Diesel Engine Damage

Diesel engine damage due to misapplication or misuse of generating set
Diesel engines can suffer damage as a result of misapplication or misuse - namely internal glazing and carbon buildup. This is a common problem in generator sets caused by failure to follow application and operating guidelines - ideally diesel engines should run at least around 60-75% of their maximum rated load. Short periods of low load running are permissible providing the set is brought up to full load, or close to full load on a regular basis.

Internal glazing and carbon buildup is due to prolonged periods of running at low speeds and/or low loads. Such conditions may occur when an engine is left idling as a 'standby' generating unit, ready to run up when needed, (misuse); if the engine powering the set is over-powered (misapplication) for the load applied to it, causing the diesel unit to be under-loaded, or as is very often the case, when sets are started and run off load as a test (misuse).

A Snake caused a power outage!

OKLAHOMA CITY, May 3 (Reuters) -

A snake that crawled into an electrical substation on Thursday knocked out power to nearly 14,000 homes on the northwest side of Oklahoma's state capital, utility officials said.

The power failure occurred at about 2 a.m. when the snake touched a component that caused a switch to trip, Oklahoma Gas and Electric spokeswoman Karen Kurtz said, adding that the snake was evidently seeking shelter after heavy rains.

At the scene of the crime, no one could determine exactly what kind of serpent caused all the trouble.
"Usually in those situations there's not a lot left," Kurtz explained. Of the snake, that is. The electrical substation is purring along fine now.

Generator review site Generators.to was hacked.  The image below appeared yesterday but has since been removed. The website was restored from backup, software update completed and everything looks like it is back to normal.

NEW Canada EPA Regulations

Regulations Amending the Off-Road Compression-Ignition Engine Emission Regulations

Statutory authority

Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999

Sponsoring department

Department of the Environment

REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS STATEMENT

(This statement is not part of the Regulations.)

Executive summary

Issue: Emissions from off-road compression-ignition engines (hereinafter referred to as “off-road diesel engines”) contribute towards the problem of air pollution in Canada. Air pollution leads to health-related problems such as cardiovascular ailments and respiratory distress as well as causes acid rain, reduced vegetation productivity, and building soiling and corrosion. These emissions are currently regulated under the Off-Road Compression-Ignition Engine Emission Regulations (hereinafter referred to as “the Regulations”).

Description: The objective of the proposed Regulations Amending theOff-Road Compression-Ignition Engine Emission Regulations (hereinafter referred to as “the proposed Amendments”) is to further reduce emissions from off-road diesel engines in Canada by establishing more stringent Canadian off-road diesel emissions standards and test procedures. The proposed Amendments would align Canadian emission standards with those of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). The U.S. EPA introduced interim Tier 4 and Tier 4 emission standards in 2004 and began phasing in these standards for the 2008 to 2015 model years and beyond. The proposed Amendments apply to off-road diesel engines used in machines such as tractors, bulldozers and log loaders.

Unapproved GT Power Diesel Generators

Wednesday April 11, 2012:


Underwriters Laboratory confirms GT Power Diesel Generators and SoGoodToBuy have no UL listing.  The main circuit breaker does not have any current listing either.   The logos are being used without permission. They clearly said the overall product does not have their approval.   

GT Power Generator Review

Anyone else notice this?  GT Power is now selling their Diesel Generators with UL logos on them. There is no UL listing to be found for GT Power. We also looked up Delixi the circuit breaker manufacture. Same thing, nothing found. The generator panel also has the UL logo on it just below the L14-30 Outlet.   Waiting for official reply from Underwriters Laboratory on this.  

UPDATE: March 17, 2012

In a written reply from Underwriters Laboratory, GT Power has NO UL listing.  They go on to say that "some components within the generator may have UL listing but it does not mean the product as a whole, is UL listed"

Delixi the circuit breaker manufacture also has a Underwriters Laboratory logo on it but, no listing was found.

How can you trust the UL logo when it does not mean anything and can be used by anyone?  What do you think?

UPDATE: March 19, 2012

Underwriters Laboratory now asking for complaints to be filed using this URL  http://ul.com/global/eng/pages/offerings/perspectives/consumer/fieldreport/

Ramsond Generator Review - No longer UL Approved?

CE? Seriously? 

"CE" abbreviation of French: Conformité Européenne, meaning "European Conformity. What the heck Ramsond??  This is North America. We require products that meet North American standards like UL, CSA and ETL.  Oh wait.... you HAD the UL logos on your products but they have been removed.  Why? I'll tell you why.....

 

Underwriters Laboratory received complaints about the quality of the product. They were also questioned about the use of the logos that implied Ramsond had their approval and endorsement. A representative of UL confirmed no such listing existed for Ramsond. It took a long time but finally the logos have been removed. Existing photos have been altered to cover up the UL logo.  Look at the bad Photoshopped smudge where the logo was. It is just on the bottom left of the voltmeter. 

Unless a generator is electrically approved by organization such as the CSA, ETL or UL, don't buy them. They are considered unsafe, untested and potentially dangerous.   If you have a generator that you suspect is not approved or is using unauthorized logos, return it and report it!