Lister Generator from Utterpower.com
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The challenge:
- Find a diesel engine and generator that will hold up over the long haul and not break the bank!
- Make sure there is a readily available parts base in case of a failure.
- Since I am my own warranty, simplicity and customer support are mandatory!
- Should be water cooled since excess heat will be utilized.
- Must be of a tolerable noise level since it will be inside the house on the main floor.
- Finally, it has to be fuel efficient or it will not be able to compete with the grid over time.
This may seem an easy task but on an annual income of less than $10k a year, this can be a challenge. Lucky for me to have found such a unit that meets all of my criteria!
Solution, the Lister diesel generator!
These units meet all criteria, have an incredible lifespan if properly setup, and are available from George at utterpower.com
Here is a great photo that George sent me when the power unit was loaded and sent from Washington to New York.
Check out the beefy frame on this 6 horsepower monster!
The entire unit was a breeze to setup since George was quite thorough with the assembly, etc prior to my receiving it.
Here it is in my house!
He assured me that in the event of a major breakdown, I could easily have this engine apart in no time. Being the doubter I am, I decided to see if this was true. (And I hadn't even started this engine yet!)
Here's a photo of 15 minutes worth of work.
The head
The 4 1/2" bore
The 5 1/2" stroke
After many hours of running, I decided to incorporate a DC charging source. Why? The flywheel opposite of the generator head looked lonely with nothing hooked up to it! So I added a Zena 200 amp, continuous duty, mobile DC welder.
This is used to "Equalize" the 1700 amp hour battery bank in the dead of winter, all while the original 3000 watt AC generator supplies my home power needs.
Here's the Zena mounted and spinning!
Another angle
Final completed shot
Results:
The Utterpower Lister Generator runs superbly as George said it would! The AC output is constant and predictable and easily runs my whole house while providing some very welcome heat from the cooling system. The Zena DC welder keeps the big Surrette battery bank happy
when there's no sun, and has yet to become more than warm to the touch!
The customer support from both Utterpower and Zena have been invaluable! Now that's what I call good customer service! Big box stores have their place on the planet, however, they simply cannot compete on this level.
Fuel Consumption:
- - Dependant on load, however, this unit is running 5-6 hours a day pushing an average of 55 amps dc to charge batteries (Peaks are substantially higher). During this time, AC current from the AC Generator supplies the house and 1/4 gallon an hour usage is typical. If the battery bank weren't so big, far less time would be spent charging and fuel consumption would drop dramatically.
Temperature:
- - Coolant temp runs about 215 degrees on the outlet and 180 on the inlet.
This is thermosiphon through a radiator (7 pound pressure cap) - no water pump.
- - Exhaust pipe temp at the head will run about 275-325 degrees.
- - Base temp just below the dipstick threads hovers around 121 degrees.
- - The 3000 watt AC Generator, or the 200 amp DC Alternator seldom are more than warm to the touch.
And finally: Video clips of the Lister in action!
Close up while running @ 373 rpm 1.7Meg
Close up while running @ 650 rpm 1.2Meg
DC output from Zena set at 60 amps 928k
AC output - look at that control panel! 743k
Go into the dining room where it's quiet 723k
Oh no! It's right outside the door! 215k
Now it's looking in the window - geez! 335k
External oil pump and Frantz Oil Filtration 1.53Meg
Tachometer using a bicycle computer 1.14Meg
Tachometer sensor from a bicycle computer 821k
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