More rust removed, soon I'll be a paint expert. My goal is to improve something small every day
Choosing a Generator
- Thread starter SupremePossum
- Start date
Replace the tires or leave them? There is a bit of dry rot on one, but they hold air they made it the 60+ mile freeway ride home. Tread is fine, just age that is against me
Wheels were a bit rusty but I sprayed them with some flat black
Wheels were a bit rusty but I sprayed them with some flat black
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2024
- Messages
- 76
I assume you plan on using a transfer switch with this rig to power your home. I couldn't help but see a label one your generator saying that the neutral was bonded, which is usually the case for this sort of setup. My understanding is that household backup generators should have a floating neutral since it is already bonded in the house's main panel, otherwise you'd have what is known as a parallel neutral path. Most transfer switches only control the "hot" circuit and the neutral is unaffected, having a parallel neutral path would be a safety concern in this situation. You would either need a transfer switch that controlled both the hot and neutral circuits or break the neutral bond at the generator.
I'm not an electrician but I did find this out while doing the research for my own installation, perhaps someone more educated on the issue can chime in with better information
I'm not an electrician but I did find this out while doing the research for my own installation, perhaps someone more educated on the issue can chime in with better information
You beat me to posting because I am waiting on my label maker, but I actually installed a switch between the Ground to Neutral connection, so if I'm using it on its own, I can flip it to bonded, and if plugged into a house, I can leave it floating
I've done the same on all of my generators, I don't know why generators are not like this from the factory
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2024
- Messages
- 76
I should have assumed you had that figured out as you obviously know what you're doing.
I have a Champion inverter generator that I use for both my home (as a backup) and RV. Like most inverters it has a floating neutral, which is fine when plugging into my home's transfer switch panel but for the trailer I want it bonded. For that I made a so-called Edison plug to connect the neutral and ground circuits, it simply plugs into the 120VAC outlet on the generator.
I prefer your switch concept, it's considerably more pro-level than my easy-to-lose plug. I might steal the idea even though I don't boondock with my trailer all that often.
Haha, think again!
Yeah I like the switch, this is the exact switch I used
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IYKSLCG
Just tested it with the interlock powering the whole house, everything worked fine.
I did not test the main AC however since I have a soft-start I bet it would work. There is no point running a 4 ton AC when on Backup of my backup generator, it will put you too close to the limit and use too much fuel
I did test all my mini split AC's, and they worked fine, no lights flickered, fridge and freezer worked fine, pretty much nothing to write home about. Everything just worked...
The ONE thing that was a bit off, was a really old ceiling fan worked but made a slight humming sound. I just turned it off, no biggie. All of my other ceiling fans worked fine
Video, not of inside because I don't want anyone seeing the inside of my house. Ignore the tools, I was neatening up some wiring
View: https://youtu.be/XVuKKP2sir8
I did not test the main AC however since I have a soft-start I bet it would work. There is no point running a 4 ton AC when on Backup of my backup generator, it will put you too close to the limit and use too much fuel
I did test all my mini split AC's, and they worked fine, no lights flickered, fridge and freezer worked fine, pretty much nothing to write home about. Everything just worked...
The ONE thing that was a bit off, was a really old ceiling fan worked but made a slight humming sound. I just turned it off, no biggie. All of my other ceiling fans worked fine
Video, not of inside because I don't want anyone seeing the inside of my house. Ignore the tools, I was neatening up some wiring
View: https://youtu.be/XVuKKP2sir8
Since you want a well-made generator, why not get the best of the best?
Since you already have a Generac, why not a portable one?
They must have well over 25 models or more. I got tired of scrolling down the page.
https://www.generac.com/residential-products/portable-generators/
Since you already have a Generac, why not a portable one?
They must have well over 25 models or more. I got tired of scrolling down the page.
https://www.generac.com/residential-products/portable-generators/
Since you want a well-made generator, why not get the best of the best?
Since you already have a Generac, why not a portable one?
They must have well over 25 models or more. I got tired of scrolling down the page.
https://www.generac.com/residential-products/portable-generators/
Generac is very, very, very, very far from the best
Really?
Seriously. Suggestions for a portable let’s say 5 to 8000 watt
I assume the cleanest energy is from an inverter?
I know nothing about them, but I just see so many people in my community have Generac outside their homes
With that said there’s not much use here except for that one every eight year storms otherwise we never lose power, if even eight years might be longer
Last house in South Carolina, we went 16 years and the longest duration was four hours of no power
Their portable generators are maybe a step above the usual chonda engine clones, but below a Honda portable genset
The standby gensets are generally pretty poor. To get anything half decent you have to step up to the liquid cooled models
They have a horrible habit of sourcing obscure parts and using proprietary components and controllers. Even finding some parts for the older liquid cooled units can be hard
Just saw your edit with more
Generac is outside of every house because they come in at a low pricepoint, and spend a LOT on marketing. They have market saturation, so everyone defaults to them.
The good thing about that, is that everyone and their brother is an authorized Generac tech
Adjusted the engine speed, made VEERRRYYY small adjustments
Went to 61.4hz no load, makes it exactly 60.0 at 3000w, voltage was 120v. PERFECT!
Put my labels on the control panel
More rust gone, seems like the factory black finish just didn't hold up at all
Its so hot out I just do a small section a day
Swapped the capacitor, old one looks to have a 2017 date code, so worth a swap. $140 vs $13 part, sure looks the same to me...
Went to 61.4hz no load, makes it exactly 60.0 at 3000w, voltage was 120v. PERFECT!
Put my labels on the control panel
More rust gone, seems like the factory black finish just didn't hold up at all
Its so hot out I just do a small section a day
Swapped the capacitor, old one looks to have a 2017 date code, so worth a swap. $140 vs $13 part, sure looks the same to me...
Hope you guys like reading about this light tower, because its all I'm going to post for the coming year. Got some compound and tried to get rid of the sunbelt logo, and it did good but took too many passes. I am going to look for some 2000 and 3000 grit sanding disks so I can go a bit deeper, a bit quicker. The paint does shine up nice!
For $42 this DA buffer is pretty good
For $42 this DA buffer is pretty good
Easier for the next guy, ignore my horrible spray job. It will do...
Got the junction box and block heater switch in place for the 120v inlet
Got the junction box and block heater switch in place for the 120v inlet
Petcock is already on the way, gets here Friday
Well, lets just say the petcock never went in...
Lots of struggling later, I re-tapped it with 1/4-18 NPT and luckily it came good
Lots of struggling later, I re-tapped it with 1/4-18 NPT and luckily it came good
Coolant change done. Drained, and flushed twice with distilled water, then filled back up
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