Wow, thanks Ken and Martin, great info and thank you for responding! I thought there was no way a generator/alternator genhead could backfeed the grid. Everything I see on the web says I need an induction motor to do that.
Anyway, what I really want to know is how to prevent "islanding" when the utility goes offline. Any suggestions/references? --- In biofuel@yahoogroups.com, "Ken Basterfield" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Martin the is nothing technical to stop you using your alternator as it is > to feed back into the main supply. All you need to do is synchronise the > alternator output with the mains and then close the switch to couple the > two. You will have to common the neutrals. A lamp connected between mains > phase and alternator phase is all that is required. As the engine speed is > slowly increased, the the lamp will begin to beat slowly on and off as the > alternator phase signal slowly slips past the mains phase. When the lamp > goes out the two signals are in phase and can be connected together. I.e. > you close the switch. henceforth the alternator will be sychronised to the > mains and if you increase the Diesel engine throttle, power will be fed to > the mains supply. The lamp will have to be double voltage to avoid blowing > it. A 240 volt lamp when connecting 110 systems or two 240 lamps in series > if running off 240 volt systems. > > Don't throw out the alternator just to fit an induction motor unless your > alternator has specific instructions from the manufactor saying that you are > not allowed to connect it to the mains. > > This same system of synchronising using beating lamps can be applied to 3 > phase alternators, just connect 3 lamps between each of the respective 3 > phases----- Original Message ----- > Ken > > From: "martin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <biofuel@yahoogroups.com> > Sent: Friday, March 28, 2003 4:10 AM > Subject: Re: [biofuel] Re: Electric generators > > > > Your induction generator will continue to function if it isn't > > overloaded. If the power goes out, the induction generator will either > > become overloaded and stop generating, or continue to run while > > back-feeding the power lines. As soon as you notice that the power is > > out you should throw your main breaker or shut off the generator. If you > > intend to spin your meter backwards anyway, I'm really not sure if one > > of the automatic switches would work for you. > > > > eric12856 wrote: > > > > >Lot of smart guys in this group so I figure someone can answer my > > >question that I think may have a simple answer, but first > > >some background. > > > > > >I have a 5hp Biodiesel generator set that I also extract heat (from > > >coolant and exhaust to heat the house). Now that I've moved into a > > >new house (my heating and electric was $450/month!!)I was thinking of > > >swapping out the generator head for an induction motor so that I can > > >intertie with the utility and use the utility as a battery and > > >supplemental power. > > > > > >I know that if the utility goes out that It will produce no > > >electricity since the motor needs the field windings excited to > > >produce. Thats ok, the generator head will be moved to small gas > > >engine as backup. > > > > > >My question: > > >For safety reasons, I would like to stop the Diesel engine when the > > >utility goes off. Anyone know how I can accomplish the shutdown or > > >where I can find a schematic so I can build my own? The engine has a > > >built-in 12 volt shutdown solenoid. Would a simple relay off the main > > >breaker suffice? > > > > > >Thanks! > > >Eric Olsen > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > --- > > Martin Klingensmith > > http://nnytech.net/ > > http://infoarchive.net/ > > > > > > > > > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > > > > Biofuels list archives: > > http://archive.nnytech.net/ > > > > Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. > > To unsubscribe, send an email to: > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > > > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Your own Online Store Selling our Overstock. http://us.click.yahoo.com/rZll0B/4ftFAA/46VHAA/FGYolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://archive.nnytech.net/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
