Micro CoGen.

Quote from: vdubnut62 on August 25, 2014, 08:36:33 AM
Wow! Big Green that is one sweet setup! But what are you going to do fuelwise for the Ford?
Ron.

I would feed it RUG. No NG out here. I could get a propane tank but the easiest would be gas.
I quickly decided to leave the truck intact and pursue a different upgrade path.

Thanks
Dave

Quote from: vdubnut62 on August 24, 2014, 07:23:31 AM
Are you planning to run on pump gas or propane, natural gas, or.....?
Ron.

If I was to do this today I would go for this http://www.emergencypower.com/dieselgenerators/generators#!/~/product/category=9268407&id=36297769

Thanks for the input.

I was afraid the PCM wouldn't be plug and play. This would be my hurdle. I thought maybe I could fool some of the inputs such as O2 sensors.
Selling what I have for something more suitable was my first though but where's the fun in that. However, this will probably be the route I'll take this fall.

The wife can't start the 25/2. It requires prep work to fire it up. Pull the sump cover, pre oil the gears, bearings, etc.
It would be nice to go to something a bit more modern. Flip a switch, push a button and it's running.
After nine years of owning the roid the novelty has worn off.

I assume I can pull the PCM from the truck and use that. That would be the hard part for me.

I can devise a PID speed controller using either a PIC or Arduino to drive either a linear or rotary actuator.

It's hurricane season down here so I have been tinkering with the gen set.
I have a 1997 Ranger that is on its last leg body and chassis wise but the drivetrain is still in great shape.
I'm thinking of replacing my 25/2 with the 2.3L direct coupled to my ST-15 and run the engine at 1800 rpm.

Is this a bad idea?

Thanks
Dave

Welcome Jan. I drove a 1968 Volvo 246 many years ago made in your home town. That thing was a tank 

1. what prime mover are you using or planning to use? Ashwamegh 25/2

2. what hp or kwatt (mechanical) output is the prime mover? See Above

3. what generator are you using? AC only? DC only? or both? ST-15

4. how long have you had the unit?  Since 2005

5. how long does it run or are you planning to run,  per day, week, month or year? ~40 hr total

6. is the unit used for primary power, backup, emergency, or? Hurricane emergency

7. do you harvest the waste heat and use that heat?  No

8. if you are not harvesting the waste heat, are you planning to do so?  do you have any interest in doing so?

9. do you use any form of automation, such as autostart? No

10. if you do not use automation, would you do so if it were commonly available and reasonable in price? Yes

11. how would you rank fuel efficiency of a unit, not very important, somewhat important, moderately important, very important, or most important. Somewhat

now a couple of other questions

12. where do you find the information you rely on to make decisions about your genset designs? Here

13. do you feel that there is enough information available to you to make good decisions regarding design? Yes

14. if you are frustrated or find it difficult to find information, what sorts of information would you like to find?

15. if there was a book available on some facet or facets of power generation for offgrid applications such as what is typical on this forum, what would you find as being a must have or rather what would you like to see in such a book?

16. please feel free to add other comments that you might have an interest in sharing.

Great Idea!
Brazoria County Texas, south of Houston.

Quote from: Simtech on December 24, 2011, 08:58:37 PM
As a complete newcomer here I don't want to ruffle any feathers, but;

Why are there two forums anyway?  Especially as they seem run by the same folks and they have the same membership?

I'm sure there is a lot of great info on LEF, perhaps merge the old threads?

Invaluable information stored on LEF

Is the Lister Engine Forum down again? I can't get to it 

Thanks
Dave

Thanks. What a beautiful yacht.
That answers the OP question but I changed ideas to serve my desire to install a 3kw a/c gen head on my truck engine to run my camper air conditioner directly. Rather than plugging the camper into a generator, have my truck running close to idle producing enough 120 a/c to handle a small ac. Any ideas of the best head that would fit under the hood for this?

Thanks   

No doubt the delco is working for you, but at a cost. Lets look at this another way: You certainly want to maximize your profit. What if you could produce the same usable power for half the fuel cost you currently spend? You say you used the same delco for 7 years. How much did you spend on fuel in that 7 years? Divide that in half, subtract the price of a more efficient power producer and that is your potential loss. I believe that is the root of this whole discussion. It's not can you but it's should you. It's finding the most efficient path to take. If you plan on doing this for many more years you would benefit financially from generating power in a more effecient manner. The delco should be plan C in your 3 tier failure plan. It certainly is a way to get there but at an uneccesary cost.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not kicking on you and I hope you do not feel that I am. I'm just responding to what I read.
Dave

I carry a 3.5kw open frame genny and 5 gal of gas with me when I go camping. In cooler weather I use it for a few hours every day to charge the 2 T-105 bat's via camper charger. In the summer when A/C is desired I run it more, a lot more. None of this crossed my mind until I read that thread but maybe a 3kw gen head attached to my truck engine would be easier to deal with. No lugging the gen around, gas can in the bed worries, theft worries, etc... Determine truck idle, install a PM gen head using proper diameter sheeves to produce 120V at that speed. I'm sure my truck would produce more than 6hp no problem at idle but do not know. I can install a manual throttle control to dial in proper rpm if needed.

I'm sure there is a down side here.  

On Edit: I changed the Subject title because I see this thread going in a different direction.
Thanks

I read the below post on a RV forum and thought you guy's would have a good solution:

Touchy subject, I know, but it's time to bring it out of the closet! Who here has upgraded their tow vehicle alternator and wiring to provide inverted AC power to their TT (travel trailer)?

I realize that a tow vehicle's engine makes a very inefficient and expensive generator, but on the other hand, it is nearly silent and always at hand. To me it could serve as an "assist" generator, adding more charging amps into the TT's battery bank when under heavy load.

Again, no replacement for the main gennie, but the ability to assist (and downsize) the main gennie when inverting more power from the TT batts than it can provide. Here would be my process tree:

--Car engine running

--Beefy alternator kicking out 350 amps

--3000 watt inverter under the front seat serving AC power

--Aux power cable running from TV (tow vehicle) to aux inlet on TT

--Aux inlet powers dedicated converters to charge batts (IN ADDITION to TT's normal gennie charging same battery bank).

--TT inverter serving say 5000 watts to water heater, air conditioner, whatnot.


Now, I know that many here would say "use less power, you're camping". Okay, but what if I want to use more power, and I'm out there in the boonies? Is this doable?
Any ideas or suggestions? I liked the Vipor but pricey. The original post came from http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/25646188/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1

WOW, I just stumbled across this one and I had to pop up a bowl of popcorn to get me through all this.
The one thing I got out of it is that stuart, I mean Pat most likely can't pull a consistant 95A out of his 6.5ph Honda because his delco is very inefficient. A more efficient alt better designed for the task wold have no problem.
Pat, if you have a better mouse trap then by all means, please share. I really would like to know.
Later