I recently seperated the generator from the engine and replaced the rear main oil seal on the engine the electric generator was only moved back about 16-18 inches to access rear main seal. job went well with no problems after completeing job I turned down rpms to about 1000 rpm It was put back in service They use it to power up refer containers from the harbor. the next day I check it and they had turned up rpms to ??? as fast as it would run and 12 refer units running off it oh it's 480 volt well it ran for a week non stop and broke down and of corse it was my fault all i did was unbolt drive plate on front of rotor from flywheel of engine .est to repair is 6,000 could this be my fault after it ran for a week or caused from hi rpms and heat related possibley
Sorry man, your idea has been taken already they are called uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). They can seamlessly keep your computer and other similar electronics online with a battery backup until power is restored. For longer outages, most folks use an outdoor AC generator to power critical components (fridge, freezer, heating, maybe computer/modem). Also, your DC power outlets idea would not work logistically. Your modem and computer do indeed have power supply cords that convert 120 VAC into some DC voltage. So, in order to use your special DC outlets during an emergency, you would have to unplug the devices from the normal outlets, attach a special DC-DC cord, and then plug the device into the emergency DC outlets. So, this would be quite the headache and would also mean downtime while you switch over; by comparison a UPS would have no downtime. Also you have to figure in the additional complexity of installing emergency DC outlets in a home (more confusion for electricians and homeowners). Finally, a gas-powered generator in the basement isn't the best idea since internal combustion engines give off carbon monoxide. People have died from using products such as gas-powered pressure washers in enclosed areas. In fact, a fairly common way to commit suicide is to leave your car engine idle in an enclosed garage. So I propose sticking with the status quo here. AC outlets for all, and UPS devices for those that need emergency backup power for their computers (in your case to keep your phone service as well). edit: Oops, you did mention that you know that battery backups exist already. Still, the points that I and others have made still stand.
If they need a scapegoat, you're it. However if it ran for 168 hours on a diesel engine and things were not RE-torqued/double checked
A little more information would be helpful as to the size and model of generator. Is it possible the repair shop could give you more detailed explanation as to exactly what they believe happened? Is this a single bearing or two bearing generator? If it has only one bearing and the shaft is supported by the engine flywheel on the engine end, then the postion and shimming of the engine and generator may be critical to keep the rotor centered between the stator poles. These clearances are very small and they could have been rubbing if not aligned. On small single bearing types, the housings are made to fit together in perfect alignment, and can not be misaligned to avoid this problem. On larger units, this matched housing arrangement may not be possible. A generator with a bearing at each end of it's shaft is less likely to have this problem of rotor alingment, It would have a problem with coupling or bearing failures if not properly aligned with the engine. This link may help explain. cumminsgeneratortechnologies.
