Designed to be reliable
by using the “Keep It Simple” principle.
The Details
ST Generator Head
ST generator heads are designed to last and to be
easy to repair. These heads provide the electrical power for many thousands
of third-world villages. They are designed to be run 24/7, month in and month
out
This is not your typical consumer generator head
that screams along at 3600 rpm. The ST units run at a comfortable 1800 rpm.
This fact alone accounts for a huge increase in service life. I have read
several accounts of these generator heads supplying power for irrigation pumps
in West Texas that have been in service for 30
years or more, many running 24/7. Don’t try that with a consumer
generator designed to last 1000 hours (42 days), if you are very lucky! The ST head has a cast iron housing (it weighs about 286lbs)
with large ball bearings supporting the rotor at each end. The bearing will
last many years, but can be easily replaced with off the shelf bearings
available at any bearing supply house. The integral cooling fan is made of
metal, unlike the fragile plastic fans found in most generator heads.
What about brushes? We use a brush type head on
all of our generators. This is due to years of experience with both brushless
and brush type designs. Brushes last a long time, have an indefinite shelf life
and are changeable in just a few minutes. The brushes carry a very small amount
of power used to excite the armature. They are not carrying the output power
from the generator. Don’t confuse these with the short life brushes on
your large induction motor chop saw. Not the same thing at all! The brushless
design has the excitation electronics riding on the rotor. These parts are
subject to extreme G-forces and vibration. They are more likely to fail than
brushes, and are very difficult to repair. This is why the automotive
industries have stuck with the brush design on auto alternators for the last 50
years.
Many people ask us about Automatic Voltage
Regulation (AVR). This is the latest fad on consumer generators. Take my word
for it, they are nothing but trouble. We asked several manufactures to build us
a better (longer lasting) AVR. They all told us it was impossible. We were told
to think of them like a ballast in a florescent light. They are designed to be
replaced on a regular basis! They even have a shelf life. The capacitors used
in an AVR will eventually fail, even if you never use the generator. Think
about that when the power goes out and your generator is useless. On top of all
this, the chances of finding an AVR unit to fix your 5 or 10 year old unit are
very slim. The ST generator head uses a simple bridge rectifier design for voltage
regulation. You can buy these rectifiers in the USA with ease. The power output
from an ST generator head is plenty stable to run our lights, refrigerator, TV
and computers with no problems. If you are concerned about super stable
voltages, keep in mind that the Commercial Electric Power Grid is designed to
provide voltage regulated to a tolerance of +/- 10%!
Most who are knowledgeable about the ST style
generator head will recommend that the control box mounted not be mounted to
the generator head, as it is in the picture. The control box contains the
voltage meter and the bridge rectifier used in the field excitation circuit. A
high vibration environment (like on top of the generator head) is not the best
place for these electronics. We recommend that the control box be attached to a
wall, breaker panel, etc., rather than the generator head. To help make this
easier, we have built these units with an extra length of wire from the control
box to the generator head.
For more information, do a Google search on
“ST Generator Head”. You will be sold on this design.
Diesel Engine
This generator uses the famous S1110 Diesel
engine. Equipped with electric and hand starting mechanisms. This engine was
designed in Germany and
produced in China.
There are literally millions of these engines in Asia
powering everything you can imagine. I have personally seen this engine
powering farm trucks, tractors, walk behind plows, river boats, generators,
rice thrashers, you name it! Why is it so popular? It is because this engine is
extremely rugged and easily repaired by an unskilled farm worker using only
very basic tools.
The diesel engine uses much less fuel than a
gasoline unit. In addition, diesel fuel will not go stale and turn to varnish
like gasoline. There is nothing like trying to start a gas engine that has sat
in the garage for a year! You can buy “off-road diesel” for use in
this generator. This lets you avoid the road tax. In addition, you can run
waste veggie oil (WVO) from your local restaurant by adding a simple fuel
heating mechanism. Just make a fuel line coil out of copper line from Home
Depot. Immerse this coil in the engine cooling water hopper, add a separate WVO
tank and a few valves for selecting fuel type. Start and stop on diesel, and
switch to WVO after the engine warms up. Run your generator for free! This is
not just theory. I am doing this myself at my home.
Cooling – We use a “hopper”
style coolant tank design (like on the model A Ford). This goes along with our
“Keep It Simple” strategy. The grey tank on the top of the unit is
a large 5 Gallon water tank (the red part is the fuel tank). It will run many
hours without attention. There is an indicator that can be seen from a distance
that shows the water level. Just add a little water to the water tank at the
same time that you refill the fuel tank. No water pump, fans, belts, pulleys or
bearings to fail. You may have seen some others that use a built in radiator
design. We have used this type in the past, and have learned better. If you
plan to use this unit is a serious manner, you don’t want the extra
moving parts in the design to cause problems. In addition, the built-in radiator
design attaches the radiator to the top of the engine. Lots of vibration. There is a reason that car radiators are
attached to the car’s frame and not the engine! The solid cast aluminum
water tank in this design is much stronger than a radiator.
RUN TIME
This unit will burn approximately 0.076 gallons
of fuel per hour for each kilowatt of power output produced. So running a 10kw load (about 83amps @ 120 volts) will use 0.76 gallons
each hour, and the 3.25 gallon fuel tank will last 4.28 hours. Run it on a 4kw
load (about 33.2amps @ 120volts) and it will us only 0.304 (or 0.076gallons x
4) gallons per hour and the same 3.25 gallon tank will last 10.7 hours. If you
need more run time, it is quite easy to attach a larger
inexpensive external tank. Some folks use a 55 gallon drum. Clean used
ones are available here in Dallas
for $20.
SPECIFICATIONS
Engine Model:
S1110
Engine HP:
22 @ 2200 rpm
Generator Type
ST 4 pole 1800 RPM
Rated
Power:
12KW
Voltage:
120/240 Single Phase, 60
hertz
Rated Amps:
52amps/240v and 103
amps/120v
Weight:
900 lbs (lift hooks
provided)
Dimensions:
55"x24"x27"
(LxWxH)
Fuel Type:
Diesel
Fuel Quantity:
3.25 Gallons
Water Quantity:
5 Gallons!
Run Time:
See description above
Note: Installation by a
qualified electrician required. Not responsible for damage or injury caused
improper operation or installation.
This is a new unit. Shipped via motor
freight in a custom wooden crate.
Local pick up is O.K. Call first to make arrangements at
972-980-7280.
Shipping, handling &
Insurance: $495 in
lower 48 United States.
Shipped via motor freight to a business
address or your local freight terminal. Shipping to a residence
is possible, but more expensive.
Payment Terms: Our preferred payment method is PayPal. We also accept
checks and money orders. Payment is due within 3 days of auction close.
Warranty: 6 months from receipt of merchandise. Parts only.
Return Policy: Your satisfaction is our number one goal! If you have
a problem with an item, please let us know and we will send out parts necessary
to repair the item. If you'd rather have a cash refund, item must be returned
to our warehouse in unused sellable condition within 15 days of receipt. If you
plan to send your item back, you must email us to obtain an RMA number. Items
received without an RMA number will not be accepted. 20% restocking fee will
apply on all returned merchandise. Shipping and handling fees as well as return
shipping charges are not refundable.
