[Hidden-tech] Office class generator

[Terran Birrell]

Hi David,

As I understand it, backup generators for computers/servers have special
needs because the power output of a regular house generator tends to be
"dirty" when compared to over the wires power in that the sin wave (I
think...sounds good at least) oscillates more, or is more variable.

It would probably be worthwhile talking to a commercial generator
installer.

Best,
Terran

On Mon, Nov 7, 2011 at 10:53 AM, Robert Heller <heller at deepsoft.com> wrote:

>   ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
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>
> At Mon, 07 Nov 2011 09:55:35 -0500 David Korpiewski <davidk at cs.umass.edu>
> wrote:
>
> >
> >    ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's
> area.
> >    ** If you did, we all thank you.
> >
> >
> > I was wondering if anyone out there could help me select a generator
> > that would run one floor of an office (about 20 computers and 4
> > servers).  I have heard that a generic generator that you'd buy from
> > Home Depot isn't optimal for computers, and from my own experience, it
> > tends to burn up my APC UPS units if I leave them turned on when the
> > generator is going.
> >
> > So I was wondering if anyone had experience with computer class
> > generators, ideally ones that start themselves and are pushing probably
> > 10000 watts or more?
>
> All I know is that probably want one of the propane fired ones.  I
> unserstand that gasoline does not store well, but that propane does.
>
> I don't know if the sort of automatic propane power generators meant for
> building emergency backup power (such as the Town Of Wendell has for
> the town buildings) will work for you.  I suspect yes.  It might not be
> cheap though and might be overkill.
>
> When I was working at UMass, we had this humvee that was part of an
> 'atomimious vehicle' project that had a diesel powered generator to
> power the on-board computer systems and that seemed to work OK, but that
> is probably not want you are looking for.  (I think it has a 2 cylinder
> engine.)
>
> I would suspect that a well made very smooth running generator is what
> you want.  Smooth running == 2 or 4 cylinders.  The typical little
> generators 'you get a Home Depot' have just a single cylinder lawn
> mower engine -- this is likely fine for power tools at a construction
> site and such like situations (which is what these machines are meant
> for) -- the AC/DC motors in typical power tools are very tolerant of
> their power source and are generally tough little motors designed to
> take all kinds of 'abuse'.
>
> >
> > Thank you kindly
> > David
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> --
> Robert Heller             -- 978-544-6933 / heller at deepsoft.com
> Deepwoods Software        -- http://www.deepsoft.com/
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-- 
-- 
Terran Birrell
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(413) 219-6866
Terran at Birrell.us
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