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I'm with you about coincidences. Sorry to hear about the motor issue. In my experience, Baltor motors generally last better than 200 hours, but I don't know the motor model in this compressor. Did you check the generator output with a DVM? Was anything else running? Did you check the capacitors...

@spotrep one of the reasons that I put IEC 60309 receptacles on my generators was to increase the safety of interconnections during wet weather. I was uncomfortable with the risks with the more common connections. The military finesses wet weather safety through the use of the cord pass through...

As a preamble, surge suppressors come in a variety of types, a range of energy absorption capacities, and a spread of allowed voltage ranges. Most whole house suppressors clamp to ground at around @600V, and can dissipate 50-140,000A. E.g...

My apologies for not being clear the first time. Yes, I prefer to disconnect sensitive devices prior to and during storms. (I also prefer to have them on a UPS and at least one surge protector.) I have lived through what nearby lightning strikes can do, and how much it costs in work and...

Ain't that the truth! Me, included. I've done some really foolish things, and consider myself lucky to be here. All the best, 2Pbfeet

Ok... again, I'm glad that you made it through ok, and that you are thinking how to make your setup even better for the next one. As a general rule, light tower generators are designed for just that; powering lights, and in their normal usage, a few flickers isn't going to bother anyone. So, I...

What are you thinking by "clean"? "Clean" in what sense? No light flickers? The Fukushima nuclear meltdown happened because the backup generators were installed at sea level. All the best, 2Pbfeet

That all may be the case, but the electrical setup that you described isn't intrinsically safe for something that is potentially lethal. A generator interlock or transfer switch will keep folks safer, including you.

It is what I use (OptiLube Summer+), but bear in mind that the some (most?) of the lubricity comes from biodiesel, and biodiesel itself is prone to oxidizing into gummy deposits... There's been a bit written on the quality of the testing, but I don't have a horse in that race. All the best...

Bio-kleen, or FPPF Killem, or BioBor JF. I highly recommend reading and following the PE recommendations as some biocides are extremely toxic. (None are non-toxic!) However, keeping the fuel dry is the #1 priority. If the fuel is damp or has water in it, there will still be corrosion and...

I would just remember that modern diesel and heating oils are low sulfur fuels, otherwise known as low lubricity fuels, so adding diesel fuel additives are essential for longer engine life. Personally, I would not run a pre-ULSD engine on modern ULSD fuels without lubricity additives. All the...

This seems close by specification and appearance; https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/01925668 http://www.aapusa.com/ All the best, 2pbfeet

With electronics, I think it is hard to have too many surge suppression devices scattered around. EMP effects can be significant to microelectronics at large distances, but that's "can be". I was a hundred yards from a lightning strike on a tall tree that blew a chunk of bark almost to my feet...

Congratulations!

@Mweiss that is an incredible photo. Sorry for your loss. I would distinguish between grounding and lightning protection as they aren't the same thing. Both are needed, and the sharp, grounded edges of solar panels make for excellent ionizers to contribute to attracting lightning strikes...

Business opportunity there? Ever had one apart? They are pretty simple inside, but I think that the secret sauce is being able to assemble them in a way that results in reliable long term performance. The technology is both old and simple, and I think that the simplicity makes it fairly...

@ssybert Are there any visible part numbers on your float switch? As @Light in the Dark wrote, WEMA is probably the source for the original switch. Globally, they make most of this type of switch, and are the go to manufacturer for many customers. The WEMA level sensors are very common and some...

On the Arctic heater module; if you are worried about the main batteries running down (a reasonable concern in my view), I would consider a second battery set dedicated to running the preheat. The Eberspracher units don't draw much power, but like everything else, they will do better if they...

No, sir. Oh, gosh no! I meant the shed doors. Bad grammar/sentence construction on my part. -30F to -40F and snow aren't great storage conditions in my experience, and I have worked hard not to run internal combustion engines in closed spaces, as I am sure you have, too. I was thinking more...

Another vote for reading the TM and the forums, and rodent proofing your generator. If you can put it in a wind proof insulated shed, that will take the edge off of the cold. (To store, perhaps run with open door(s)). The Eberspracher heaters are great, solid units, and there is a specific...