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Lister Clone/powerplant trial run
By rhud, Section Homebrewed Electricity Posted on Wed Feb 18, 2004 at 04:30:19 PM MST
Did a 45 minute run of lister/generator today.

left my frequency counter at work today, but monitored voltage at a nearby outlet in my machinery shed with a Fluke 73III multimeter. i adjusted the lister governor for a voltage output of 120 (varied from 118.9 to 120.2 during the 45 minutes). other that maybe a random well pump start or water heater coming on, i don't think the generator was very loaded. I measured the temperature at the exhaust elbow just out of the head with a cheap ir meter (rayotherm?) outside of elbow was 380F, the "muffler" supplied with the engine ran 360F. so i think a heat exchanger could pick some useful heat for water or heating applications. i figure the exhaust temp will pick up with an increase in load. i had to shut down the system after 45 minutes since i have no radiator to cool the engine at this point (i was using a temporary hopper cooling for this trial run) when i placed the house back on the grid, i noticed my voltmeter reading was 133.6 volts. the question i have for you fellows is: a. is 120 volts on my meter ok for household applications? b. is grid voltage high because, maybe i'm near the substation at the beginning of the local feed (the three phases actually split at the pole that has my transformer)?
note to self: never, never check the oil level while a lister is running. i got coated. Thanks fellows

Lister Clone/powerplant trial run | 7 comments (7 topical)

Re: Lister Clone/powerplant trial run (none / 0) (#1)
by Rich G on Wed Feb 18, 2004 at 05:37:20 PM MST

Your voltage variation is very small in my experience. My Curryclone coupled to a Chinese generator varies abt. 8Hz between no load and full load which results in a much wider voltage spread. You suggest a water heater might have come on. Unless it was a small heater the Lister can't produce enough power. Somewhere near 3.5 to 4 Kw is the practical limit, I believe. What kind of generator are you using and how do you couple it?

Tickey Tock Put Put

Rich

Re: Lister Clone/powerplant trial run (none / 0) (#2)
by wilber256 on Wed Feb 18, 2004 at 05:59:06 PM MST

In responce to your two questions:

(1) Yes, Normal 120 volt household voltage has a + or - 10% tolerance.

(2) Yes and NO, Most utilities adjust the pots on there t-formers toward the high range to offset high demands (Usage) during their peak season. In the Southeast that period is during the hottest part of summer because of Air Conditioner loads as opposed to heating due to the fact most heating, commerical cooking, ect..is accomplished with natural or propane gas.

Willber256

[ Parent ]

Re: Lister Clone/powerplant trial run (none / 0) (#3)
by rhud on Wed Feb 18, 2004 at 07:17:40 PM MST

Hello, i have a 14 hp lister clone (gm-90) by stayjeet co. india, i purchased a 12kw chinese generator from a ebay fellow in ohio. the generator has a microgroove 12 7/8 inch dia. 65 lb. flywheel/pulley that i machined. i'm driving a size "k" 8 groove microgroove belt from the flat of one of the engines flywheels (23.5 inch dia.) not sure of actual hp output from engine but the 12 kw generator was cheaper than the 10kw (maybe a supply/demand thing). i think you are thinking about the 6 hp listers that are popular on the west coast (Utterpower). i got my engine from mike in north carolina. i missed out on a 16 hp which was what i really wanted. he, at one time had a couple of 20 hp monsters. again, i have not measured frequency so i may have to make rpm adjustments to get in the range and then use the variable voltage adjustment that my gen has to get in the volt range.

The curryclone engine you have. is it the single cylinder, hoz. layed engine that has the fueltank/radiator on the top. the whole thing looks like late sixties bicycle headlight? I was kinda thinking of doing one of those if i found some extra money laying around.

[ Parent ]

Re: Lister Clone/powerplant trial run (none / 0) (#4)
by Rich G on Thu Feb 19, 2004 at 03:43:29 AM MST

Actually the Curryclone I have is a vertical 6 Hp@600 RPM with 22.5 inch dual flywheels. I also machined a microgroove pulley of about 8" which is driven by a serpentine belt from one of the flywheels. Your machine has much more power than mine. I hope you will report the frequency/voltage stability of your unit. Mine has limited power but very good motor starting ability. I expect you will have a fine time with your gen set. I have enjoyed mine and am looking forward to installing it as a battery charger for an off grid property. BTW I put electric start on mine.

Since your engine is 900 RPM,

Put, Put, Put,

Rich

[ Parent ]

Re: Lister Clone/powerplant trial run (none / 0) (#5)
by troy on Fri Feb 20, 2004 at 08:30:37 PM MST

Just ordered a six horse Listeroid from George at Utterpower and a 5kw head. Plotting how to make a multi-vee pulley to run a serpentine belt. Really, I think I may have to finally make that little foundry and cast the pulley blank using the lost foam method.

This is destined for a cogeneration setup with exhaust piped through a converted gas water heater for domestic hot water, and non-toxic coolant pumped through the converted flue of another water heater for modest space heating needs. Fueled by waste veggie oil (filtered and heated just prior to injector pump) with start and flush with diesel.

I ran across a reference for a similar commercially available model (now sadly defunct) that used the Lister-Petter engine with good results, so I'm confident it's possible to soundproof one of these well enough to run in the basement.

So exciting!

troy

[ Parent ]

Re: Lister Clone/powerplant trial run (none / 0) (#6)
by rhud on Sat Feb 21, 2004 at 07:00:51 AM MST

Hi Troy,

I made my pulley by stomping around an indstrial junkyard (i have the best fun that way?!) until i found an inch and half thick plate large enough to include the diameter of pulley i needed. i flame cut the circle with a ox/acc. torch. welded a short stub of 4 inch round stock that had been cone cut on one end to the circle. then chucked the round stock. i let the lath run many hours to come up with a pulley, but i could do other things while the lath was running.

i would like to have one of georges 6 hp units, but i live in virginia. the shipping eats a hole in my otherwise holey wallet.

[ Parent ]

Re: Lister Clone/powerplant trial run (none / 0) (#7)
by troy on Sat Feb 21, 2004 at 09:36:39 PM MST

Yup, I love junk yards as well. I just found a new one (to me) and can't wait to go visit. Alloy is .70 a pound and steel runs .10-.20 per pound. Not exactly like shopping at Wal-Mart, but I always find something I can't live without.

Good luck with your Listeroid,

troy

[ Parent ]

Lister Clone/powerplant trial run | 7 comments (7 topical)

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