how big of a gen do we need?

[Sean]

Maybe time for a little work on your Kubota Sean  the only thing that will cause that on a Kubota is a bad injector pump,bad injectors,or low compression.If you are sure it is from carbon buildup run a water through the intake with a spray bottle under a load and it will cleanup.

With apologies for hijacking the thread: I haven't actually noticed any accumulation, but neither have I disassembled the exhaust.  But I do smell unburned fuel in the exhaust, which is more or less the definition of wet stacking.

FWIW reading my manuals last night a 20kw Kubota will burn less fuel at 80% capacity than a 12.5kw under full load .

I would guess that would have to do with the fact that the larger engine is turbocharged, and the smaller one is naturally aspirated.  So there is something of a stair-step between those two sizes.  Generally, the more loaded a generator set is, the less fuel is consumed per watt produced.

I can pm you the fuel useage charts on the Kubota engines and generators if you like

I'd love to see that, actually, because I've only been able to figure mine empirically.  You can send to my email address in my profile.

BTW, as much as I'd like to have a smaller generator, I don't want to give up the Kubota -- these things are bulletproof, and easy to maintain.  And in my case, I also have a transformer-regulated head and a set-screw adjusted throttle; there's not a transistor in it anywhere.  When I was looking to downsize I was also hoping to find a similar head on a smaller Kubota.

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

[James77MCI8]

Plugged filter was probably causing the generator not to produce 100% thus causing the air conditioner to "hard start",

[John316]

Ruthi,

We have 20KW EPS generator (with a quiet box, but it isn't as quiet as an Onan) with a Kubota. They gave us a great deal on it. http://www.enginepowersource.com/ A brand new one wasn't that much more then the 20KW you are looking at (and they ship it to you ).

Clifford, I agree with you. Our research showed us the same thing. A bigger genset, running at a smaller load, burns less fuel. We were going to get a smaller one, but we thought it is better to be safe then sorry. And we have 8k of inverting power, and five 15k btu roof airs.

On a side note, we know of some folks that have a genset identical to the one that we have on our bus (EPS Kubota, 20KW, but without a quiet box). They are building an orphanage down in Honduras. They use the 20KW to power lights and equipment as they are building the facility. Right now there are running it 12 to 14 hours a day. It is using only 4 gallons (yes you read that right 4 gallons) of diesel a day. Obviously it isn't loaded very much, but I don't care what kind of generator your are running. That is great! 

God bless,

John

[ruthi]

Yep, Rusty, Ken thinks that may have been the case. John, that is the one we are looking at. It isnt one with the quiet box tho. We are wondering if it may be better to not have the box, and just insulate the compartment instead. Easier access to it on the road. The power tech we have now, has a filter inside of it at the bottom. You have to take the gen out, and disassemble it to change it. We are hopeing to make it as easy to get to as possible. As far as plugging it in at a campground, we never do that anyway. And, it will be going in our new bus. I like to hear all the pros and cons, but, I think we are going to get the 20kw. I know some of you dont understand we are on the road all the time, and power management is one hassle we dont need. There are enough other hassles to deal with as it is. Thanks to all

[Busted Knuckle]

Hey Ruthi,
I understand youse is always on the road!
Also I we know a man who can tell which light poles in many Wally parking lots have a place to plug into! (since you there working on their stuff anyway! )
  BK 

[luvrbus]

Yea but they are not 50 amps BK    lol 


good luck

[Busted Knuckle]

Yea but they are not 50 amps BK    lol 


good luck

No but sometimes every little bit helps!

By the way how the HECK are ya Clifford?
  BK 

[John316]

Ruthi,

If you have the room, I think you can do just great with one without the quietbox. We just had MAJOR space restraints, and we needed all of the regular maintenance items on one side. Just be careful getting that baby in there. She is heavy!

I do know that they are loud, though. So you will probably have to come up with some pretty good insulation. The open one is FAR easier to work on, I can tell you that. If we would have known that you needed one, we just sold one (20KW, EPS, Kubota, no quiet box) that had less then a thousand hours on it, for $5K.

God bless,

John