“Off grid” fabrication

So we are looking at a house ”off grid” that’s setup with solar and a large diesel generator. I do a lot of diy stuff as well as welding and general metal fabrication. My question is the garage is powered off the diesel generator. I can’t find much info on the generator and want to make sure it’s safe to run a welder (miller multimatic 215) and plasma and other 220 machines (lathe and mil) off this style generator. They won’t all be running at once (besides the 220 plasma and 220 compressor).

Anyone have experience with this? Picture of said generator, the house and truck that’s never done lol

 

Sounds like a great setup and place to call home.

You'll definitely need to gather the specs on the diesel genny first. Once you know what kind of muscle you have to work with from that, you can start to gauge what toys you can melt metal with.

Hopefully someone can identify the model from your pics and give you some insight.

Either way, I'm looking forward to seeing some fab work from your abode.

 

You might need to upgrade to a larger generator for your goodies If you love doing that type of work.

.What kind of loads does the owner run now ?? Is it wired into a Breaker Box what is the main breaker ?

You need to be careful some welders and Plasma machines just do not like the Raw power of generators.

The really strange thing two of the same model machines within a few digit serial numbers one works great the other ones just gets real cranky I have never been able to get a straight answer from any of the manufactures .

Check out the Multiquip website with model and serial number if you are able to get them. it should get you all the info you need.

Air compressors can be tricky do to the start up current (what size electric Motor) depending on your output of the generator

Good luck!!

 

From the research I’ve done it should be a single phase 110/220 machine with 58a on 220 or two busses of 58a on 110. The most amperage I have so far is the plasma at 48amp on full blast and 220. I have no clue what kind of amps the lathe and mill draw though and compressor I’m unsure. It’s just a standard 60 gallon 5hp compressor that’s probably 20 years old.

that would be the only time I see tripping the breaker on the generator is the plasma wide open and the generator on startup.

as for the raw power, that’s what I was trying to figure out. Is this generator producing Usable power for the welder? I’m assuming yes because this is what a job site would use


As for wiring. Supposedly it’s wired into the house to automatically start if the batteries ever get low and is on that breaker as well as having a breaker on the generator itself.

No clue on what loads the owner runs now. It’s a vacation home for them but we would be living in it full time.

I don’t have the serial number but i have the model and from looking at multiquip website best I can find is this is the current equivalent


https://www.hardydiesel.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DCA15SPXU4F_Data_Sheet_292333.pdf

I’m thinking it’s big enough to get me started. Maybe with tripping the breaker a few times while I find it’s limits but do see it as something I may have to upgrade.

we like the house but it is priced a little high for our liking and does need some work and the hole aspect of being self sufficient is totally new to us and we have no clue about so trying to learn while being in the deep end has been a challenger.

 

For what it is worth I have 10,000 watts 50 amp breaker that will trip every time I tried to start my Air Compressor with no other loads The start up in rush current is to much.

The only way you will know if the welder and plasma machines work is to try.

I have a friend that works in the repair of welders and Plasma machines you have a real great salesperson that oversells a very high end machine to a Amish weld shop who runs on all generator power nothing but problems.

If it is only a hobby i am sure you can get by putting food on the table or paying bills be careful.

Best of Luck

 

thanks.

my compressor isn’t that bad. It’s only wired to a 30 amp breaker I believe. It’ll be close with both running.

we will test it out and see how it goes or else I’ll be looking for a new generator or welder lol

 

What are you running for headlights? What is the black cover that hides the corner DRL light opening? Custom made metal or plastic?

 

On the Tacoma? Headlights are a bd lp6 knockoff with some tint so they aren’t so bright. I cut the core support out and tuned out the front end so marker lights and headlights don’t fit/ stay very well anymore. The black is just aluminum I cut and bent to match the opening.

 

This is a great generator, the battery you may need to keep on a trickle charger. The gen runs my Miller 211 and plasma 625 (not at same time). It has pull start, as well.

Edit, just read again you want to run off your diesel generator, so my link just a fyi.

https://www.amazon.com/Westinghouse...x=westinghouse+generator+9500+,aps,111&sr=8-4

 

Did you decide to make this move or pass?

Just wondering what happened.

 

Good to know. Everything I’ve read says I’ll be good to use this to power the garage and I ended up finding out the garage is wired off the batteries in the house. Plan is still to run everything off the generator as not to kill the batteries.

 

The generator wasn’t a deal breaker so we made the move. Close in 2 weeks on it. Just been playing the waiting game. If for whatever reason the welder and plasma doesn’t like the generator power I’ll pick up a welder generator and use that to weld off of.

House a week ago

 

Best of Luck I hope it all goes well Enjoy!!

 

Thanks! We are excited. Maybe me more than her. Should be a good change

 

Being your own Utility can be a pain. With diesel gensets you need to be careful of “wet stacking”, you cant run too light of loads on them. Main problem I have ran across are where the utility operator/engineer, usually the husband, is away from the site(home) when a piece of equipment fails. Nothing like walking your wife or kid through troubleshooting steps while you are in the middle of a Elk hunt 200 miles away. But once you learn where the weak points in the system are you can take steps to mitigate them.

 

She’s a little apprehensive about it. Good news is the house is pretty self sufficient and as long as she doesn’t go crazy once the sun sets running things in the house, the generator should never kick on for her. Generator is mainly for the garage but we will be having a lesson on how to work everything to avoid that phone call hopefully lol.

and having the generator wired to auto start once the house batteries reach 40% or less will mitigate most issues she’ll have once I’m away I hope.

 

Main issues I have seen usually revolve around water, both supply and waste. I havent been around desert residences so I am not sure what your standard septic looks like. Do you have a lift pump for your septic? If so thats where I would make sure your system is rock solid or that your wife understands to not take a shower or flush a toilet during a power outage. You can easily build a standalone 12v solar system that will activate a audible alarm when your lift pump looses power, but thats one more system you have to babysit.

It should be a fun project. May just take some time to get it where you want it. I have dealt with a lot of vacation home to full time residence conversions and there is always a ton of issues that pop up after daily use. Its just like buying a truck that has sat for the last 10 years and you start daily driving it.

 

This is my first house with a septic but my dads had one for over 20 years so I’ll have to ask him because I’m honestly not sure.

I do plan to make a couple stand alone 12v systems with batteries for odd things like the block heater on my truck and a few others so they aren’t a constant draw on the house when in use.

the house was built for full time living then sold to a family that used it as a vacation home so I’m sure it’ll have some kinks to work out but every time I’ve gone up to it (dozen or so times now) nothings had issues besides minor things from not being used.

getting used to the mice and hopefully getting them under control will be the biggest thing lol

 

Little update. Been over a year and half. Upgraded to newer generators and besides some issues with the brand new one which got fixed under warranty and prompted me to buy a back up one that’s identical. Both are wired to a 220 plug to feed the house and one is on autostart for the house and the other is wired to a switch in the garage so I can turn it on and off without going into the gen room. Still have to switch the plug but that’s no big deal. I also built an exhaust to vent outside and put some vents on the garage door. Last thing will be to install an exhaust fan through the back wall that comes on when the gens kick on as right now I just have a box ran essentially plugged into them.

I’ve ran my 220 welder, plasma, cnc plasma table, air tools, lathe, mill and lots of other stuff with no issues.

picture is before I put plugs on both gens and exhaust to the second one.

 

Time Flies It sure does not seem that long!

Glad things are working out!