So, the current wet dream involves one of MB's smaller, efficient diesels coupled through a slushbox to the 1200 RPM generator. The usual generator is optimized for heavy loads and runs at a constant RPM, and is usually directly coupled. But for our home there is a wide range of power draw. It would be nice to let this thing tick over all night at a near idle with little load on it, and only have it roar to life (and shift gears) under load. I'd be paying for my overnight efficiency by its being less efficient (due to the slushbox) at higher loads. I was thinking that letting the diesel get as close to idle as it could would be best, as I expect that it would spend the bulk of its time at low load.
Couple this desire with the necessity that this be somewhat cheap/surplus in nature, and that probably limits the supply to be nothing newer than a 190D. Anybody think this idea is worth a crap? I don't think there are any overdrive automatics that will mate to a 60X, so that means that the fast idle is 1200 RPM using the 201's normal tranny, but that the motor can kick up to 2400 or so in 2 or thereabouts, at its discretion. The frequency regulator would be hooked up just like the cruise control, and the tranny would take care of its own shift points. Under light load the throttle would be eased off and the tranny should upshift, dropping the engine RPM to more quiet, if not more efficient, territory. Our neighbor solves this power problem with a battery bank and a big inverter, but I hate batteries. An engine and a tank of fuel have much longer shelf and service lives. If I can put this together with the MD3 generator end, I can sell the big Kohler, for a tidy sum as I understand it. -- Jim
