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Old 20-12-2014, 06:28   #1
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3kw portable generator

I had a baldor 3kw portable generator with remote start I installed, that was totally automatic, no manual choke or levers to turn. I contacted the manufacturer and they stopped making them. I can not find another portable 3kw anywhere that is totally automatic. any suggestions?
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Old 20-12-2014, 18:30   #2
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Re: 3kw portable generator

Several companies offer remote start kits for the Honda EU3000is which comes out of the box with electric start I believe. Not sure how choke is handled on that machine but I suppose at worst you might have trouble remote starting it when ambient temps are cold.


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Old 20-12-2014, 18:46   #3
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Re: 3kw portable generator

Yup your best bet is a Honda or a Yamaha. They both have remote start kits..

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Old 21-12-2014, 04:35   #4
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Re: 3kw portable generator

thank you very much for your replies but I have looked at both of them and they aren't totally automatic like the Baldor. I have a system that is remote started by voltage settings and I wont be there. So I need something that shuts off and turns on by itself in different weather conditions. The Baldor worked perfect.
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Old 21-12-2014, 06:42   #5
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Re: 3kw portable generator

Did you check with generac?

http://www.baldor.com/products/generators.asp




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Old 21-12-2014, 08:17   #6
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Re: 3kw portable generator

yes I did. They are no longer making the 3kw generator.
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Old 21-12-2014, 09:23   #7
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Re: 3kw portable generator

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Originally Posted by tuberider View Post
I had a baldor 3kw portable generator with remote start I installed, that was totally automatic, no manual choke or levers to turn. I contacted the manufacturer and they stopped making them. I can not find another portable 3kw anywhere that is totally automatic. any suggestions?
Can you have the genset repaired?

You didn't say it but I'm assuming this genset had an automatic transfer switch that would start the engine and transfer the power from line to genset and back.

I think if you contact the major generator companies you will find a replacement but you might have to go with a larger genset and it may not be easily "portable".
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Old 21-12-2014, 10:05   #8
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Re: 3kw portable generator

In your situation, I'd recommend solar panels. Free power every day, a lot cheaper than a generator and completely automatic as long as the sun is shining.
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Old 21-12-2014, 10:14   #9
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Re: 3kw portable generator

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In your situation, I'd recommend solar panels. Free power every day, a lot cheaper than a generator and completely automatic as long as the sun is shining.
What if the power goes out at night?

How many square feet of solar panels would it take to make 3KW of power?
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Old 21-12-2014, 10:52   #10
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Re: 3kw portable generator

Solar panels are always "running" in daylight, socaldmax makes a good point. They start themselves up every morning without any complicated switches. Trick is to balance your amps out to your amps in.
Having an engine starting and running on my boat when I'm not around scares me.
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Old 21-12-2014, 11:17   #11
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Re: 3kw portable generator

I find it hard to believe there is not a generator that will run itself, they certainly have them in non-portable versions.
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Old 21-12-2014, 11:28   #12
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Re: 3kw portable generator

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Originally Posted by onestepcsy37 View Post
Solar panels are always "running" in daylight, socaldmax makes a good point. They start themselves up every morning without any complicated switches. Trick is to balance your amps out to your amps in.
Having an engine starting and running on my boat when I'm not around scares me.
He didn't say the genset was on his boat. It could have been on a dock just replacing lost shorepower.

But again, how many square feet of solar panels would be required to produce 3KW of power? And what about at night or cloudy days?
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Old 21-12-2014, 11:34   #13
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Re: 3kw portable generator

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What if the power goes out at night?

How many square feet of solar panels would it take to make 3KW of power?
His boat has a battery bank, so it won't. If his battery bank can't make it through one night, then that needs to be larger. Theoretically, they'd be fully charged from the day before.

3 KW of solar panels would be quite a bit, but he doesn't need 3KW, he just needs enough to fill up his battery bank within one day's worth of sun. He might be able to do that with 2 or 3 300w panels. 3 x 300w panels is 900w peak, which should fill even larger than normal battery banks. It automatically starts charging the batteries as soon as the sun starts shining.

Think about it. If he needed 3kw continuous, he could just run the genny 24/7, no need to start or stop it automatically. That's a lot of power being used, especially when he's not onboard.
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Old 21-12-2014, 11:37   #14
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Re: 3kw portable generator

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Originally Posted by socaldmax View Post
His boat has a battery bank, so it won't. If his battery bank can't make it through one night, then that needs to be larger. Theoretically, they'd be fully charged from the day before.

3 KW of solar panels would be quite a bit, but he doesn't need 3KW, he just needs enough to fill up his battery bank within one day's worth of sun. He might be able to do that with 2 or 3 300w panels. 3 x 300w panels is 900w peak, which should fill even larger than normal battery banks. It automatically starts charging the batteries as soon as the sun starts shining.

Think about it. If he needed 3kw continuous, he could just run the genny 24/7, no need to start or stop it automatically. That's a lot of power being used, especially when he's not onboard.
I don't know what he has on his boat or why he asked about a 3KW genset. I can only go by what he posted.
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Old 21-12-2014, 11:40   #15
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Re: 3kw portable generator

Another option is a Honda or Yamaha with the remote start kit.

Then make a custom board to do the automatic starting. It would be pretty easy to do with and Arduino if you don't know how to make a custom board.

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