Would you replace this generator?

[chessie4905]

see if the 10kw version of your engine is same cu. in. If so, just fuel upgrade.

[luvrbus]

All he needs to do is enter his model number on a Cat site and it will give him the HP range all diesel engines have a KW rating and Cat will have the rating on a tag that you never can read,I took a 12v92 from 650kw to 750kw with a setting on the DDEC

[belfert]

I found the manual for the 10/12KW version of the same basic generator.  My CAT engine is 15.8 HP and 69 cubic inches.  The CAT engine for 10/12KW is 19.8 HP and 91 cubic inches.

Maybe I am better off with the 8KW head.

[chessie4905]

has an 8 mostly fit your needs?

[belfert]

has an 8 mostly fit your needs?

Not if I want to run three A/C units, an electric water heater, and an electric refrigerator.  It has been a number of years since I have been able to run a full load due to constantly fighting issues with low voltage and popped circuit breakers from the low voltage increasing amp loads.

If I was starting over with a new generator I would go at least 10KW and probably 12KW.

[chessie4905]

Well, there you go. Spring fo r a new setup.

[belfert]

Well, there you go. Spring fo r a new setup.

Are you saying get a whole new generator?  I would much rather fix this one for 1/3 the cost even if it couldn't run everything at once.  I'm talking $10,000 plus weeks of work to install a new generator.  My current generator is enclosed and the new one would required building out some sort of generator compartment that will take a lot of work.  I might have to also figure out where I could put a remote radiator.

I was initially resigned to buying a new generator until I found out that Mecce Alte has a pancake generator head that would fit.  My understanding prior to that was that nobody but Marathon made a generator head short enough and I didn't want another Marathon head.  It would take some time to replace the generator head, but probably not as long as it would take to build out a generator compartment.

With my luck I would probably end up with a new generator that overheats going down the road, or is loud enough to wake the dead in the next state.  My first used Onan generator I installed could wake the dead in the next state and vibrated so bad the bus would have shaken apart.  I asked Justin at Wrico about an enclosed generator and he said to get a Cummins Onan if I want enclosed.

[luvrbus]

Onan is not the only enclosed generator for a RV a advertiser here EPS has a enclosed generators but they are not cheap 

[belfert]

Onan is not the only enclosed generator for a RV a advertiser here EPS has a enclosed generators but they are not cheap

I will have to call them tomorrow, but probably out of my price range.  Some of the new enclosed generators are a lot longer than mine and won't fit in my bay.  That is a big part of why I was looking at open generators.

Wrico and I believe Martin Diesel are also advertisers here, not just EPS.

[chessie4905]

Can your engine series be uprated to higher horsepower? With increased pump output?

[luvrbus]

61 to 91 cubic inches is a big jump for 5 hp,the C1.5 CAT is a 91 CI engine and they can produce 40+ hp from a 3 banger and I never saw one set at 19hp,the C1.1 is 68 CI and produces 20 hp

[chessie4905]

Do they list an 8-10 cat somewhere?

[belfert]

This is a Perkins engine painted CAT Yellow and given a CAT model number.  Mine is a CAT 3011C.  The CAT that Powertech used for the 10/12KW models is a 3013C.  I'll have to get the Perkins model number off the engine.  (It has both a CAT and Perkins data plate.)

[lovetofix]

If the 10kw head is roughly the same price, and will fit, go with that. It won't make a noticeable  difference on efficiency and may give you that extra production if the engine can drive it. Most military generators have larger gen heads than the engine can drive and I was told that is for reliability, not pushing the windings to the edge of their capacity.

[belfert]

Here is a photo of the Perkins data plate. 

I think the extra cost of the 10KW head is maybe $200 if that.