Skip to main content

Archive

Show more

How to Maintain Diesel Generator Correctly



How to Maintain Diesel Generator Correctly


Of the dozens of deaths attributed to Hurricane Sandy, many were caused by carbon monoxide poisoning from diesel generators being run in garages, basements, porches and other enclosed or partially enclosed spaces. Unfortunately, the rush to power a home without lights, heat or a running refrigerator, can leave little time to protect yourself and your home from the generator itself. Before the next emergency, here are five known hazards you can prevent.

Running the generator too close to the home. If you have a stationary generator, it should have been professionally installed as far away from the home as its instructions and local codes require. But for a portable, the threat from carbon monoxidean odorless, invisible gascan be deadly. Keep it away from any doors and windows. Never run it in a garage, even if the doors are open. Instructions for a portable generator warn you not to run it in the rain. To protect it from moisture, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends operating it on a dry surface under an open, canopy-like structure.

Overusing extension cords. When a storm hits, many supplies become hard to find, extension cords included. This means that for a brand-new generator, you have to rely on cords that might be years oldand unsafe for what you're connecting. If your generator has a 220-volt outlet, have your electrician install a transfer switch with an outdoor power inletmeaning one safe connection rather than multiple questionable ones. But if your generator is small and lacks a 220-volt outlet, your only possible connections are through extension cords. Stock up on 12-gauge cords, which can handle most 110-volt appliances.

Connecting directly to your service panel. Anything hard-wired to your service panel, such as ranges and heating/cooling systems, have no plugs you could connect to the generator. So the temptation may arise to connect the generator right to the service panel. The danger? When the power comes back, the excess could flow backwards up the line and endanger utility workers.

Shrugging off fuel considerations. Ideally, you'd think about available fuel before buying a generatorand envision the blocked roads, closed gas stations, gas rationing, and other problems some people are still experiencing after Sandy. So whether your generator uses gasoline, diesel fuel, or propane, you need to have plenty on hand at the first sign of a storm. (For a stationary unit using natural gas, you should be fine.) Most portables use roughly 8 to 22 gallons of gasoline a day, compared with four to eight 20-pound tanks of propane for portable models. A 250-gallon propane tank for stationary units can run 8 to 15 days. Before refueling a gasoline unit, however, you'll need to turn it off and let it cool. Splashing gas on the hot exhaust, near the spark plug, or elsewhere on a running generator could easily start a fire.

Neglecting the diesel generator maintenance. Your owner's manual will tell you how often to change the oil and which to useincluding instructions for doing so after the first few hours of operation. If your generator uses gasoline, mix in stabilizer before fueling and avoid long-term storage of fuel. (Every six months you can pour unused gasoline into your car's gas tank and start with with fresh stabilized fuel.) Skipping routine maintenance won't ruin your generator but the lack of attention may mean it won't start or seizes up. And no power means that sump pumps can't drain a flooded basement. If you have a well, you'll have no water for showers or toilets. During the winter, pipes can freeze and burst. And you can lose a refrigerator full of food.




Comments

Popular posts from this blog

New Yuchai engine YC6K600-D30 power for diesel generator 50Hz

Technical Parameters of Boduan 500KW Weichai Generator Set 6M33D572E200

  The 6M33D633E200 diesel engine is a special-purpose diesel engine for land-based power generation in the M33 series. It is a new-structure power generation diesel engine with a centrally - located turbocharger developed by Weichai Power Co., Ltd. in 2016. Continuous Power (COP): The maximum power at which the diesel engine can run continuously under a constant load with no limit on the annual operating hours. It is the ISO standard power. Prime Power (PRP): The maximum power at which the diesel engine can run continuously under variable loads with no limit on the annual operating hours. It is an ISO standard power that allows a 10% overload. Standby Power (ESP): The maximum power in a certain variable - power series that the diesel engine can operate for up to 200 hours per year. It is an ISO standard power with limited fuel consumption.   Operating Conditions and Applications of Baudouin  500KW Weichai Generator Set  Diesel Engine Power Classification Operating Co...

Yuchai Is Super Confident in Its Innovation

Founded in 1951, with 30 wholly-owned, holding and joint-stock subsidiaries, Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the Yuchai Group) is an internal combustion engine manufacturing base with the most complete spectrum of products in the country. In recent years, machinery manufacturing industry has been dropped off influenced by domestic and foreign economic situations, especially domestic overcapacity and unreasonable product structure. Reversely, Yuchai has sold over 3 million engines with the annualized revenues amount to RMB 40 billion. Over the years, as China ’ s largest engine R&D manufacturing base, Yuchai adjusts and optimizes its industrial structure and constantly strengthens its capacity for independent innovation. Therefore, the key technology continues to be the top in the sector for further keeping its own top leader in the industry. Innovation-Driven In 2013, seven world-class diesel-engine products for high-s...