best deal on generators

[getterdone]

my neighbor, well he has a cabin across the road from me. he lives in the houstin texas area. the cabin and my place is in southern missouri.
he's been using a gas generator ,7500w and it's on its last leg.
he asked for some help in finding a better, quieter generator to power his cabin that would last longer and be more fuel effceient.
i basically told him i didnt like to haul gas and and gas storage was out because shelf life of gas wasn't good.
also gas gen set's dont last.as he is finding out.
so i told him that i'd be looking for a 1800rpm diesel.,a little smaller in watts than he has in gas type.
ok heres what he needs to run.,

230volt wellpump only to fill his storage tank.
television
small 110v waterheater
small refrigerator
lights.
toaster
coffee pot

i suggested to change out the water heater with propane but that would be a pain because of running the flue.
the smallest water cooled 1800rpm diesel gen set i could find is 7000watt.
i figured he'd be needing something in the range of 5 to 6000watt. or maybe the 7000watt would be good as i forgot the toaster and coffee pot

what do you guys think?

i found a hardy diesel water cooled generator, kubota powered 7kw model hdaekb-7ec, for $6,695
i dont know what shipping would be to the houston area would be.
he will probably want it shipped to his home area and bring it to the cabin. when he returns for hunting.

oh and i might add that i suggested some solar and batteries, charge controller,inverter. to be used in the winter when it's just him and some buddies hunting. load would be the fridge, lights, maybe the television, oh and that stupid electric water heater. that is always going to be a problem aint it.

what input do you'all have and what is a good deal., for a water cooled 1800rpm diesel genset?
am i sizing it pretty close as i know diesels like to be loaded.

thanks getterdone

[SteveU.]

Well gitterdone his actual usage sound completely different than yours with full time living/powering. He is an occasional annual user. Sounds like a seasonal usage - with power only even then needed daily on demand. Not a fella willing to invest the time and interest in solar, wind, battery bank/inverter understanding set up and maintenance.
Just pure diesel powered generating as you inferred has a learning, maintenance obligation too. What makes diesel interesting is the ability to make use your own heavy liquid fuel sources. He doesn't sound interested in that either. 'SoKay. My hunting buddies only care(d) about the game too.
So  . . . .
For the best "set and forget", "walk up and use" fuel/engine combo think propane. This fuel WILL store as long as the tank has integrity. Units are quieter than diesels. Require less expensive maintenance.
http://www.generatorsales.com/propane-generators.asp
Here is a beginning to look at. They have units set up for 2200-2571 engine RPM, 63-75 dB(A). For this type of user air cooled is actually better without a radiator, fan and belt, water pump, hoses, thermostat, pressure cap and coolant to maintain. The slower speed will give 2-3X the engine life. An actual 50-100 hour oil changer with a good synthetic (only takes 1.5-2.2 quarts) will 2-3X again that engine life. So an actual 3-5,000 hour engine life possible. Short year for a true full time engine generating offgridder. Full 5-6 years for an primary solar/wind offgridder with the engine/generator as a seasonal supplement. 10-15 years for a actual seasonal user.

And a gasious propane engine will not care if it's ran under light loadings.
Single fuel source will then give good reason to swap out to a propane hot water heater for nice long hot showers.

Regards
Washington State Steve Unruh

[getterdone]

thanks steve ,.
i never thought of propane and didn't know that you could get it at that rpm.
he went home today and i'll have him look at this web sight
thanks again getterdone john.

[d34]

my neighbor, well he has a cabin across the road from me. he lives in the houstin texas area. the cabin and my place is in southern missouri.

My question is why would anyone have a cabin in southern Missouri if they are from Texas?  LOL.  Its nice to see someone "close" to me with the same interests.  I live outside of Sikeston. 

[getterdone]

texas, these days is turning into a desert
they haven't had any rain well forever.
his cabin and my place are close to west plains.
Sikeston is east of us. what 80 miles?

[d34]

About 150 miles. 

[cujet]

http://www.generatorsales.com/order/yanmar_4kw.asp?page=yanmar_4kw

That's one possibility.

Also, those guys sell all manner of small diesel gensets.

[miket]

He could save himself a lot of money and trouble by dumping a bunch of that electric stuff...  Solar the well pump.  Propane for the water heater and refrigerator. Get a stove top toaster.  He'd be left with a load that a 1000 watt Honda EU1000 would handle.   The only assumption I'm making is that his water tank is on a hill or higher elevation. Bring a 5 gallon bottle of propane and the EU 1000 with 5 gal of gas and he is good for a week.

Add a solar batch water heater system and he is golden.

Just  a thought from an Off Grid guy.

Cheers

mike