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Topics - cold comfort farm

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1
Generators / Grid tie Lister generator
« on: January 16, 2009, 02:53:02 PM »
We are currently putting together a small CHP installation 1.5kw Electricity which we would like to grid tie.
Basically we have a 1.5kw Lister generator run on waste veg oil and later would add solar or wind. Our preference is to use the generated 240v for an isolated area away from the grid.  I would also like to feed excess power from the generator to the house via a grid tie inverter.   (not a normal inverter)
I was thinking that rather than spin a PMG alternator we could convert the output from the generator DC using a bridge rectifier.  I know there are losses and is not the most efficient way of doing it but all this is there apart from the rectifier and inverter and is free to use.  Due to the loads from the house it would be impractical to isolate the house from the grid and just use the generator.  My loads are 150w day, 300-800w evening and peak at 7kw (kettle and Oven)
 
I cannot find a rectifier bigger than 48V input what would be the output of a typical inverter.  I also intend to trickle charge a small bank of batteries (which we have) with spare electricity and a 240v charger so we can use the power stored in the batteries through the inverter when everything has been switched off or its gone dark or no wind.

Has anyone done this already as most of the inverter people are ignoring my emails. I think they think I am barmy.

Thanks in advance.

CCF. :)

2
Other Fuels / Lister LD on solid veg fat
« on: January 04, 2009, 09:33:51 AM »
Hi All, Happy new year to you all.
I am wondering if any one has run their Lister LD (AIR Cooled) engine on solid chip fat/lard.  I was just wondering what mods you had made.
I currently have the Exhaust running through the tank so the tank is heated.  The lines are insulated but the injector and bleed pipe are not yet insulated.
I have just a bit more work to do before the fat goes in, but wondered should i be doing anything else first.

Kind Regards
Stephen

3
Generators / LD 18 wont charge batteries
« on: July 13, 2008, 10:29:21 AM »
Does anyone have any Idea why my lister SOM is discharging the batteries shown on the amp meter as -ve. I just cant get it to charge the 24v bank.  If i cant get it to work then i will have to disconnect it an use the 230v to charge the batteries via a standard charger, just seems a waste though. ???



Stephen

4
Generators / Lister LD18 SOM Wiring problem
« on: June 07, 2008, 09:54:26 PM »
Hi,
I have just bought a Lister LD18 and have found one brown wire hanging off inside the control box.  I cant seem to trace it with the wiring diagram.  Does anyone know where it needs to be connected.
Its in the set of 3 wires from th solonoid control on the engine to the wiring in the box.

Here is a photo of the machine. I will try to photo the offending wire tomorrow.


Please help

Stephen

5
Engines / Injector return pipe
« on: May 26, 2008, 01:08:38 PM »
My Lister CS 3hp has what looks like a return pipe from the injector blocked off. Is this a usual mod?  I would have thought it would put the injector under a little strain.

Thoughts anyone!!

Stephen

6
Generators / ST alternator connected to grid
« on: May 23, 2008, 11:08:34 PM »
Hi, I am looking at using a 240v 50hz alternator connected to the grid via an islanding / phase relay.  The relay will isolate the generator if the mains goes down making it safe for people to work on here in the UK. This part works OK
I am now looking to connect my lister up to a suitable AC generator and wondered what the ST 2 Alternators are like.  I am confused about the comments on reliability and dirty output.

Any comments are welcome. ???

Stephen

7
Waste Vegetable Oil / Solid Lard
« on: October 04, 2007, 11:34:44 AM »
Has anyone blended solid lard with WVO and been brave enough to run a car on it?

If so what blends do you use?

Regards

Stephen

8
Lister Based Generators / Battery Bank and Inverter
« on: May 22, 2007, 04:15:46 PM »
Hi all
I am currently trying to get a feel for how big my battery bank needs to be so I bought an electrisave to monitor all my consumption.
During the day I use about 400w/ h = 1.6A on 240V

This is my typical usage during a 24 hour period.
Please assume that high loads such as kettle etc will not be on this circuit. The kitchen is split out separate to the rest of the house.
 
So if we say I draw 3 amps per hour over 4 hours and then 2amps for the remaining 20 hours
= 12amps + 40amps = 52amp hours per day.
 
Assume a 900 amp hour batt bank and assuming we don’t discharge lower than 300 amps = 600 amps usable. At 48V or 24V. I am converting to 240V.

Any one any idea on run times of a Lister, Max amount of charge I can put in the batteries for min run time and how long the batteries will last. And finally is this good or bad usage.

Regards
Stephen
 

9
Straight Vegetable Oil / WVO filtering
« on: May 22, 2007, 04:07:17 PM »
Hi all,
just a simple question about WVO.
When I allow the WVO to settle I get 3 layers.
Top layer nice clean oil
Middle layer fatty layer of oil
Bottom layer water.

My question is does anyone filter this middle layer for wvo and run a Lister from it.  Not turn it into Bio.
I can easily warm this layer up to 80C ish.

Regards

Stephen

10
General Discussion / Photos
« on: May 16, 2007, 12:09:44 PM »
Could we add a place for Photos, show me yours and I will show you mine.  lol.
It may help with ideas etc.

Any Thoughts.

Stephen ;D

11
Generators / Starting a Lister with or without load
« on: May 16, 2007, 12:06:44 PM »
This may be a daft question but I will ask it anyhow.  If you are using a Lister and generator, do you start the Lister with the generator connected but no load or just start the lot generating whilst turning it over.

Stephen
 ???

12
Generators / Economy 7 top up
« on: May 11, 2007, 06:51:36 PM »
I am slowly putting together a Lister generator, battery and inverter. My question is this: if I switched my supply back to economy 7. would it be economical to boost the batteries via a battery charger on economy 7 then discharge them thorough the day. Assuming that the Lister has not charged the batteries to full capacity. Would this work out more economical or am I missing something such as conversion factors. 
The kw tariff ratings are:
Day units 8.81p
Night units 3.83p 12pm till 8am

I intend to run the lister for several hours each evening. switch off at bed time then around silly oclock in the morning automatically switch over from battery to mains (assuming there is not enough life left in the bank). and top up the batteries with cheap electric. switch back before 8am therefore i dont use any day units as i am using the energy stored in the battery.

This is too simple, so what have i missed.
Many Thanks.


Stephen ;D

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