Mep-803a performance - power outage.

[Denvercaitland]

We had a rain/ wind storm on Monday which resulted in over 1500 seperate power outages initially impacting 130k customers in New Brunswick.

803 has been flawlessy powering the house for 62 hours and counting. ( we are in a rural area , likely to be another 24 to 48 hrs before power is restored)

Fluctuating load from 5% to 85%. And averaging 1.5 liter/hrs for fuel ( .4 US gallons). All other parameters are staying well within range.

Acquired the 803a in 2019 , I'm very thankful to the advice/ help received at the onset from forum members to make it operational and again a year and a half ago when I had to replace S8 and the main stator.

I have over the last 3 years used the set a few hours at the time but never for such an extended period. Will admit that it's nice to have something this reliable when really needed

 

[Ray70]

Here in RI we also got heavy rains and strong winds with some extended outages. I was pretty lucky and only lost power for a few hours, but barely noticed thanks to my MEP's.
I had a couple past customers call me over the last couple days saying how impressed they were with their machine's performance, being that this was the first time they needed it for an extended period.
Also had 1 customer call who's 802 wouldn't start. Quickly diagnosed it over the phone as a bad fuel pump ( at 10:00PM ) luckily I had 1 on the shelf and he was up and running by midnight.

 

[Chainbreaker]

An extended power outage certainly makes one appreciate their genset! The attention to detail in doing inspections/repairs and preventative maintenance is truly rewarded in time of critical need during an extended power outage.

May the power be with you!

 

[Light in the Dark]

A lot of folks up here lost power, think I read 270k? Never dropped where I am. Nice to hear when these things pull through when asked!

 

[kloppk]

Lost it here for hours. The 1030 kept the house lit, warm, hot showers, hot coffee and cooked dinner.

 

[cbisson]

Never lost it here in southern NH. How much fuel do you guys keep on hand and how do you store it? I have a 55gal drum that I rotate through the furnace every 2-3 years. When stored I treat with biocide and Optilube XPD

 

[kloppk]

About 85 gallons. 55 gal drum with treated fuel, three 5 gal jugs, plus what's in the four MEPs fuel tanks.
I rotate the 55 out and burn it in my truck.

 

[Light in the Dark]

Never lost it here in southern NH. How much fuel do you guys keep on hand and how do you store it? I have a 55gal drum that I rotate through the furnace every 2-3 years. When stored I treat with biocide and Optilube XPD

 

[DieselAddict]

55 gallon drums here. Biocide treated in the drums and a little ATF or BioDiesel added when used in the equipment. Use off road stuff so I don't rotate it through the on-road vehicles. Got tractors and an excavator in addition to generators that keep the fuel moving.

 

[Farmitall]

I still use 5gal cans here to fill my sets, filled from a 300gal storage tank of off road diesel. Whenever that tank is filled, (usually when down 100gals) I add 1qt ATF and a container of Power Service anti gel treatment.
My diesel gets rotated at least one a year as I also use it in an on property only farm truck and tractor.

I try to get the big tank filled on the price dips if possible. So far, so good.

 

[Denvercaitland]

275 liters (75 gallons) . refill as needed at local truck stop , rotate through the skidsteer.

 

[Denvercaitland]

We had a rain/ wind storm on Monday which resulted in over 1500 seperate power outages initially impacting 130k customers in New Brunswick.

803 has been flawlessy powering the house for 62 hours and counting. ( we are in a rural area , likely to be another 24 to 48 hrs before power is restored)

Fluctuating load from 5% to 85%. And averaging 1.5 liter/hrs for fuel ( .4 US gallons). All other parameters are staying well within range.

Acquired the 803a in 2019 , I'm very thankful to the advice/ help received at the onset from forum members to make it operational and again a year and a half ago when I had to replace S8 and the main stator.

I have over the last 3 years used the set a few hours at the time but never for such an extended period. Will admit that it's nice to have something this reliable when really needed

UPDATE

96 + hours and counting . Operating flawlessy and all readings within range. I'm just curious what could explain the slight variation in oil pressure ( no concern but as a learning point). TM specifies a range of 20 to 60 psi. When operating at less than 6 kw ( < 60% load) oil reads 40 psi. 6 to 10kw oil reads 35 psi. Could it be simply because engine temp increase from 175° to 180° ?. ( 180° thermostat on the set). I check the oil level on regular intervals and all good. Thanks

 

[Chainbreaker]

UPDATE

96 + hours and counting . Operating flawlessy and all readings within range. I'm just curious what could explain the slight variation in oil pressure ( no concern but as a learning point). TM specifies a range of 20 to 60 psi. When operating at less than 6 kw ( < 60% load) oil reads 40 psi. 6 to 10kw oil reads 35 psi. Could it be simply because engine temp increase from 175° to 180° ?. ( 180° thermostat on the set). I check the oil level on regular intervals and all good. Thanks

Just curious... what Brand/Weight oil are you running and how many hours on oil if you know?

 

[2Pbfeet]

UPDATE

96 + hours and counting . Operating flawlessy and all readings within range. I'm just curious what could explain the slight variation in oil pressure ( no concern but as a learning point). TM specifies a range of 20 to 60 psi. When operating at less than 6 kw ( < 60% load) oil reads 40 psi. 6 to 10kw oil reads 35 psi. Could it be simply because engine temp increase from 175° to 180° ?. ( 180° thermostat on the set). I check the oil level on regular intervals and all good. Thanks

First, take the gauge readings with a big pinch of salt. The value is in the right range.

Temperature increases do lower the viscosity of the oil slightly, (but the effect is small, 1-2% range) and it also changes the size of small gaps in bearings. I suspect that the larger effect is that under load, the gap on the unloaded side of the crankshaft bearings expands and allows (slightly) more oil to flow. 175 to 180F is 79.4 to 82.2C

So, as you can see, not much of an effect.

It is also possible that the pressure sensor itself has a temperature induced shift of its own, unrelated to load. This isn't a calibrated $4,000 sensor...

I would not read much into the shift.

All the best,

2Pbfeet

 

[Denvercaitland]

First, take the gauge readings with a big pinch of salt. The value is in the right range.

Temperature increases do lower the viscosity of the oil slightly, (but the effect is small, 1-2% range) and it also changes the size of small gaps in bearings. I suspect that the larger effect is that under load, the gap on the unloaded side of the crankshaft bearings expands and allows (slightly) more oil to flow. 175 to 180F is 79.4 to 82.2C

So, as you can see, not much of an effect.

It is also possible that the pressure sensor itself has a temperature induced shift of its own, unrelated to load. This isn't a calibrated $4,000 sensor...

I would not read much into the shift.

All the best,

2Pbfeet

Thanks

 

[Denvercaitland]

Just curious... what Brand/Weight oil are you running and how many hours on oil if you know?

Shell Rotella T4 15W40. Last oil change was at 2100 hrs. Now at 2300 hrs ( last 110 hrs continuous).

December 23, 2023

youtube.com

Just curious... what Brand/Weight oil are you running and how many hours on oil i

 

[kayak1]

I lost power Dec 18th around 09:20, it returned Dec 19th 17:05.
Between solar and my MEP-802a was able to keep my batteries topped off (almost zero solar on the 18th).

The weekly generator test kicked in on the 19th at 17:30 which made me think that we lost power again.

The two-wire start board from kloppk did a great job and let my solar system control the MEP-802a allowing me not to have to worry about my house or my wife back home. I was able to then spend time as part of our volunteer fire department/EMA director opening roads, emptying basements and coordinating with the power company to log road issues that I needed them to address.

As Maine recovers from storm, power outages fall below 600

The number of customers without electricity in Maine fell to around 500 by Sunday afternoon, six days after a fierce wind and rain storm knocked out power to about 500,000 customers.

www.pressherald.com

 

[cbisson]

Lost it here for hours. The 1030 kept the house lit, warm, hot showers, hot coffee and cooked dinner.

Kurt, how would you say the 1030 compares to the 802a in terms of noise?

 

[kloppk]

I find the 1030 quieter than my 802A. Not a HUGE difference, but definitely noticeable. The 3rd cylinder in the 1030 makes the engine purr compared to the 2 cyl paint shaker 802A.

 

[DieselAddict]

+1 on what Kurt reports. I find the sound from the 1030 to be less noticeable in the house. The 802 has a lower frequency sound that goes through walls better where the 1030 has a higher frequency sound (due to the 3 cylinders vs 2) and that shift is just enough to make it less noticeable when you have something between you and the machine.

Standing right beside each machine, the difference is less dramatic. But put some space and a few objects between you and the generator and the differences are much more noticeable.