[Hidden-tech] Office class generator

[Robert Heller]

At Mon, 7 Nov 2011 12:20:54 -0500 Terran Birrell <terran at pressmy.biz> wrote:

> 
> 
> 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.

Frequency relates to rotational speed.  A 'cheap' single cylinder gas
engine does not have esp. good speed regulation.  

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

Right.  A multi-cylinder engine with strict speed regulation will yield
a clean source of 60HZ sine wave power.

> 
> 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.
> >   ** If you did, we all thank you.
> >
> >
> > 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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> 
> 

-- 
Robert Heller             -- 978-544-6933 / heller at deepsoft.com
Deepwoods Software        -- http://www.deepsoft.com/
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