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Generator purchase advice

shanekarl

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Fort Worth, Texas - USA
Have you thought about fuel requirements for that generator what’s the plan


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Fuel is the easier part, or at least easier than finding the generator. I will use a 5-600 gallon storage tank connected to the aux pump on the generator. I get that i will need to add additives to the fuel every 6 months and possibly have it polished or even just swap the house to generator to burn the fuel and replace it from time to time. From what I have read the unit burns 1 GPH at 30% load and up to 2.3GPH at full load. So with a 500 gallon tank in the summer i could run for 20 days or in the winter 8.5 days.
 

Guyfang

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Boy, have you opened a can of worms. I am going to see if anyone else posts, before I jump in here.

Now I will jump in. You have said you need a 30 KW. I tend to agree. You could also get a 15 KW and 30 KW. Run the 15 KW during the lower load times, the 30 KW in the higher load times. But that would make an auto start, auto transfer system even more complicated. And adds cost of a second gen set. The plus to the MEP-004A and MEP-005A would be compatibility.

So, you need to get smart on the MEP-805A, MEP-005A, if you want simple. I am a simple guy, and have more experience then most with these sets. I would take the MEP-005A. Hands down. Why? Simple. Its simple. The MEP-805A is several steps up the ladder in complexity, but of all the bigger TQG's, the most simple.

Both types have killer engines. Both have killer main gens. Its the sub systems that are the weak point. The MEP-005A has loads of info on line, and not just in this forum. TM's are coded A so no problem there. The MEP-805A is a little different. There is not quite as much info or knowledge available on line. The -24P, (the new version) is coded C, so not authorized for use by the unwashed masses. Not that I see this as a show stopper. ;)

Parts are available for both sets. I think that even though the MEP-005A is older, there is less of a hassle getting parts. And prices may be lower. There are several people who have developed "new" parts to get around shortages. Things like static exciters can be fixed by normal folks with a bit of knowledge. The circuit cards are simple and easy to fix. But at the end of the day, the MEP-005A is older then most people in the forum.

AND, most attractive for you, would be the possibility of converting the MEP-005A to single phase. Something you can not do easy, on the MEP-805A. I will make no comment on auto start/transfer, as I would not want it. Its just another way to make simple, less simple. I never had it in the Army, and am used to getting up in the middle of the night to do a switch over operation.

So, I just want to add, yes I am biased. The MEP-005A is what I grew up with. But the MEP-805A is a good, strong running and dependable gen set. So if I were in your shoes, I would be reading up, getting smart on both sets. Look at some more threads. See what the problems are. Look at E-bay. See what kind of parts availability there is. Prices. Think about a parts set. Or a stand by to the stand by, if you will.

THEN start talking about your auto start/transfer stuff with the guys in this thread.

And if you want to talk about a trailer, then lets. I for instence would not get an M200A1. Thats what most of them are on. But thats farther down the line right now.
 
Last edited:

shanekarl

Member
55
57
18
Location
Fort Worth, Texas - USA
Boy, have you opened a can of worms. I am going to see if anyone else posts, before I jump in here.

Now I will jump in. You have said you need a 30 KW. I tend to agree. You could also get a 15 KW and 30 KW. Run the 15 KW during the lower load times, the 30 KW in the higher load times. But that would make an auto start, auto transfer system even more complicated. And adds cost of a second gen set. The plus to the MEP-004A and MEP-005A would be compatibility.

So, you need to get smart on the MEP-805A, MEP-005A, if you want simple. I am a simple guy, and have more experience then most with these sets. I would take the MEP-005A. Hands down. Why? Simple. Its simple. The MEP-805A is several steps up the ladder in complexity, but of all the bigger TQG's, the most simple.

Both types have killer engines. Both have killer main gens. Its the sub systems that are the weak point. The MEP-005A has loads of info on line, and not just in this forum. TM's are coded A so no problem there. The MEP-805A is a little different. There is not quite as much info or knowledge available on line. The -24P, (the new version) is coded C, so not authorized for use by the unwashed masses. Not that I see this as a show stopper. ;)

Parts are available for both sets. I think that even though the MEP-005A is older, there is less of a hassle getting parts. And prices may be lower. There are several people who have developed "new" parts to get around shortages. Things like static exciters can be fixed by normal folks with a bit of knowledge. The circuit cards are simple and easy to fix. But at the end of the day, the MEP-005A is older then most people in the forum.

AND, most attractive for you, would be the possibility of converting the MEP-005A to single phase. Something you can not do easy, on the MEP-805A. I will make no comment on auto start/transfer, as I would not want it. Its just another way to make simple, less simple. I never had it in the Army, and am used to getting up in the middle of the night to do a switch over operation.

So, I just want to add, yes I am biased. The MEP-005A is what I grew up with. But the MEP-805A is a good, strong running and dependable gen set. So if I were in your shoes, I would be reading up, getting smart on both sets. Look at some more threads. See what the problems are. Look at E-bay. See what kind of parts availability there is. Prices. Think about a parts set. Or a stand by to the stand by, if you will.

THEN start talking about your auto start/transfer stuff with the guys in this thread.

And if you want to talk about a trailer, then lets. I for instence would not get an M200A1. Thats what most of them are on. But thats farther down the line right now.
Wow really great feedback!

I like your view of keep it simple, it very much fits me.

for now I don’t plan to use an automatic transfer switch, it adds complexity and I want to get to know the generator first. For the first year or two my plan will be to use a safety double throw switch to manually transfer the load. This way if I have issues I know exactly where it is.

As far as the trailer I had been reading up on this last night and the m200a1 is not ideal becaise it comes with airover hydronic brakes so I’d have to do work on it right off the bat. I have a ram 2500 truck and I’m sure I could just open the air tank to release the breaks and pull it with magnetic lights but I’d like something a little more reliable so I may need to have two separate purchases. My biggest issues with that is I don’t have anything to lift the generator so I’d have to bring someone out but that is doable.

thanks again for the pointers super helpful!
 

shanekarl

Member
55
57
18
Location
Fort Worth, Texas - USA
Howdy,
I am surprised Guy left out why the 004 and 005 are special.
The genhead is a 12 wire unit. Because it can be re-wired to single phase.

The MEP-804 and higher all have 10 wire units. You can't reconfigure to single phase.
Nice, i found a nice 005 I am stoked to be getting. The single phase is a huge plus. I have also read the parts for the 005 are much cheaper than the 805.

Thanks for everyones help on this.
 

Mustangsud

Active member
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Location
Aubrey, TX (North DFW Metro)
I would suggest looking into some propane heat. We have that and were fine. A camp stove is also handy for outages. You can then use a smaller generator to carry the basics. You can carry smaller ones to the repair shop.
Just my suggestion.....
TomC
Agreed. It's a whole lot cheaper to install gas or propane, then use a smaller gen for electrics. A propane tank is one install and done for a long time. If you want a 20-30kw mil gen, you better consider the amount of diesel that's going to get used. A newer, reliable, easy to work on 5kw 802A burns a whole lot less diesel than an old 005
 

Guyfang

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Agreed. It's a whole lot cheaper to install gas or propane, then use a smaller gen for electrics. A propane tank is one install and done for a long time. If you want a 20-30kw mil gen, you better consider the amount of diesel that's going to get used. A newer, reliable, easy to work on 5kw 802A burns a whole lot less diesel than an old 005

But his requirements are, sometimes, close to 20 KW. So a MEP-802A would not be enough.
The cost of installing gas or propane would be how much? What ever it is, you can buy that much fuel for a MEP.005A to run several weeks? Maybe more. Its not like he has to run said gen set all the time. How often will he need TAC Power?
 

Ray70

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West greenwich/RI
You're not just talking installing a propane tank, you're suggesting he invest in a completely new propane fired heating system.
Not sure how that would be cheaper overall...
There are about a dozen other factors you need to consider, not just the difference in fuel consumption between and 802 and an 005.
Besides, if the power goes out with an 005 he can rent extension cord usage to all his neighbors too!
 

shanekarl

Member
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Location
Fort Worth, Texas - USA
You're not just talking installing a propane tank, you're suggesting he invest in a completely new propane fired heating system.
Not sure how that would be cheaper overall...
There are about a dozen other factors you need to consider, not just the difference in fuel consumption between and 802 and an 005.
Besides, if the power goes out with an 005 he can rent extension cord usage to all his neighbors too!
Before i decided on the 005 i got a quote on a generac 24kw propane generator. The generator was about the same cost as the 005, the propane tank was 3k, running a propane line to the generator was 1500, the electrician was 2500 and anytime i have an issue i have to call someone out. If i replaced my heating system im betting that would be 5-7k (it was in my last house and mine is only 4 years old) and id have to run propane line to it.

I really like the 005, i can run everything off it, if i have an issue i can take it some place to be fixed - its on a trailer, i can take to my farm and power the place which does not currently have power. I know diesel wont be cheap but i would happily spend 1000 in fuel during the last storm! I plan to buy a 500 - 600 gallon surplus fuel tank and keep 500 gallons of off road diesel at the house.
 

Chainbreaker

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Good call! Propane can be hard to get during a big storm/outage.
Plus there are other potential negatives associated with propane. This generator fuel type chart is a good starting point for those considering what type of fueled generator to consider.

I realize the OP has already made his generator selection (a very good one!) but others coming along later & finding this thread may not have made a generator choice and need to really understand the ins-n-outs of fuel choices.
 

ldmack3

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Before i decided on the 005 i got a quote on a generac 24kw propane generator. The generator was about the same cost as the 005, the propane tank was 3k, running a propane line to the generator was 1500, the electrician was 2500 and anytime i have an issue i have to call someone out. If i replaced my heating system im betting that would be 5-7k (it was in my last house and mine is only 4 years old) and id have to run propane line to it.

I really like the 005, i can run everything off it, if i have an issue i can take it some place to be fixed - its on a trailer, i can take to my farm and power the place which does not currently have power. I know diesel wont be cheap but i would happily spend 1000 in fuel during the last storm! I plan to buy a 500 - 600 gallon surplus fuel tank and keep 500 gallons of off road diesel at the house.
Excellent plan. A 20KW propane unit burns burns 400 gal a week if loaded up, per my generator installer.
 
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