Electricity Generator(s): advice & help selecting

NoADSLyet said:
Yeah possible but could lead to property damage injury or loss of life., The correct way would be to have a change over switch (manual) or change over relay contactor (Automatic). The connection will then be broken from the one before connecting to the other. There should be a time delay in this operation to ensure all equipment dissipated the energy before the "new" power reconnects else special synchronizing electronics is required.
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So if i tell my electrician i want a Change over relay contractor then he'll know what im talking about?

With this, will the generator start automatically when i have a power cut?

Thanks
 
mxit_fan said:
So if i tell my electrician i want a Change over relay contractor then he'll know what im talking about?

With this, will the generator start automatically when i have a power cut?

Thanks
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If the electrician is qualified he would be able to do it correctly. It can be automated by using a relay that would switch over (ON assuming Normally open contacts) when Escom power is available thus cutting of the generator power from the supply line and connecting escom through. If the power fails then the contactor will drop out connecting and starting the power generator assuming of course it has a auto or push-button starter. Please be sure that there is a delay before the generator starts and again a on-delay before the contactor switch over when Escom power returns to allow time switching off the generator. This will have up to a minute interruption of the supply. PC's should be then run of ups if not allowed to stop. A more expensive or rather less frequency sensitive UPS must be used to ensure that the UPS will start of a generator supply.
 
So what generators are any good? I prepared to pay up to 30k for the entire setup which includes connections to the current switch board.

Only catch is it needs at least 9kVA of continues power.
I see Honda makes bigger than 6kVA generators but I'm not sure where you'd get hold of them.
 
mxit_fan said:
Hi guys, just bought a Ellies Silent Diesel Motor Generator - 5 or 5.5 kVA similar to the one here http://www.ellies.co.za/v2/index.php?id=724

Now how do i go about connecting this?

I've heard you can turn off all switches on your mains and run a plug from the generator to one of the plugs in the house and this will provide power to all other plugs in the house creating a circuit...however this does not sound safe, nor a very permanant solution..

How are you guys connecting these generators? Should i call an electrician rather?

Another thing is that i want the generator to switch on automatically when the power goes. How would i go about doing this?

The guy i bought it from said something about a DV board or ATS board or something which i would have to purchase in order to achieve this with this generator (follow link above). How exactly does it work?

Thanks for any help/tips...
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Ah - the Voicy Method - thats the way I do it - make sure you trip the mains and the earth leakage before attempting it otherwise when the power returns . . . . :eek:

As a result of using this method I now have about 100 meters of spare extension cords lying around :D
 
Haha but the only downside i see to that is that i have to physically go and trip the swtches on the mains and go and manually start the generator which is outside everytime i get a power cut..

Where do you guys keep your generators? And do you keep it in any sort of housing?
I say that because the guy tried to sell me this huge pool pump housing for the generator i bought. He said just as an extra precaution if your keeping the generator outside, so that it doesnt get damaged in the rain and that. I just had to make some extra holes for the exhaust. I ended up not purchased the cover for now.

I havent connected the generator yet, but im thinking of putting it just outside my room windows as we have an overhanging roof which would protect it from rain etc. Is this a good idea? Somehow i think not as the fumes from this thing can kill as its too close to the windows. Also i have an aircon installed, so the fumes could make its way through the vent.

What do you guys suggest? Im not too keen on the huge pool pump cover idea, but at the same time i dont want it to get damaged.

Should i maybe get the pool pump cover and put it in the plants somewhere?
 
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Gnome said:
So what generators are any good? I prepared to pay up to 30k for the entire setup which includes connections to the current switch board.

Only catch is it needs at least 9kVA of continues power.
I see Honda makes bigger than 6kVA generators but I'm not sure where you'd get hold of them.
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Siemens used to sell a generator control card for starting up of generators. Money talks! If you are really interested I can assist, Just PM me. I recently saw a 9500 KVA unit at MAkro do not know if they still have.

Here is an example project to get the Idea.

http://www.kinzers.com/don/GenSet/

Some more Info if doing it correctly is required ( this is normally for a huge gen)
http://www.mechron.com/pdf/GC2000 Generator Controller.pdf

Any takers if I build a control circuit? :D
 
Hey guys, aside from my home generator, i am looking for 3 X 350KvA generators...Yeah you heard right! :p

Do you guys know where i would be able to find such powerful generators for a good price?

Thanks for any help
 
mxit_fan said:
Haha but the only downside i see to that is that i have to physically go and trip the swtches on the mains and go and manually start the generator which is outside everytime i get a power cut..

Where do you guys keep your generators? And do you keep it in any sort of housing?
I say that because the guy tried to sell me this huge pool pump housing for the generator i bought. He said just as an extra precaution if your keeping the generator outside, so that it doesnt get damaged in the rain and that. I just had to make some extra holes for the exhaust. I ended up not purchased the cover for now.

I havent connected the generator yet, but im thinking of putting it just outside my room windows as we have an overhanging roof which would protect it from rain etc. Is this a good idea? Somehow i think not as the fumes from this thing can kill as its too close to the windows. Also i have an aircon installed, so the fumes could make its way through the vent.

What do you guys suggest? Im not too keen on the huge pool pump cover idea, but at the same time i dont want it to get damaged.

Should i maybe get the pool pump cover and put it in the plants somewhere?
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A enclosure is advised as rain will damage the generator unit. After all it is electricity and dangerous for that matter. No earth leakage on the cheap units. A enclosure will kill the noise and you will have to lock it as i know about someone who while watching TV to their surprise the gen stopped. They collected a torch to refill the fuel and found NO GEN! The sound was a dead freebie give away for the YOU KNOW WHO's
 
These are the main guys:

http://www.vrengineering.co.za/main-prod.html


If you want to do it then here is some Industrial AMF control boxes:
CONTROL PANEL AMF

(Automatic mains failure sets) box type, constructed from 2mm sheet steel, mounted on outer frame with anti-vibration mountings, equipped with the following:

A.M.F. Set (automatic mains failure) Control System

Not too expensive 3K+ DEPENDING ON REQUIREMENTS

ScreenShot0012.jpg


http://mybroadband.co.za/photos/showphoto.php?photo=2177&ppuser=11761
 
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Thanks, trying to contact them now but they are engaged. Must be very busy.

Would i be able to hook one of these AMF's to my home so that when the power cuts, the generator would kick in?
 
mxit_fan said:
Hey guys, aside from my home generator, i am looking for 3 X 350KvA generators...Yeah you heard right! :p

Do you guys know where i would be able to find such powerful generators for a good price?

Thanks for any help
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You are looking at

CODE DESCRIPTION UNIT
DSWP-250 GENSET DIESEL W/PROOF, AUTO 250kVA 3-PH 400V EA R 427,720.00

GDSWP-300 GENSET DIESEL W/PROOF, AUTO 300kVA 3-PH 400V EA R 484,150.00 MET 225

GDSWP-400 GENSET DIESEL W/PROOF, AUTO 400kVA 3-PH 400V EA R 584,600.00 MET 225

GDSWP-450 GENSET DIESEL W/PROOF, AUTO 450kVA 3-PH 400V EA R 600,150.00 MET 225

The above prices exclude VAT are subject to change without prior notice. Dealer list prices!

Just a sample as there are many factors affecting the price
 
mxit_fan said:
Thanks, trying to contact them now but they are engaged. Must be very busy.

Would i be able to hook one of these AMF's to my home so that when the power cuts, the generator would kick in?
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Yes! but for home use I would suggest smaller units that looks more homelike for home use items or a project build unit.

ScreenShot0051.jpg
 
Thanks for your help. Indeed there are many factors that affect the price.

I will try to get hold of them later.

Thanks again.

P.S. Whee woud be the best place to get the those smaller units from?

;)
 
mxit_fan said:
Thanks for your help. Indeed there are many factors that affect the price.

I will try to get hold of them later.

Thanks again.

P.S. Whee woud be the best place to get the those smaller units from?

;)
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From Me of course? :D ACDC is the Importer Distributor of those shown!
 
Ah i see :D

Where is the business located?

So those prices you gave me are from your dealers? Which make are they because they seem much more expensive than the other prices i have been quoted from other places. :o

Im looking for Sound proofing, weather proofing and possible AMF.
 
I need to power two pcs and a dot matrix printer - how do i know what gennie to get, how do i calculate the requirements. Please help, im going mad with these cuts
 
DiabloJ said:
I need to power two pcs and a dot matrix printer - how do i know what gennie to get, how do i calculate the requirements. Please help, im going mad with these cuts
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PC1's Power supply size + PC2's Power supply size + 2PC's Screen power requirements + Dot Matrix Watt rating on the back = X Watt

If you get a Gennie with at least about X Watt + some headroom, you should be ok.
 
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