Q:I am purchasing a LARGE MOBILE TRAILER to be my mobile workshop. I wonder which would best regarding fumes and general maintenance. Onan approx. 7000w is my preffered choice at this point.

You might be able to get a generator that runs on a combination. These things make a lot of noise, a lot. Your consideration might hinge on one that can be fitted with wheels to move away from your working area. My father had a travel trailer and welded a small generator to the metal frame of the trailer. He did a lot of things he shouldn't do. It was so loud inside the trailer it was impossible to stay inside it. Also, the vibrations throughout the trailer were like an earthquake. So, if you're thinking of welding or bolting it onto your trailer, I'd be sure that it's not going to vibrate you to death.

Q:I recently purchased a portable generator that is 7 hp and 3050 continuous watts, i tried to calculate the efficiency as follows:743 watts 1 hp7 X 743 5201 watts, (so at 100 percent efficiency, 5201 watts is possible to produce from a 7 hp generator.)the unit produces 3050 watts, so the 5201 watts (possible watts)/3050(actually produced watts) (0.5864) or approximately 59% efficiency, this does not seem right, it should be about half that.What am i doing wrong?

First, nothing operates at 100% efficiency. You are converting angular rotation into electric power and in any conversion of power, you lose efficiency. 59% efficiency isn't that bad. Second, generators are measured at continuous power and peak power. Check your owners manual or look on the side of the generator. At peak power, you will find that the efficiency is greater.

Q:I was talking with a friends and I know gas in a car or lawnmower etc will go bad after a certain amount of time. Then we got thinking about the massive amounts of diesel fuel in storage at hospitals etc, is there a storage life for it? and is it turned over all the time?

Let me explain something to you: Hybrid is a drive configuration. Diesel is an energy source. You see how they're two completely different things? You can have a diesel hybrid, what do you think freight trains are? Diesel fuel has it's up sides, and a diesel electric hybrid would be even better. Why do you have such a personal dislike of hybrids? What exactly do you have against a more efficient, longer lasting drive configuration? Oh, and you talk about low end torque? Electric drive produces max torque at stall. You'll never win a torque battle with an electric, they've got it all over ICEs in that department.

Q:Everyday I learn a little more about boating. I have asked a couple question on here. Looking back they seem a little stupid now! I want to purchase a boat capable of being a live-aboard and be able to do coastal waters as well as the inter-coastal waterway. So far what I think I've learned is that a trawler with a pilothouse or fly-bridge will offer the most usable space. I've also figured size is important when talking to marinas. Today's question is, what items would you desire to have? Generator, auto, electric or manual toilet, gas or electric stove and refrig., gas or diesel power, etc. Back to the book store tomorrow! Thanks in advance.

You start by asking yourself questions. What sort of lifestyle do I want/need? Do I care about resale value? What can I maintain myself? What sort of maintenance do I want to do? In general keep it simple. The less moving parts/systems the less that can break. Quality pays but buying it at discount also pays. Long term cost of operation is also important. You cannot do too much research. There is an overload of help forums on the web, some interactive, but a lot of reviews. The boat is a tool, make it fit the job and your hand.

Q:I accidentally filled my generator with diesel instead of unleaded. It already had a half a tank of unleaded so it has about half a tank of diesel. To make the full tank. Can anybody help me out please.

Siphon the fuel out, and discard, or save it for starting fires! j/k! Then fill it with fresh gas, and it should be fine. It may run a little rough at first, but once all the diesel has cleared out from the carb, it should run normally again.

Q:here in the town i live in we recently had an avalanche take out power transmission lines from our hydro dam in the time it takes them to repair those 90% of our power is coming from diesel generators(you should have cringed there) causing the price per kWh to go up 500% for what might be the next 3 months.currently i make enough that i can live with a bill 5 times higher than im used to, but a couple of years ago that would have got me kicked out of my apartment because there was no way in hell i could find an extra 300 bucks a month with a week or two notice.its been a big deal here, but we are notorious complainers, so im wondering if that situation would cause you to write letters to editors and complain to everyone who will listen all day long?

no i pay about $100 a month as it is. my bill would over $500 a month. thats more than my car payment and almost as much as my apartment $590

Q:I have to calculate the fuel consumption of a diesel generator given its HP or KVA

Go to some diesel engine websites. They should have the fuel consumption in terms of brake horsepower hours.

Q:For 100Kw generator, what will be minimum/ maximum loadfor its safe operation.

For most generators there is no minimum load, as it can even be zero loaded. For the maximum load you will need to look at the manufacturers specifications. Do you have the make and model of the generator?

Q:I Live way out in the country and have a diesel generator.I want to switch to nuclear because it could be cheaper. I have plenty of land to dispose of any nuclear waste.

You would be shut down before you got started unless you want to go through all the red tape and bs the government would throw at you. Plus you can't just bury it anywhere it could potentially contaminate the water table.

Q:I want to purchase a solar powered backup generator in the event that we have a power outage. I don't want a gas/diesel generator as I don't want to have to fight everyone else to get gas for a generator. I've been only able to find one solar generator that would seem to work for my home. Any suggestions?

Here okorder