Big generator

[cschuerm]

Not really on topic for this forum but since things are kinda quiet, I figured a few of you would get a chuckle out of my standby power system.  I have two generators.  The first is a 100kW White/Hercules diesel.  It's connected to the house via an Asco 7000 400A transfer switch.  I purchased the generator in non-functional condition at an auction but with only 250 hours on it.  It got a new injector pump, all new sensors, a new digital control panel (had all antique gauges), and new belts, hoses, wiring, paint, etc.  Purrs like a rather large kitten now.  It's used just for primary short-term backup.  Here in Oklahoma we have quite a few storm-related outages in the summer and it sure is nice to have whole house power including air conditioning when it's 110F outside.  The second generator is a Listeroid (documented long ago).  It is also hard-wired into the house feed wiring and can be selected by opening the breaker on the Hercules and closing the one for the Lister. (yeah, I know, no safety to keep me from having both closed at this time, so I'm careful).  I switch over to the Listeroid if it looks like a long-term outage.  Ran it for 9 straight days a few years ago during an ice storm and never missed a lick.
Anyway, the beast is overkill and chugs the diesel, but it's sure been nice to have and given what my investment is, I don't mind dumping a few gallons of fuel in occasionally to be comfortable.
Chris

[cschuerm]

guess I can only post one pic at a time....

[cschuerm]

and since i know you guys like pix....

[cschuerm]

last one

[LowGear]

Hi Chris,

Big dogs bark louder and eat more kibbles.

The photos have restrictions on size.  Your photos are bigger than my 23 inch monitor so you could reduce the byte count without much loss of resolution - 4 @ 640x480 works.  (more attachments) is the key to more than one photo.

Casey

[rcavictim]

Chris,

When you spoke of the two generator breakers without an exclusive lockout I had a vision of a Lister being launched into outer space! 

That is one serious backup generator.  Even has a turbo.  You could fed all your neighbors for a block radius with that system in an extended outage and make enough $$$ to retire.

Is it a coincidence that the color of your ladder is an exact match to your building and generator shack?

[cschuerm]

Yeah, I do think the old ST head would loose in a very exciting way if I cross-connected the two!  Would be quite a fireworks display.  I do lock-out/tag-out the breakers just as a double-check so it would require a pretty major brain fart to end up with them both on at the same time.  Some day, I'll install a proper manual transfer switch to select, but I have not stumbled across a good buy yet.
I like the idea of supplying the neighbors, but fortunately, there are none for a mile or so.
I got a chuckle at the ladder comment.  Pretty much everything (myself included) matched colors by the time I got done painting.

I did note the size limit on pictures but wasn't sure what resolution might fit, so just uploaded the ones I had.  I'll try 640x480 next time - thanks.

Anyway, I did the project mostly for the fun of it, but it has worked out really nicely.  The beast knocks back about 3gph with everything in the house turned on.  It has a "hospital grade" muffler system on it that is just amazing.  The only noise you really hear is the giant fan after the automatic louvers open.  From inside the house, it's virtually undetectable.  My wife loves it, so that's good enough for me :-)

Chris