So I picked up two of these units many years ago. Apparently they're from a telecom unit that had two running together in parallel for 400a @ 48v hooked up to a NG engine. Not sure if it was spec's at 1800 rpm or 3600 rpm. There is some information on the Micro Go gen forum but the site seems to be down. At least you can't get into any sub forms.

Anyway apparently these are rated for 48v @ 200a each. I'm really just in the testing phase but I haven't a clue as to how to wire these up and there is ZERO information about them online. I gather as most units like these utilize 3 phase AC output, my intention is to rectify the output to DC and run that into a charge controller/inverter.  Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Jp3 has been on my bucket list for some time. I'd like to restore it with my Son. 

I have three of these engines. Lister CE, one is a parts engine so if you get stuck I may be able to help.

As was notes, parts are the real problem as there is no real following for them like the CS engines. I have a broken crank on one of them, and sourcing a replacement has come up empty, other them spending a small fortune to obtain one from across the pond.

I always consider North American 240v "split phase". It's single phase power, since as you will notice you only have one "hot" line on your power poles. Keep your eye on them and you will notice when there are 3 hot wires up there. Then you can access true 3 phase power. I actually see a lot of 3 wire power poles around me since I live in farm country, although my road only has single phase. 

Funny... usually I check them for this sort of thing. They slipped my mind 

Thanks

Bruce, my neighbor has been making maple syrup most of his life here in Vermont. His father got him involved in it as a young boy. Growing up in MA I was never exposed to it as a youngster. He has introduced me to it slowly over the past few years since I bought the land next to him. When I moved here and built my house he already had an evaporator  setup. It was a pretty small unit but worked for his land and trees. A few years ago he asked me if he could tap sugar maple trees on my land as I have several nice "sugar bushes" as their called up here. Basically these are sections of forest that are primarily Sugar maple trees. He added about 1000 taps on my land so far, to his already 400 taps. So two years ago he purchased a lager evaporator to handle the added sap output. Some of these trees are tapped with lines that deliver the sap to a large holding tank, others are still tapped the traditional way with buckets that are harvested every couple days depending on how the sap is running. Typically the sugar content that comes from a tree is 2%, the boiling process that is typically done with wood boils the water away to increase the sugar content till you have maple syrup.

Regarding your question concerning vacuum evaporation I don't think it would work for sugaring, although I could be wrong. All I can say is I have never heard of it being done that way, now that's not to say it can't be done. I have just never seen or heard of it being done. Part of what makes the maple syrup maple syrup is the controlled heating process and it's my understanding that this helps produce the "shingle-ing" process that is checked frequently during the boiling process. You can burn the sap easily if it isn't monitored and you can taste the difference if it's been over done. Essentially you dip a spatula looking device into the syrup while it's in the pan to check to see how it films as it drops off back into the pan.

There are methods to increase the sugar content of the sap before it's boiled, this is usually done with reverse osmosis. This cuts down on the amount of sap you have to boil for a given amount of syrup. Less fuel to either purchase or prepare for the season.

Here is a small rig in St. Albans VT. (just north of me)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnAmbjLfab0[/youtube]

As you can see this small unit still goes for $6500 bucks. So pretty pricey. Usually the big outfits use it to cut down on the amount of wood needed. My neighbor usually goes through 5-7 cords in 2-3 weeks, depending on how long the season lasts in the spring.

The vacuum setup the lister will be running is actually used in the taping process when lines are run into large holding tanks. You run 18-22 inches of vacuum and it essentially sucks the sugar sap out of the tree. This is only done during the spring when the sap is running. I don't know if you have ever cut a branch off a Sugar Maple tree when it's running but it will bleed sap at an amazing rate. For instance if you gathered 400 gallons of sap from 200 taps without vacuum you can essentially double the output to to 800 gallons for the same 200 taps. A good rule of thump is 40 gal of sap at 2% for one gallon of syrup. So now those 200 taps will make 20 gallons of syrup as opposed to 10 gallons. At ~$35 per gallon it can make a big difference. Last year was a really poor year for sugaring as the weather didn't cooperate at all. We made about 90 gallons of syrup. The year before on 200 fewer taps we made 130 gallons.

Will see how it "pans" out, if I don't get the engine running in time for this year it should be good for next year (2014). He has his little Honda to get him though this year hopefully.

-Randy

Thank you peter, for the injection nozzle information.

This page is listed on the oldengine.org site as a JP starter. No part number but it does show the pinion gear. Perhaps another page on this manual has a more detailed listing of the specific parts.

http://www.oldengine.org/members/diesel/Injection/CAV30.htm

I didn't get a chance yesterday to take a peak at the solenoid that is attached to the fuel pump and rack. Tomorrow I should be able to take it apart and see what is involved.

Randy

Gary,

I measured my lines this morning. I measured both the CS lines and the CE lines. Both are the same OD. At .190 inches. Just about 4.8mm I measured the length of the 12/2 lines. They're both are about 20" in length. I then measured the lines on the CE, about 27". The longer length appears to be because the dual plunger CAV on the CE is located in the center of the engine opposite the injectors, where the 12/2 uses two single plunger CAV units each placed on the far end of the engine.

I don't thing CS lines will be long enough. I spoke with one of my local diesel injector shops and he said he can supply me with the line and the weld on fittings to make my own line. I thought I would bring my injectors in to have them cleaned while I was at it. They quoted me $35 per injector. Not sure if that is the going rate or not.

Randy