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Messages - veggie

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1
Generators / Re: ST Generator Efficiency ?
« on: January 17, 2024, 07:01:10 PM »
cujet

Thanks for the numbers. All the research I have done regarding DC alternators states that the average efficiency is around 55%.
So it would seem that the ST generator is far more efficient at making power.
A difference of 30%  (85 compared to 55) is considerable.
In other words, my engine with an alternator would have to work 30% harder to make the same power as an ST head.

2
Listeroid Engines / Re: Whete to find non detergent oil in canada
« on: January 09, 2024, 07:36:33 PM »

You could just use the regular "Diesel Engine Oil" sold at Canadian Tire.
SAE 15-40 weight, or straight SAE40.
I have used them in my Lister(oid) and Changfa engines.

3
Listeroid Engines / Re: Lubrication port beside the decompression lever.
« on: December 26, 2023, 03:22:47 PM »
I have never opened my Cam oil port. If the bearing is tucked away in an upper corner of the crankcase, I wonder were it gets oil from?
The idea to divert some lubrication to this point seems like a good one. Currently, I'm fitting a pump and oil filter to the sump, so branching
 the return line and running a tube to that port would not be hard to do.

4
Listeroid Engines / Lubrication port beside the decompression lever.
« on: December 25, 2023, 04:40:40 PM »
Question regarding the little oil plug right beside the decompression lever on Lister and Listeroid engines.
Is it an access port or a lubrication port?
When are we supposed to drip oil into that plug hole ?

It looks like it would lubricate the cam bushing, but isn't that bearing splash lubricated ?

The manual says nothing bout this port  ???

5
Generators / Re: ST3 Noise and vibration
« on: December 07, 2023, 06:46:04 PM »
Veggie,  I'm surely not smart enough to help you with electrics but wanted to say I'm sure glad to see Bruce posting.
My ST15 doesnt care how the 110 loads are split but an ST-5 I have paired with a 6/1 will protest loudly if the 110  loads get nore than a little bit imbalanced

Nothing like a good electrical question to pull Bruce out of hiding  ;)
Greetings to you both, 38AC and BruceM

6
Generators / Re: ST3 Noise and vibration
« on: December 07, 2023, 03:58:55 AM »

Hi BruceM

Yes, you confirmed my understanding of neutral bonding.
ONLY one point in the system can have the neutral/ground connection.
In my case the greenhouse is off grid.

veggie

7
Generators / Re: ST3 Noise and vibration
« on: December 07, 2023, 12:35:19 AM »
@BruceM,

You nailed it ! Thanks.
I rewired to 120 volts and all noise and vibration disappeared.
If you look at the pictures above, the 4-prong 240 volt receptacle in the orange box now has two 20A, 120 volt receptacles.
Full load and still quiet. No vibration.

My house transfer switch requires split phase 240, so this generator will be mostly useless as a backup house generator.
Fortunately it powers the greenhouse 120vac electrical + heat loads, so it still has a job. ;D
Hmmmm.... time for another generator build for the house ?  ::)

Now, here's a question for you (and anyone else).
The listeroid/ST-3 will be powering a greenhouse that is not grid connected.
It's electric outlets are not connected to the house, so they are not wired to a source that has ground and neutral bonded.
The ST-3 head has a floating neutral (not bonded to ground)
When powering the greenhouse, the whole system is a floating neutral.

When using the ST heads for home service the floating neutral is desired, but for powering anything other than a house, do we bond the ground with neutral?  or not?
As a test, I made a plug which connects ground to neutral, and plugged it into the generator outlet while running. No observable change.
However, the safety aspect changed. For the better? or for the worse? I don't know.

Here's another (but similar) example:
A listeroid with ST head powering a 120 volt 75 amp (24 volt)  battery charger for a large battery bank (1900 watts). No grid connection at all.
The charger is plugged directly in to a 120 outlet on the 120VAC ST head using standard 20A 120 volt plug with L1, Neutral, and Ground prongs.
Should the ground be connected to the neutral somewhere at the origin of the power ?

cheers



8
Generators / Re: ST3 Noise and vibration
« on: December 06, 2023, 06:51:29 PM »
Thanks BruceM,

Based on your comments I will reconfigure to 120 volt as most of my loads are that voltage.
That growling/vibration is really terrible !
Wiring for 120vac should allow me to pull the full load without issue.

cheers

9
Generators / ST3 Noise and vibration
« on: December 06, 2023, 02:44:50 AM »
I spoke too soon when I installed my new ST3 head.
When I test ran the unit (unloaded) it was quiet and smooth.
Then I tested it with a balanced 240 volt ac load. Again smooth and quiet.
So I thought all was good.

Well ... today I tested it with a 1200 watt resistive space heater on one leg and only a 75 watt light on the other leg.
The growling and vibration was so bad that I thought something had broken in my system !
Terrible vibration every time I unbalanced the two legs, but just fine when the power is balanced.
A] Is this normal for an ST3 (do they need a balanced load all time) ?
B] Can it be fixed ??

Veggie

Here's some pictures.
The unit is wired for 230 volt and I am loading one leg more than the other when the vibrations and noise occurs.

10
Generators / Re: ST Generator Efficiency ?
« on: December 06, 2023, 02:36:56 AM »

Hi Bronco, I read the 92% effy somewhere when I bought my 3600 rpm 4kw Brushless Voltmaster head.
I have since tried to find the specs but I can't.  I'll take you word for it that an effy in the 70's is more realistic and that's what I am finding elsewhere too.
My reason for the info is that I was evaluating the difference in overall system efficiency when running a 24 volt Delco 26si vs an ST3 gen head for charging a battery bank.
If the efficiencies were close, I prefer the DC alternator because it's not sensitive to engine speed and I can run the Lister at wherever speed I want. 
However, if the AC alternator is considerably more efficient, the fuel savings could add up to a significant amount over several years.

11
Generators / Re: ST Generator Efficiency ?
« on: December 04, 2023, 10:11:25 PM »
Bump !!!

Any ideas at all regarding ST head efficiencies?
I'm trying to get an idea if they are much more efficient than a 24 volt Delco industrial DC alternator rated at 55%

12
Changfa Engines / Re: Changfa 1115 knocking
« on: December 03, 2023, 06:30:01 PM »

From this website:
https://studybuff.com/does-ethylene-glycol-raise-boiling-point/

What happens to the boiling point of water when ethylene glycol is added?
BOILING & FREEZING POINTS Pure water, as you may know, has a boiling point of 212F (100C) and a freezing point of 32F (0C). However, when you create a 50/50 mixture using water and ethylene glycol, the boiling point rises to 223F (106C) and the freezing point lowers to -35F (-37C).


So, your boiling point is now 223F.  Too hot for a diesel in my opinion.
Switch to plain water so that the evaporative effect can cool the engine.


13
Listeroid Engines / Re: Aftermarket (more accurate) Governor Spring
« on: December 02, 2023, 06:02:50 PM »

@ Hugh Conway,

When you installed your 9/16" spring, did you make any other mods to the governor? or was it just an external spring swap ?

Veggie

15
Generators / Re: Call for pictures and suggestions. New ST3 Install
« on: November 15, 2023, 06:23:35 PM »

Thanks 38AC,
That box you installed is much better that the thin sheet metal unit that comes with the ST heads.
Also, I will take note of the rectifier advice and buy backup.

cheers

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