How to properly use your diesel generator

[mrdonut12]

If you have a Perkins diesel generator, hold the "off" button
in for 30 seconds in hot weather and a minute in cold weather
to preheat the fuel system, then push the "start" button
with the load switch off. It's a bad idea to start it
or shut if off with a load on it. It's hard on the generator
and hard on electrical appliances.
Let it run for a few minutes, then you can switch the
load switch to "generator". Don't run the air conditioners yet.
After the engine is up to full operating temperature,
you can turn the air conditioners on, but turn the AC fan
on first and let the fan get up to speed before you turn
on the compresser.
Let the first AC run for a little while to help get the
engine oil up to temperature, since the oil doesn't warm as
quickly as the coolant.
Then start the other ACs one at a time.
The ACs are a significant load on the generator.
Diesel engines should never be heavily loaded until they're
up to full operating temperature.
To shut it off, turn the ACs off, then switch the load center
to off. Let the generator run as long as 5 minutes to cool it
down before turning it off.

George Witt
81 FC 35
Lincoln, Nebraska

[Tom Gibbs]

Is the procedure similar for the PowerTech generators. I don't recall a
separate load switch, only the start/off toggle.

-----Original Message-----
From: mrdonut12 [mailto:mrdonut12@...]
Sent: Saturday, July 02, 2005 12:36 PM
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] How to properly use your diesel generator


If you have a Perkins diesel generator, hold the "off" button
in for 30 seconds in hot weather and a minute in cold weather
to preheat the fuel system, then push the "start" button
with the load switch off. It's a bad idea to start it
or shut if off with a load on it. It's hard on the generator
and hard on electrical appliances.
Let it run for a few minutes, then you can switch the
load switch to "generator". Don't run the air conditioners yet.
After the engine is up to full operating temperature,
you can turn the air conditioners on, but turn the AC fan
on first and let the fan get up to speed before you turn
on the compresser.
Let the first AC run for a little while to help get the
engine oil up to temperature, since the oil doesn't warm as
quickly as the coolant.
Then start the other ACs one at a time.
The ACs are a significant load on the generator.
Diesel engines should never be heavily loaded until they're
up to full operating temperature.
To shut it off, turn the ACs off, then switch the load center
to off. Let the generator run as long as 5 minutes to cool it
down before turning it off.

George Witt
81 FC 35
Lincoln, Nebraska




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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Bob & Carol Howald`]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Tom Gibbs"
wrote:
> Is the procedure similar for the PowerTech generators. I don't
recall a
> separate load switch, only the start/off toggle.
>

The Power-Tech generators usually have a automatic power transfer
switch. There is a delay between the time the generator is started
and when it comes on line. Power-tech says to not hold the switch in
the off position for more than 20 seconds in hot or cold weather, to
do so will fry the glow plugs. It's always a good idea to make sure
that when the gen set comes on line that you have most large item's
turned off, hotwater heater, a/c, engine heat etc. then as George
says turn them on one at a time when the engine has run for a while.
I've been told that this is more important for the actual generator
part than the diesel engine. Work's for me. Bob 93pt Illinois