FWIW I purchased  a new CAT 125KW diesel genset with a 420 gallon base tank and 
transfer switch for ~33k last year.   I think 10k might be a little low, but 
not too far off.

Mark


> On Dec 2, 2016, at 9:39 PM, Chuck McCown <[email protected]> wrote:
> 
> It is more than a half mile away.  Primary build.  Not sure they would even 
> do it as that is at the end of a crappy line feeding a center pivot 
> irrigation pump and system.  Up where I need it everything is underground. 
>  
> Right now I am paying about $2K/month at a different site for a similar load. 
>  They really screw you on the demand charge. 
> I figure I can get a decent $100K NG 3ph generator for $10K.
>  
> From: George Skorup <>
> Sent: Friday, December 02, 2016 7:29 PM
> To: [email protected] <>
> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] generator fuel
>  
> OK, but what would be the cost to have your power co bring 3phase to you? 
> More or less than a 3-phase generator? Or can they simply not do it?
> 
> On the other hand, what would it then cost you for 3-phase service from said 
> power co? I know of a couple grain handling sites around here pay about 
> $1200/mo. But that's cheaper over the long haul than buying, maintaining and 
> paying fuel cost for a 100kW genset, even NG.
> 
> On 12/2/2016 8:18 PM, Chuck McCown wrote:
>> Not bad considering my NG is going to cost half or less than diesel.  And it 
>> will be periodic use, not constant. 
>> I need to make a boatload of 3 phase 480 where only single phase exists an 
>> the loads will be highly variable.
>> I could use a big ass rotary phase converter but based on the cost of fuel 
>> alone, I will save money just running the generator when needed.
>> Especially true if they charge me a demand charge. 
>>  
>> From: Eric Kuhnke <>
>> Sent: Friday, December 02, 2016 7:11 PM
>> To: [email protected] <>
>> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] generator fuel
>>  
>> Looking at it another way, I have calculated previously that the cost per 
>> kWh for 24x7 power from a diesel generator is in the range of $0.35 to $0.49 
>> per kWh. That's including the purchase cost of the generator, maintenance, 
>> expected lifespan, cost of fuel, etc.
>> 
>> If you want to see prime power examples of diesel used for islanded grid 
>> power, each town in Nunavut has its own set of diesel generators and tanks. 
>> There is no long distance transmission setup or inter-city grid.
>> 
>> http://www.qec.nu.ca/home/ <http://www.qec.nu.ca/home/>
>> 
>>  
>> On Fri, Dec 2, 2016 at 5:57 PM, Chuck McCown <[email protected] <>> wrote:
>>> I agree, but my application is primary power, not emergency. 
>>>  
>>> From: Eric Kuhnke <>
>>> Sent: Friday, December 02, 2016 6:53 PM
>>> To: [email protected] <>
>>> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] generator fuel
>>>  
>>> I don't think it's fair to directly compare diesel fuel to natural gas, 
>>> because one is portable in just about any container (in a real emergency),  
>>>     the other is not.
>>> 
>>> http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2012/10/31/peer-1-mobilizes-diesel-bucket-brigade-at-75-broad/
>>>  
>>> <http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2012/10/31/peer-1-mobilizes-diesel-bucket-brigade-at-75-broad/>
>>>  
>>> On Fri, Dec 2, 2016 at 5:49 PM, Chuck McCown <[email protected] <>> wrote:
>>>> I am assuming a BTU of fuel will make so many Wh of energy.
>>>>  
>>>> If perfectly efficient 1M BTU =292.3 kWh 
>>>> That would cost me $35 from the power utility. 
>>>>  
>>>> A gallon of diesel is abou $3.25 around here.  139000 btu. 
>>>> Diesel then is about $23 per 1M btu.  
>>>> However diesel engines are only 30% efficient so it will cost me $76 in 
>>>> fuel to make that 292.3 kWh
>>>>  
>>>> If that assumption is approximately correct:
>>>> I pay about $7.80 per decatherm in the winter for NG.  A decatherm is 1 
>>>> million btu
>>>> About half that in summer. 
>>>>  
>>>> $7.80/.3= $26/293.3 kWh for NG not considering depreciation and maint of 
>>>> the generator. 
>>>>  
>>>> It seems to me that NG is the hands down fuel cost winner?  Anyone see 
>>>> mistakes in this?
>>>>  
>>> 
>>>  
>> 
>>  
> 

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