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Technology Stocks : Y2K (Year 2000) Personal Contingency Planning -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JD who wrote (630)	12/25/1998 8:14:00 AM
From: John Hunt	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 888

Standby Generators Inexpensive air-cooled gasoline generators are inherently unreliable due to their design. Internet posters report failure after as little as 25 - 50 hours of use and typically after 100 - 200 hours. They can also be hard to start in cold weather. Inexpensive generator electrical components are not designed for continuous full load and will overheat and fail. I am not a mechanic, but after many hours researching of the net for ways to extend reliable standby generator operation, I have come to the following conclusions for my own situation, and thought they might be useful to others. The Engine Problem Since they do not have an oil pump and filter, inexpensive generators lubricate by splashing the oil up on the cylinder walls, bearings, etc. The situation is compounded by the fact that inexpensive standby generators operate continuously at 3600 rpm, which is a high speed for such a small engine. In contrast, your car probably idles at 450 - 550 rpm and depending on the transmission may cruise at 2000 - 2500 rpm. Conclusions Lack of Oil Filter Since there is no oil filter, contaminants are suspended in the oil, resulting in high rates of wear. To alleviate this, I plan to change the oil every 24 hours of use. High Running Temperature High RPM means higher than normal engine temperatures. Since small engines use only a small amount of oil (approx a liter or quart), it is not all that expensive ($8 CD or $5 US) to use pure Synthetic Oil (not blended) for all oil changes. Synthetic oils break down at higher temperatures which means less buildup of engine deposits, better lubrication and lower engine temperatures, which is why they are used in racing go-carts. Warning: Use regular oil for the first 10 hours to ensure proper break-in of the engine. Hard Starting Since synthetic oils operate over an extended temperature range, this means they will also turn easier and start easier at low temperature. Fuel Use Sta-Bil or a similar additive if you are storing gasoline for longer that 2 - 3 months. This will prevent the fuel system from pluging up. Also, don't forget to start the engine every month or two, to be sure it will start and run when you need it. Generator Inexpensive generators skimp on the amount of copper wire in the generator which is why they run very hot and have such poor voltage regulation under varying loads. (The voltage on my Coleman unit varies from 140 volts no-load to 115 volts full load, which is worth remembering when you are connecting your expensive computers and electronic equipment) I plan to run my standby generator at 80% maximum and 50% continuous. Since I have a 5000 watt generator, this means 4000 watts maximum, 2500 watts continuous. Shelter During the ice storm here, many standby generators failed due to icing of carborator re-breather tubes. The manufacturer's recommendation was to lightly cover the unit with a large cardboard box (with openings of course for exhaust and air intake) to shield them from the wind. Not a problem for me, since my generator is installed in a metal garden shed, but worth remembering if you are having cold weather problems. FWIW, since I researched this, I have decided to use synthetic oil in my snowblower, lawnmower, etc. It is just not that expensive, compared to repairs. I hope this is some help to others. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone. :-)) John