We have had good luck with a product called "Kim Hot Start". We have one install that runs 24/7 and tokes some 800W (When it cycles). Another is set up for manual control (on a switch) that needs to be turned on a few hours before a start. I've been noodling with an Aux controlled contactor for auto operation, but haven't wrangled anything I'm real comfy with yet. there are diesel engines out there that pop off by them selves with no external heat, even at -20F. Good Luck. db
Dan Brown
Foxfire Energy Corp.
Renewable Energy Systems
(802)-483-2564
www.Foxfire-Energy.com
NABCEP #092907-44
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Gen preheat in cold climates
From: James Jefferson Jarvis <[email protected]>
Date: Fri, April 03, 2015 11:21 am
To: [email protected]
On 4/3/2015 9:32 AM, [email protected] wrote:
> We are dealing with a generator that absolutely won't start when cold, so
> I was considering a block heater. Below 20 deg F it has proven worthless,
> and we can see -20 F on occasion.
I had a generator like that. Below zero it wouldn't start. Replaced it's
cranking battery with a bigger battery and it starts great. There are
also super-capacitor based solutions to get better cranking. If you have
a 24 volt system and your generator is near your battery bank, you may
even be able to put a 24 volt starter on the generator and start from
your battery bank.
> My concern is using power from a low battery on a cold cloudy day to heat
> a generator. How long does it take to make a difference? Has this method
> proven 100% reliable?
What type and how big of engine are you talking about? How big is the
block heater? My limited block heater experience with vehicles,
tractors, etc is that an hour won't be enough. A couple hours is needed.
With coolant heaters and fuel injected engines, an hour can actually
cause problems. A pocket of coolant gets warm and tricks the engine
management computer into thinking the coolant is warm. Then it tries to
do a warm start and fails.
Getting a generator that starts reliably is the best solution I see for
a moderate sized off grid installation. Otherwise you are putting a lot
of energy into warming up an engine that might not start. And leaving
you in a worse situation than you started.
-James Jefferson Jarvis
APRS World, LLC
+1-507-454-2727
www.aprsworld.com
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