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Within reason... an 803 is an 803 any year. With that said... if you have a choice, Fermont made a better product (versus the earlier Libby models).
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I've been looking at them and Aurora. I think I would be into a well over $10,000 investment with either. I guess it really depends on what a MEP -803A in good shape will go for. I am hoping I would do a lot less than that. I think I can get a Kubota 11kW for $6K, albeit 3600 RPM, but it's a relatively small unit.Before you go crazy bidding on unknowns consider what you can purchase a brand new diesel generator for. Hardy Diesel Generators is one source to look at. Note that their units are either single or three phase but not both. They also price muffler and enclosure kits separate.
Yeah you would have to add the $325 muffler kit but they have a drum kit for $129 and I think I could build an enclosure for way less than they sell them for.Once you start adding in acoustic case and an onboard tank the prices really rise. If you have somewhere to mount a gen and don't need the case and tank then they are a decent deal.
Excellent find.I've been watching 803a auctions for the last few months. I just picked up a sweet 2010 (like new) on the trailer for $3800. 91 actual hours, not reset, green camo paint isn't even faded. Oil looks new, fuel was even clean when I drained it. Bolts still have lines painted on them, there's not even a spider web in this thing! Must have been stored inside. I'm replacing return fuel lines, and bungs in fuel tank for longevity, and new batteries. But I don't even need to change fluids. I'm very happy with my machine. I think I got a good deal.
Was just reading back through your post and noticed the quoted comments. I think you will find the 60 amp circuit is just the supplemental heat strips. You should have a 40 amp circuit that runs the actual heat pump/ac unit including the evaporator and condenser fans. My MEP will start and run my 3.5 ton unit with a grunt during start but I don't think it would run the additional heat strip circuit. If power goes out with the temps in the twenties I will just have to be content with a system running non stop to keep the house at 60. If you want ALL the amenities of an all electric house during an outage you will probably need to pony up for a 24KW or larger unit.Why 10kw? Well, I've calculated that based on what I think I need for other types of generators but I realize that might not apply to a MEP, given that it's overbuilt. 10kW could be too much. I'd love to go smaller if I can make the math add-up. I do have a load shedding system already that will work independent of the generator (i.e. not Generac's proprietary controller-based stuff).
- I have 3.5 ton heat pump. 117 LRA. I need to start that. My 60A blower/evaporator circuit carries 8kW electric heater strips that cycle on possibly a dozen or so nights about 3 months a year. I actually thought I didn't need them until they broke once. I guess I wasn't aware of exactly when that heat pump just can't keep up the exchange.
Thanks. My panel isn't labeled all that well and I wasn't exactly sure. I do have a 40 amp circuit as you described. My heat strips are only 8,000 watts. Isn't that only 33 amps even though the breaker is much larger?Was just reading back through your post and noticed the quoted comments. I think you will find the 60 amp circuit is just the supplemental heat strips. You should have a 40 amp circuit that runs the actual heat pump/ac unit including the evaporator and condenser fans. My MEP will start and run my 3.5 ton unit with a grunt during start but I don't think it would run the additional heat strip circuit. If power goes out with the temps in the twenties I will just have to be content with a system running non stop to keep the house at 60. If you want ALL the amenities f an all electric house during an outage you will probably need to pony up for a 24KW or larger unit.
So far we have had little need even for AC during the hurricane outages. Outside temps have been pretty mild but that doesn't mean it will always work out that way.
Holy crap! I had no idea they made 24kW heat strips.This is why my heat pump isn't hooked to the generator. 24,000W of strip heater...
This will make you cry. My municipality is signed up with the Federal surplus donation program that enables us to requisition surplus as its released. We have first dibs on all surplus "after other Federal agencies" and what is not spoken for gets sent for public auctions that you all see. Yes we do pay a fee for the transfers to cover the paperwork but its very reasonable. In the last year I have picked up 3 trailer mounted gensets 802A, 803A, and an 804B all in great shape and low hours "less than 100hrs" for 5% of original government purchase price. That works out to be about $600, $750, $900 respectively. I keep these around for emergencies or as back ups for our communication towers. The 5K we find very handy and drag it with us to remote job sites that my department gets involved in. After 18 months the municipalities own them.I'm still trying to sell an 803A with a little over 5000 hours on it. Everything works and I refreshed it when I got it. I still have not had a serious buyer. I'm asking $3000 but will negotiate. People like to call on it, setup a showing and then fall off the planet.
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