily.

Originally Posted by mykthemin

Rick, I will be back home sunday and will give you the details, it runs all as listed easily.

Is it a home or an RV Camper thing?

Playing golf, it is a freestanding generator, with electric start and a large fuel tank.