Connecting Portable Solar Panels

pianotuna wrote:
Michael,

One other thought. Some diesels do NOT like to be idled. I do not know this from experience. I think you have to use "high idle". This is a "skating on thin ice" comment as it is outside my area of certain knowledge.

WET STACKING

Can occur with Diesel engines under extended low idle and light load conditions.

Generally for extended idling some folks have done a high idle mod to avoid this condition.

From Web site above..

"What causes wet stacking?

Like all internal combustion engines, to operate at maximum efficiency, a diesel engine has to have exactly the right air-to-fuel ratio and be able to sustain its designed operational temperature for a complete burn of fuel. When a diesel engine is operated on light loads, it will not attain its correct operating temperature.

When the diesel engine runs below its designed operating temperature for extended periods, unburned fuel is exhausted and noticed as wetness in the exhaust system, hence the phrase “wet stacking.”
The effects of wet stacking

When unburned fuel is exhausted from the combustion chamber, it starts to build up in the exhaust side of the engine, resulting in fouled injectors and a buildup of carbon on the exhaust valves, turbo charger and exhaust.

Excessive deposits can result in a loss of engine performance as gasses bypass valve seatings, exhaust buildup produces backpressure, and deposits on the turbo blades reduce turbo efficiency.

Permanent damage will not be incurred over short periods, but over longer periods deposits will scar and erode key engine surfaces.

Also, when engines run below the designed operational temperature, the piston rings do not expand sufficiently to adequately seal the space between the pistons and the cylinder walls. This results in unburned fuel and gasses escaping into the oil pan and diluting the lubricating properties of the oil, leading to premature engine wear.
Why avoiding wet stacking is essential

In addition to the adverse engine effect, the designer and user of a system have to consider:

Expense- Excessive wet stacking will shorten engine life by many years and before planned replacement.
Pollution- Many urban areas restrict the level of smoke emissions wet stacking produces.
Power- Even before an engine is damaged, deposits will reduce maximum power. A prematurely worn engine will have a lower maximum power than it was designed to produce.
Maintenance- An engine experiencing wet stacking will require considerably more maintenance than an engine that is adequately loaded."


Personally, I am not a fan of extended idling of a large expensive ($3,000-$4,000) gas engine in a vehicle to do the job that a small MUCH CHEAPER ($400-$1,000)single cylinder gas engine generator.

Sort of like swatting a fly with a tank..

Even worse with the newer more modern vehicles when you add in all the computers/electronics on board and toss in a $3,000 transmission idling all that time also..

Don't like the noise of a gen? Fill up on as much solar as possible that will fit on your roof.. You can buy one heck of a solar array for what it can cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle engine/transmission and electronics..