Micro CoGen.

It looks like I'll be buying a remote property/vacation spot about 4 hours from my home.
It has a 29 foot travel trailer connected to a ceptic system, and grid power.
I'd like to keep a freezer with food, but we may not get the chance to get to this location for weeks/months at a time.
The grid power is known for going out for hours to days at a time due to it's remote location.

I have (but may not use all) 10 Evergreen 210 watt panels, and an Outback GVFX3648 inverter.  I will not be using the grid tie for backfeeding the grid, only for sensing when the grid goes down, and provide backup power to fridge/freezer.

I plan on just using 4 car/golfcart batteries, as I think they would be enough to keep a freezer alive for a few days during an unsupervised outage.

The only part I still need is a charge controller.  Efficiency isn't really an issue, I just need something that will play with the Outback (if it even matters) and will work with 48v.  Cheap and reliable is the name of the game, power losses are a non issue, as 99% of the time the batteries will simply stay charged with no real use.

OK gang...... throw me your suggestions.

I have a Witte CD-12 that is rated 12 HP @ 750 RPM.  The generator head is an ST-12 (1800 RPM 4 pole head) with a 13" pulley run off of the 32" engine flywheel.  There will be times when I don't need all 12HP (6KW) of power, and would like to slow the engine down for greater fuel efficiency. 
I have a 8.25" pulley that will fit on the generator.
Running it off of the 32" flywheel, would put the engine at approximately 464 RPM.
Assuming the oil pressure is where it needs to be (~30 lbs.) can I run the engine this slow, or will it cause problems with the engine?  Potential issues as I see them are poor lubrication (I'd think would be OK as long as there is oil pressure), fuel timing too advanced for the lower speed, increased bearing pressures.

Do you think any of these would be a problem at low speeds, or are there any other issues you can think of?

Thanks for any input.
-Brett

I wish I had the money in my budget.  It isn't a fortune, but $45 just for shipping books....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PRE-WAR-ENGINES-1930s-1940s-US-ARMED-FORCES-INST-VINTAGE-CAR-DIESEL-REPAIR-/150946401047?pt=UK_BOI_FarmingEquipment_RL&hash=item23251b4b17

I had no idea just how tiny and CUTE the Witte BD is!!!!
This is the first BD I've seen with a person to show scale.
I thought it was just a little smaller than my CD, but was I WRONG!!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSz6p7JYAFY

Does anyone know where I can order a head gasket and fire ring for my CD-12.

I know I can order one from gasketstogo, but he needs a pattern first, and I don't want to take my engine apart
until I have the replacement.

If you KNOW, or have ordered from somewhere, please let me know.

Also, If you know which engines used this gasket.... ie. did the CD-12 use the same as the MD or BD ?

Thanks,
Brett

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1937-10HP-VERTICAL-STOVER-DIESEL-/130800960206?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e745842ce

My Witte/Oilwell CD-12 has an injector tip numbered ADN-4S-3.
Does anyone know what the numbers mean?  I see other ADN-4S nozzles, and was wondering if they need to be -3 in order to work.
Thanks for the abundance of wisdom about to pour forth.... 

Casey, Thanks for the ebay link.  
HOLY COW this thing is BIG.
My poor 6/1 (that I used to think was big) looks tiny now.

......and Quinn..... It happened  

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2012-07-31/india-power-outage/56600520/1?csp=34news&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+usatoday-NewsTopStories+%28News+-+Top+Stories%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo

Possible backup power.... 48v DC 3000 watt generator..... only downside is it has a (gasp..choke...) sparkplug.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HONDA-ALPHAGEN-CABLE-TV-TELECOMMUNICATIONS-DCX3000-36V-48V-DC-GENERATOR-NICE-/220953218005?pt=BI_Generators&hash=item3371d68bd5#ht_1489wt_934

I thought someone here might be interested.

I would like to pin a world map on my wall and put push pins where everyone is (old ham radio hangover I guess).  I just want to remember who is where in the world to get a better perspective on their local governments, temperature, fuel costs etc.

I DON'T want actual addresses, just your country and state (province) for general location.

Thanks in advance for all willing to be put on my wall.

Did I read this right?!?!?  Almost 16,000 watts?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Niehoff-generator-alternator-heavy-duty-industrial-diesel-engine-electric-/130617332985?hash=item1e696654f9&item=130617332985&pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr#ht_500wt_926

I was recently reading a post (somewhere) about running an engine without enough load, that caused cylinder glazing.  The question was how to fix it without tearing the engine apart.  Someone suggested bon-ami cleaning powder.

I was also reading about WMO causing problems with wear from Spencer's ash.......

Small cracking happened in the grey matter....

I wonder if running some WMO in an engine with cylinder glazing would help if only run for a short time?

I don't have the problem, just thought I'd throw it out there for your thoughts.

I picked up a used R170 on fleabay, and would like a gen head for it.
Of these two, which would you purchase?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Belt-Driven-5000-Watt-Generator-Head-W-Outlets-MS100SE-/380373105057?pt=BI_Generators&hash=item589000f9a1#ht_2377wt_700

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Voltmaster-Generator-Head-AB50-/270825746928?pt=BI_Generators&hash=item3f0e78f1f0#ht_500wt_950

The first can be had for $300 including shipping,
The second for $400 including shipping.

Thanks for your thoughtful input.

Been happy with my listeroid for about 2.5 years now, but couldn't pass up on something else to play with.
Just bought this from a guy on fleabay...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK-KsddsrcQ

OK, I'm trying to hook up a PMG I got from Tom Osborn, and things just don't make sense to me.

This should be the easiest thing on the planet, but I'm missing something.

There are 4 wires U1, U2, V1, V2

I checked the voltages between the connections before bridging for 120v/240v

These are the bizarre readings.

U1-U2                121V
U1-V1                123V
U1-V2                198V
U1-ground           96V
U2-V1                162V
U2-V2                119V
U2-ground           76V
V1-V2                121V
V1-ground           78V
V2-ground           95V

I also checked for continuity, and I have the following

U1-V2     .3 ohms
U2-V1     .3 ohms

All other combinations yield infinite resistance.
All measurements made with a fluke meter.


Any thoughts?

http://cgi.ebay.com/WITTE-DIESEL-ENGINE-/120744894291?pt=BI_Books_Manuals&hash=item1c1cf4df53#ht_500wt_950

Too far from me 

Does this make sense to anyone?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lister-4-HP-Twin-Flywheel-Single-Cylinder-Diesel-Engine-/260810977439?pt=UK_BOI_FarmingEquipment_RL&hash=item3cb98bb09f#ht_1795wt_918

http://www.wimp.com/switchopening/

I just picked up a 8KW PMG from Tom at http://centralgagenerator.com/ http://shop.ebay.com/akatosborne/m.html?_trksid=p4340.l2562

He is the ONLY source I know of or have been able to find for 120/240 AC PMG generators in the US.

He said that due to increases in costs, he doesn't know how many more he will be able to get.

If you have any interest in getting one, waiting to get one 'later' would be like waiting to get a Listeroid several years ago........