Ref point 5 below, there is a good article in the current edition of
the RSGB "Radio Communication" magazine about how to convert a
gasoline powered generator to use propane. It looks fairly easy and
anyone who has filled a running gasoline generator on a pitch black
night with only the illumination of the glowing exhaust to work by
will appreciate it.
(Of course I know _you_ all switch the genny off, allow it to cool,
re-fill, then restart )
John Krzymuski N2QW / G4DQW
On Mon, 12 Jan 1998 13:18:27 -0600, K5MM wrote:
> Howard, W3CQH, asked about 'generators' for AC power. His posting is
> at the bottom of this message.
>
>
>Howard:
>You must be VERY careful when purchasing a generator. They are all as
>different as bicycles, tools, and ham radios. You may purchase
>very good to excellent ones, and then you may purchase junk as well.
>In the case of generators, for example:
>
>1. The output voltage and current waveforms can be anything from
> a square wave to a sine wave, and sometimes come with a DC offset
> as well. Oftentimes they have big time voltage spikes or waveform
> notches as well. Asymmetrical waveforms, ac/rf noise, etc. are
> a major problem.
>
>2. Electronic equipment will react differently to different voltage
> wave forms. The 'best' generators are of course more expensive,
> and come from the better manufacturers. Onan and Generac tend
> to have very good reputations. Kohler is in there too. If you
> are considering a 'cheap' unit, be extra careful !!
>
>3. Voltage regulation is an important issue to consider too. Most of
> the cheap generators are not very good at voltage regulation.
>
>4. Frequency regulation w.r.t. motor speed and separately w.r.t.
> output load is also an important consideration. Radio equipment
> generally wants to see 60 Hz in this country.....and the cheap
> generators are marginal at best in this important area.
>
>5. You ought to consider getting a generator that operates on Propane
> or natural gas, rather than gasoline. You can use bottled gas, just
> like your outdoor Bar-B-Q uses, or just plug your fuel line into
> your home natural gas line at home. MUCH better solution for
> backing up your home AC power, runs cleaner, etc.
>
>6. I think you live in the Bell Atlantic telephone area. There is a
> group at each phone company that has done some thorough evaluations
> of many generators, and you may be able to get a copy of their
> summaries. It's a perspective worth looking at, even though they
> tend to purchase very high end equipment. I would be cautious
> about asking Cable TV companies for an opinion on generators,
> because they often base their decisions on COST rather than
> performance.
>
> I don't know if the WWW has any summary information in this stuff, but
> both Onan and Generac have some very good applications note. They've
> probably got a web page too.
>
> (Note: I have NOTHING to do with phone companies, Onan, Generac, Kohler
> or any generator manufacturer)
>
> Good Luck, 73
> Dale K5MM
>
>
>At 12:44 PM 1/12/98 EST, you wrote:
>>Hi Folks,
>>
>>I am interested in purchasing a portable AC generator for mostly HAM use in
>>the field, and I have a couple of questions.
>>
>>1] are all the generators that I see advertised by the large hardware
>>companies the same except for the power rating?
>>
>>2] are there any specifics that I should be aware of that I don't want in a
>>generator?
>>
>>TIA,
>>
>>Howard W3CQH
>>
>>
>>--
>>CQ-Contest on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/_cq-contest/
>>Administrative requests: cq-contest-REQUEST@contesting.com
>>
>>
--
CQ-Contest on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/_cq-contest/
Administrative requests: cq-contest-REQUEST@contesting.com
|