…… Best doomsday generator

[buttie]

Since we like to discuss generators here and I don't want to hijack someone else's thread we can discuss this here. Here's the scenario, the power's gone out and you don't know when it's coming back on.
I propose that the Witte BD oil field generator is perhaps the best available generator in the world, in the 4.5 kw range. Here is why.

• low speed cast iron engine diesel designed to run 30k hours between overhauls
• designed to run 24/7 with monthly maintenance
• heavy duty 3 phase 12 wire generator head can be wired to make household or industrial power
• large flywheels will start huge loads

Here's a video of mine

View: https://youtu.be/BhAQ0uFinls
It was made around 1970 at the end of many decades of production.

 

[BadMedicine]

Just bought two Honda eu20001 's for $200. Today. Both don't run, one missing gas valve on cap... can probably get them running though. I already have one that works awesome, worth the gamble on the other two... other than that, I don't know much about them, but yours is a beaut!!

 

[Tristan]

Since we like to discuss generators here and I don't want to hijack someone else's thread we can discuss this here. Here's the scenario, the power's gone out and you don't know when it's coming back on.
I propose that the Witte BD oil field generator is perhaps the best available generator in the world, in the 4.5 kw range. Here is why.

• low speed cast iron engine diesel designed to run 30k hours between overhauls
• designed to run 24/7 with monthly maintenance
• heavy duty 3 phase 12 wire generator head can be wired to make household or industrial power
• large flywheels will start huge loads

Here's a video of mine

View: https://youtu.be/BhAQ0uFinls
It was made around 1970 at the end of many decades of production.

e

Tell us more!

Where can one find such a beast?

Can it be made more quiet? Larger muffler? Inside a gennie house, perhaps?


Diesel fuel?

 

[buttie]

Tell us more!

Where can one find such a beast?

Can it be made more quiet? Larger muffler? Inside a gennie house, perhaps?


Diesel fuel?

This one was found on Craigs list. The majority of noise in the video is the crankcase vent and a bad bearing in the generator. There is a video of one powering a mine. It's mounted in the shaft just inside the opening that is very quiet. My gennie house really quiets the Lister CS inside a lot. An underground exhaust is almost silent. Since using Pri-D my stored diesel runs clean.

 

[Ku Commando]

Had a 20kw kohler w/ the 4 cyl diesel injection fed Yanmar engine in the back of the satellite truck. With 150 gal saddle tanks, that thing would run all week using about 3/4 gph

Wish I had it on the farm.

 

[tom-j]

I considered getting a new 8/1 clone but the weight and size were too much for me.

 

[db cooper]

I like it, just love antiques. It's low tech, which may not seem practical to own, but I betcha it would survive an EMP attack.

Good find!

 

[Samuel Adams]

Old and heavy.

Who was it just recently tried to champion those very concepts in a generator ?

Maybe it’ll come to me later.


Anywho, the best doomsday generator is having long conditioned oneself and dependents not to need not only electricity, but all of the other technological wonders beyond what can readily be dug up, manufactured or grown with two hands.

 

[Lone_Hawk]

When I saw the headline I thought you were talking about @Ragnarok

 

[mecoastie]

True doomsday learn to go without or use something like solar until batts fail. One of the big issues for me with some of this prepping is the desire to maintain our standard of living. Its not going to happen. Why waste the resources? I want my gasoline and diesel going into either agriculture or firewood production. Solar for light, radio and maybe some small stuff.

That said for me it would be a Listeroid clone. Diesel slow speed and bulletproof.

 

[Macgyver]

There's guys out there the rebuild and resell generators out of old rr refer cars.
They use a 2-71 Detroit diesel.
Built like brick shit houses.

 

[Dennis Olson]

In a TEOTWAWKI event, no generator will help you. You’re done. So is everyone else. Kind-of a “no hope” premise upon which to start a thread, particularly the day after Thanksgiving. You just tryin to be a buzzkill or what?

 

[wab54]

There used to be a China Diesel generator. 1800 rpm, cast iron, diesel. Run forever. Cant find them now.

WAB

 

[Warthog]

Your Gen is only as good as the fuel you can get. Better off with a good solar powered gen so you only have to run your fuel gen sparingly.

 

[wab54]

IMHO, In a teotwaki event, Solar would be the best power. All fuel would be used up. Solar cant produce as much power unless you are a millionaire. ""Before the event" is when you need to set yourself up.

WAB

 

[Millwright]

The Lister CS, low speed would probably be my first choice.

They last forever and will digest a wider quality of fuels.

This guy is one of the best sources for all things Lister.

Lister diesel parts overhaul kits spares and/or repair service parts aftermarket parts and/or lister

Lister/Petter parts and/or aftermarket, and/or diesel generators and/or engine repair and/or rebuild services, Lister, Cummins, John Deere, Onan, Detroit Diesel, parts and services and/or spares and/or aftermarket parts

www.diesel-electric.us

 

[Millwright]

There's guys out there the rebuild and resell generators out of old rr refer cars.
They use a 2-71 Detroit diesel.
Built like brick shit houses.

Thanks...another rabbit hole to follow.

I may have to rethink that abandoned one.

Home - Detroit Diesel 2-71 Generators

ATTENTION! FINAL UNITS NOW BEING SOLD. GET ONE BEFORE THEY RUN OUT! REMAINING UNIT COUNTDOWN: 12.5kw UNITS LEFT: 15 20kw UNITS LEFT: 9 IMPORTANT: These last remaining units are being sold “as is” in a complete package ready for rebuilding. Units may be fully assembled...

deucepower.com

FUEL CONSUMPTION OF THE DEUCE 20 KW
The 2-71 Detroit Diesel 20 KW Generators fuel consumption under maximum load is 1.5 GPH
(gallons per hour) and consumes approximately 0.5 GPH at no load. Efficient, practical & lasting.

 

[Repairman-Jack]

Just bought two Honda eu20001 's for $200. Today. Both don't run, one missing gas valve on cap... can probably get them running though. I already have one that works awesome, worth the gamble on the other two... other than that, I don't know much about them, but yours is a beaut!!
[/Q
Good deal, even as spare parts. The electronic throttle control wire took some mouse damage when I had originally stored it in the shed when we moved, it was low on the to fix list as there is a larger generator connected to the house, after 3 days without power in 2020 the portable honda fix got moved to top of list. Part was $30 but it took 8 weeks to be delivered.

 

[Blacknarwhal]

In a TEOTWAWKI event, no generator will help you. You’re done. So is everyone else. Kind-of a “no hope” premise upon which to start a thread, particularly the day after Thanksgiving. You just tryin to be a buzzkill or what?

I thought TEOTWAWKI was survivable. Wasn't it ELE that's the "no-hope" premise?

 

[Millwright]

A good article on the genesis of Detroit Diesel.

Marine Engineering history on www.dieselduck.net

Historical matter relating to Marine Engineers.

www.dieselduck.info

 

[Millwright]

In a TEOTWAWKI event, no generator will help you. You’re done. So is everyone else. Kind-of a “no hope” premise upon which to start a thread, particularly the day after Thanksgiving. You just tryin to be a buzzkill or what?

It's more discussion on generators in general.

Maybe redundant, but OK.

The OP was making an effort to not clutter another thread.


I'd hazard a guess that many people find it more interesting and useful than inane subjects like video games.

 

[etdeb]

There used to be a China Diesel generator. 1800 rpm, cast iron, diesel. Run forever. Cant find them now.

WAB

I have one of these China Diesel generators purchased in 1998. Its on a trailer and parked in the barn. My ex was its owner and knew how to operate it. It is a beast and so loud but it power the whole place in town for 3 weeks during a major ice storm that our over 15 transformers on the area.

 

[Macgyver]

I stumbled upon these guys a little while ago.
Looks like they build a lot of small ones that the big companies don't do.

Diesel Generators for Home Power or Off-Grid Electricity

www.centralmainediesel.com

I'm looking hard at this one. 12kw with an Isuzu engine. Less the half a gallon an hour at 50% load.

Isuzu 12 kW Diesel Generator

www.centralmainediesel.com

They have some other small units with Perkins engines as well. I know there great engines but In my experience with them on equipment is they are cranky and hard starters in the winter.

I want to get a auto start unit for the house, we have propane already but the consumption rate makes them very expensive to run.

When I build a new barn/garage I might put it in there for extra sound deadening and it would be out of the weather much better.

 

[Millwright]

I stumbled upon these guys a little while ago.
Looks like they build a lot of small ones that the big companies don't do.

Diesel Generators for Home Power or Off-Grid Electricity

www.centralmainediesel.com

I'm looking hard at this one. 12kw with an Isuzu engine. Less the half a gallon an hour at 50% load.

Isuzu 12 kW Diesel Generator

www.centralmainediesel.com

They have some other small units with Perkins engines as well. I know there great engines but In my experience with them on equipment is they are cranky and hard starters in the winter.

I want to get a auto start unit for the house, we have propane already but the consumption rate makes them very expensive to run.

When I build a new barn/garage I might put it in there for extra sound deadening and it would be out of the weather much better.

MQ Power is about the best units I've dealt with.

They have a lot of Isuzu powered units.

Quiet, efficient and solid. I've seen very few failures.



That link had some stuff that I haven't seen.

5kw, low speed diesel with a Kohler badge?

Slow-Turning 5 kW Diesel Generator

www.centralmainediesel.com

 

[tom-j]

I stumbled upon these guys a little while ago.
Looks like they build a lot of small ones that the big companies don't do.

Diesel Generators for Home Power or Off-Grid Electricity

www.centralmainediesel.com

I'm looking hard at this one. 12kw with an Isuzu engine. Less the half a gallon an hour at 50% load.

Isuzu 12 kW Diesel Generator

www.centralmainediesel.com

They have some other small units with Perkins engines as well. I know there great engines but In my experience with them on equipment is they are cranky and hard starters in the winter.

I want to get a auto start unit for the house, we have propane already but the consumption rate makes them very expensive to run.

When I build a new barn/garage I might put it in there for extra sound deadening and it would be out of the weather much better.

Central Maine Diesel puts together some nice generators. I got a Yanmar powered diesel generator there probably 10 years ago. The generator head is Italian made. The wattage is around 6700.
Mine is in my garage and exhausts through the wall through a sheet metal panel.
It always starts with one pull.

 

[Macgyver]

Central Maine Diesel puts together some nice generators. I got a Yanmar powered diesel generator there probably 10 years ago. The generator head is Italian made. The wattage is around 6700.
Mine is in my garage and exhausts through the wall through a sheet metal panel.
It always starts with one pull.

That was something I noticed about their site, no mention of the generator end manufacture.
Looks like that generator I was looking at has this Meccalte end on it.

https://www.meccalte.com/en/products/alternators/npe-space-saver/npe32c-4-pole

I wonder how reliable they are?

 

[bracketquant]

Old and heavy.

Who was it just recently tried to champion those very concepts in a generator ?

Maybe it’ll come to me later.


Anywho, the best doomsday generator is having long conditioned oneself and dependents not to need not only electricity, but all of the other technological wonders beyond what can readily be dug up, manufactured or grown with two hands.

Like, NOT a computer and internet access?

 

[bracketquant]

Since we like to discuss generators here and I don't want to hijack someone else's thread we can discuss this here. Here's the scenario, the power's gone out and you don't know when it's coming back on.
I propose that the Witte BD oil field generator is perhaps the best available generator in the world, in the 4.5 kw range. Here is why.

• low speed cast iron engine diesel designed to run 30k hours between overhauls
• designed to run 24/7 with monthly maintenance
• heavy duty 3 phase 12 wire generator head can be wired to make household or industrial power
• large flywheels will start huge loads

Here's a video of mine

View: https://youtu.be/BhAQ0uFinls
It was made around 1970 at the end of many decades of production.

Running 24/7, any idea how long the belts would last?

 

[marsofold]

I bought a Honda tri-fuel 13 Kilowatt generator from Central Maine Diesel around seven years ago. It arrived promptly and I never had any trouble with it, so I definitely recommend them. Does 12 kilowatts output on propane. I have a 500 gallon propane tank to fuel it. Remember that these generators need an oil/filter change every 100 hours of running. You will also need a 50 amp rated mechanical transfer switch and breaker box if you need 240 volts (well pump) or don't want to use multiple heavy duty extension cords.

 

[buttie]

Running 24/7, any idea how long the belts would last?

Not yet. These are the big C series belts in huge pulleys so it looks like they'll last for years.

 

[buttie]

I bought a Honda tri-fuel 13 Kilowatt generator from Central Maine Diesel around seven years ago. It arrived promptly and I never had any trouble with it, so I definitely recommend them. Does 12 kilowatts output on propane. I have a 500 gallon propane tank to fuel it. Remember that these generators need an oil/filter change every 100 hours of running. You will also need a 50 amp rated mechanical transfer switch and braker box if you need 240 volts (well pump) or don't want to use multiple heavy duty extension cords.

The Witte holds 2gal of oil and has a Frantz toilet paper roll filter.

 

[buttie]

A little background on my situation. I live off-grid since 2008, we have a 3.4 kw solar system with LiFePo4 batteries. For backup there is a Lister CS that also hydronically heats the house. The system runs a small machine shop and mig welder when needed.
I also have one of the old Hardy water cooled China diesel generators. The engine is good, but mice had built a nest in the Markon generator head and it broke all the blades off the cooling fan. The engine now runs the wood chipper for the bbq pellet business.
So I have a small collection of oldies, but goodies. If any one wants a Lister, be prepared to strip it down to remove all the sand and check ALL the dimensions. Mine had a head gasket leak until I figured out that the cylinder block was machined wrong.

 

[buttie]

Thanks...another rabbit hole to follow.

I may have to rethink that abandoned one.

Home - Detroit Diesel 2-71 Generators

ATTENTION! FINAL UNITS NOW BEING SOLD. GET ONE BEFORE THEY RUN OUT! REMAINING UNIT COUNTDOWN: 12.5kw UNITS LEFT: 15 20kw UNITS LEFT: 9 IMPORTANT: These last remaining units are being sold “as is” in a complete package ready for rebuilding. Units may be fully assembled...

deucepower.com

FUEL CONSUMPTION OF THE DEUCE 20 KW
The 2-71 Detroit Diesel 20 KW Generators fuel consumption under maximum load is 1.5 GPH
(gallons per hour) and consumes approximately 0.5 GPH at no load. Efficient, practical & lasting.

The weak link on these is the super charger. A bearing failure can, and commonly does, cause an oil leak into the intake causing the engine to run away. There in no auto shut down for that, that I'm aware of.

 

[mechanic 217]

The weak link on these is the super charger. A bearing failure can, and commonly does, cause an oil leak into the intake causing the engine to run away. There in no auto shut down for that, that I'm aware of.

Blanket stuffed in the intake works.

 

[Walrus]

When I saw the headline I thought you were talking about @Ragnarok

You beat me to it, Lone Hawk, although I was just going to say that certain folks around certainly qualify as doomsday generators but wasn't naming names. Nope, not me ....

 

[Millwright]

Blanket stuffed in the intake works.

Was ground-hopping a 6-53 out of an APC and it started to run away. Just slap it over the intake horn.

It was SOP to keep a clipboard or such nearby, just for that.

When the pack is installed in the track, there is no real good place to block off air.

 

[Samuel Adams]

Like, NOT a computer and internet access?

Like, NOT.

 

[Illini Warrior]

you want spares & service available - domestic 100% - spare parts from the junkyard or off the interstate TEOTWAWKI salvage strip >>> Detroit or C.A.T. diesel

Diesel Generators | Aurora Generators Inc. >>> good source for DIYing

Bolton Power Equipment USA.....Generators >> old fashion Listers

 

[Cardinal]

Curious, since cars can be made to run on wood chips, could a genny be modified to do the same?

 

[buttie]

Curious, since cars can be made to run on wood chips, could a genny be modified to do the same?

A friend of mine did just that with a Briggs 8hp generator. It's a lot of work, but doable.