I would think a Natural Gas fueled generator is less costly to run vs. a Diesel?  I would seriously consider a NG generator but the Gov. of NY is threatening to take away Natural Gas by 2030.  But how long until Diesel fuel is outlawed??? 

As far as older CAT Gensets go, is there a specific model I should be looking for in terms of "one of the best ever made" etc?   



 

neil wrote:

ETD, you might have missed a post last year where my buddy bought an HT4 from Hamlin Sawmill on Redman Rd. There is a D337-based 300hp 3ph diesel generator there that is for sale. That would be an easy pickup for you as it's just down the road. It has a new Marathon generator on it

I have read that you should never run a generator for under 50% of it's load capacity as it is not good for the engine? That D337 sounds like a ~200kW Genset?  I'd only be running a single piece of equipment at a time most likely, and the largest motor might require ~20kW to start.  It would be fun to have an old CAT 6 cyl Genset like that, but a D337 seems way overkill?

Also, it seems I should be looking for a 12 wire re-connectable unit for voltage flexibility? Seems like a lot of these older CAT units are not re-connectable...

if you already have piped gas to the property then yes natural gas is a option but otherwise stick with diesel you can grow your own. google the diesel tree. but also bio diesel is very easy to make.(on the same token very easy to get wrong too) there are companies making it commercially now its currently just a bit too expensive to go mainstream when the government subsidies the petroleum industry. more development is needed in making biofuels from waste products rather than food crops.

we wont be getting rid of diesel for heavy vehicles and farm equipment not for a long time to come electric tech just isnt there yet. for passenger vehicles it's already here and is happening.

and yes you want a genset thats running around 70 percent capacity you wont burn it out and your working the engine.