Master thread for disasters and generators.

[Poppy]

Have not seen data on this... but chances of both your units dying is slim. I would not worry about it.

Long term storage... technically you're supposed to put a little oil in cylinder through the spark plug hole and pull the rope to coat the bore with oil to prevent rusting. I've never done this. Would probably consider it if storing for longer than a year or so. You stop pulling when you feel compression... this ensures the valves are closed, sealing the cylinder.

I tried the oil directly in the cylinder trick many years ago for my snowblower. For some reason I didn't put the spark plug back in, and that winter/summer I think the cylinder rusted. Because the following winter when I started it up, it smoked. It never did that before. I think it also lost a couple of horse power, like down from a 7hp to a 5hp.

So guys, don't leave the spark plug out!

 

[Poppy]

This question may need a thread of its own.

Would an automobile engine (V8 or I6) be suitable for running a generator for a backup power system for an all-electric home? Would it use too much fuel, compared to a commercial ready made generator like a Generac, etc.?

Generally, an idling car uses somewhere between 1/5 to 1/7 gallon of fuel per hour. Compact cars that carry a 2-liter capacity engine burn around 0.16 – 0.3 gallons of gas on a per-hourly basis. A large sedan, on the other hand, with a 4.6-liter engine, burns approximately 0.5 – 0.7 gallons of gas while idling.Aug 14, 2023
Source

How Much Gas Does Idling Use?

Know how much Gas does Idling use and its facts. Everyone has their own perceptions about this so knowing the technicality behind the same is essential.

carfromjapan.com

IIRC a 4.6L engine idles at around 800 rpm. If a gen set requires 3500 rpm then you'll need to get a pully or gear set that will drive the generator at a higher rate of speed than the engine idle. Certainly that will put a small load on the engine so it will burn more fuel.

I suppose that it might be feasible. IIRC my 10HP briggs engine in a 5500 watt genset would burn 5 gallons in 8 hours.

 

[orbital]

+

BVH is the only person I'v seen mention Pecron.
I'v used my E1000s' for a few years & they've been workhorses for me

so thumbs up to that

solar?

 

[BVH]

I will eventually get some panels to recharge the Pecrons. All my research kept bringing me back to the Pecrons. Cost, Capacity and features-wise, they can't be beat in my humble opinion.

 

[BVH]

It's really a hobby, not a need so the money spent is for having fun and being prepared. We don't travel or have other expensive hobbies.

 

[raggie33]

i think i saw maybe it was amazon had 100 watt panels for 80 bucks

 

[orbital]

I will eventually get some panels to recharge the Pecrons. All my research kept bringing me back to the Pecrons. Cost, Capacity and features-wise, they can't be beat in my humble opinion.

+

Get larger panels when you do, same amount of work setting up, just more watts.
like 320W panels / just four of those will get alot done, really
(a 320W panel will give you about 250W most of the time, some very clear days more)

Have to recommend this controller for your LFP, just great for the low cost & it even has potted electronics

40A MPPT Solar Charge Controller with Parallel Charging & Bluetooth

HQST provides all your affordable solar equipment. Shop for starter solar panel kits, solar panels, other off grid systems. Reliable and Durable! Black Friday is coming! Up To 35% Off!

hqsolarpower.com

 

[BVH]

Thanks Orbital. The Pecrons have dual built-in MPPT controllers up to 700 Watts input combined so I wouldn't need to buy one of those. In the reviews, they preferred connecting panels in Serial to be up at 45 or greater Volts. I think they will handle up to 95 Volts. I believe the reviewers said charging would not start until input voltage was 30 or 32 minimum. I see lots of info and adapters for Parallel connections but very little on Serializing them. When you buy two of the same panels, can you choose to Parallel or Serial them?

 

[KITROBASKIN]

Series connection of solar panels involves simply plugging them into each other, with one pole on the first panel, the other pole on the last panel. Be careful not to go too close to maximum volts of charge controller. Winter clear skies and cool temperatures can exceed panel voltage rating on some models.

Parallel connection of panels require combiners. One can do a combination of series and parallel connection of multiple solar panels. Shading considerations can apply as to how solar panel arrays function best.

 

[orbital]

.. When you buy two of the same panels, can you choose to Parallel or Serial them?

+

Your Pecrons' have two solar inputs,
so your can have one large 24V panel plugged into one input & one large 24V panel plugged into the other input
..meaning two 24v panels for one E2000LFP
No need to series/parallel the panels

you can do that twice for your two Pecrons

=hope that makes sense=