Diesel Generator Install | The Lifeline of Our Off-Grid Property 

It's good to see Bandit up and around.

I was in cringe mode when I saw how the fuel was being fed from the tank to the generator. Fortunately, someone has already posted the size solution that will work. Getting that generator going means crossing a lot of bridges. So glad you have troubleshooting skills that this experience helped you to build upon. Your willingness to do and learn anything that helps you live your life better, is inspirational.

Hi There, we have the same KUBOTA diesel and had the same issue; pump not strong enough to pull enough fuel.. We now run 1/4” copper line, no check valve and installed a 12 VDC inline fuel pump. We next installed a normally open pressure switch in an oil port. When the engine cranks, oil pressure builds, switch closes, fuel pump comes on, diesel line is pressurized and engine runs like a charm. When engine stops, fuel pump stops. Hope this helps.

Paused my running playlist to watch your video in a fresh tab.

I got the feeling that you are going to stay for a while. What a professional installation.

I'm 78 yo granny that knows nothing about electricity BUT I watched to the end and understood most of what you were saying! As Gomer Pile would say, "Surprise, surprise". I just love your channel. Did you ever think - when you were a 9 yo boy - that you would be doing this in Alaska and actually getting it done right? LOL You give us all hope in the younger generation. THANK YOU!

Watching your channel is always an interesting and educational journey. Continue to lead us into the world of your creativity and inspire us!🚜📷◼️

Wow, meat all winter now.Alaska looks beautiful.Dont poke the wolf poo guys.

I am so amazed at Eric's knowledge and skills.

The only channel that makes me drop my cross stitch . Love to you both ❤️🇬🇧

Been to a few northern locations where they put the diesel fuel tank in a heated shelter to avoid gelling. If I recall they would get -58C temperatures. Our coaxial connectors were popping of the cables so we had to wrap them with eaves heating cable, good times!!!

In my experience any plumbing project is at least 3 trips to the hardware store, brave and skilled (and lucky) people get it done in one. NOTE I'm not an expert but I would get your generator's battery up off the floor as the concrete will drain the battery over time, IJS. Thanks for sharing

I stopped three other videos when I saw diesel generator at SLA. Cool guys. With Aloha of course...

I have the very same basic tank (Greer, 500 gallon) and (35kw) diesel engine setup as you similarly have, and it has run automatically without fuel delivery issues whatsoever now for 22 straight years here in south-central Alaska. Forget your entire top tank offtake connection that you have already made, get rid of that, and install in the same hole at the top a Krueger Sentry Gauge so you visually know what your tank has left in it, so you can reorder fuel as needed. I then installed a Golden Rod fuel filter off of the tank valve that you have already installed at the bottom (so you will be doing gravity fuel feed for both lines), that way you can change the fuel filter element (rare). On the outlet side of the Golden Rod filter, I installed a 3/8" copper tee, and installed a similar globe shutoff valve for each tee so that I can shut-in any of the two copper feed lines while leaving the other one live, whenever needed. I then ran 3/8" copper line (refrigerant line) off of both shut-off outlets, but I used a 3/8" flare fitting connection for each copper line (don't use compression fittings to connect to the outlet of these shutoff valve) as you don't want these to ever come loose and leak, which can happen if a strong earthquake or Moose, as some Moose in my area seem to like the taste of diesel at these fittings. Spiral the copper lines at least two turns so that your outside flare connections don't get undue stress from the usual winter frost heaves beneath your concrete pad. Then run the lines into your building at same two wall penetration holes, connect one line to the rubber generator feed line as you illustrated, and run the other line to your boiler connection.

Only Channel that I have that makes me drop everything

Start of a wonderful weekend and a video from my favorite alaskans!!! Who could ask for more??!!

Thank you guys you're such a refreshment from all of the other stuff going on in the world

What a beautiful, frosty morning!❤

My favorite family's in Alaska ❤❤❤❤

You two are incredible, our favorite RU-vid channel by far! Thank you for sharing.

You'll get it Eric, just remember fuel doesn't like to run UP!

My favorite family. Blessings you two

Love your videos. 1 suggestion you need to put 1/2” unions on the suction and return line. If you have problems you will not have to unscrew all your pipe to get it out of the tank.

Awesome video. Eric, your skills - at everything - are amazing. Looking forward to your next video when you have everything figured out!!

Hello Guys! Love your hard working Vids.

Lots more progress and you two are running headlong into winter in great shape ... reliable power on the way and fresh (messy) meat! Happy to see Bandit hanging out, and missed resident-void Pepper!

Dang Eric and Ariel y'all have skills

I would recommend an electric fuel booster pump like that you would run on a modern diesel truck they aren't the cheapest option. It would help when it gets very cold and the diesel starts to gel up a little and the smaller pump cant handle it. I know there are kits that you can get from companies like Bully Dog Diesel that would be a worthwhile upgrade.

I tuned in 7 min after you posted. I’m always looking for you!

Looking forward to Generator Part 2, nice job so far you’ll learn more than you you thought and be better for it. Peace.

Oh gosh Eric!! You have electrical mojo!! 🥳🎉👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼! What a great system you and Arielle have built and are continuing to create there in your little spot of Alaskan heaven! Beautiful job!

You guys continually amaze me.

I wondered why the germination house didn't cover the whole back of the Quonset hut. Cool again guys...

Wow...the production of this video is Netflix worthy. Well done...

The breakaway music with video edits are so good !

Great video! Thanks for sharing. Simple solution to get everything from your tank is to install an inline booster pump (12V) that will provide fuel to say just past those pipe shutoff valves. You may want to do the same for your return line as pushing back up into tank my put too much back pressure on the motor as it tries to get rid of your unspent fuel.

This is another awesome Friday in Alaska seeing your great place there putting in your diesel generator and have a wonderful weekend Thanks. 👍🇺🇲☕

I have an 8kw northern lights diesel generator that runs my entire farm. It's loud up close but the sound doesn't travel very far. Diesel is the way to go. Edit: I have a 500 gallon tank but the generator sits on a square custom made 100 gallon tank that acts like a pedestal for the generator.

You two make an awesome team to make everything work out there. Blessings!!

The feathers are beautiful would love some of them

And now Im interested in Generators and reading the solutions in comments..... What you've have done with your vids is amazing!!! 🤣

Beautiful scenery.

What a blessing getting a moose

Looking forward to seeing the solution at a later date!!! You guys are doing great!!!

❤ Over my head but really amazing to watch you guys set up things. I do hope you put a carbon monoxide detector in that room. ❤❤❤❤❤

Love your videos! Wohooo new video time 🎉

🧔‍♀️Ariel, I love crazy goofballs! Especially when the hubby is being so serious 😂You made me laugh out loud!

Praying y’all get the generator running! Love seeing sweet Bandit! God bless y’all! 😀❤️🙏🏻

great setup... cant wait to see it all working.

Once you get all the genny kinks worked out, maybe rig up a shroud to bridge the fan and the exterior vent. Perhaps that check valve was in the wrong place or inverted. It's worth double checking. Glad you got more moose meat for the coming winter. Odin's beard, Arielle. 🤪

That's how you learn. See you next time to finish the job. ❤

My company builds UL listed generator sub base fuel tanks for mainly govt projects. Those typically mount underneath the generator so as to minimize the length of fuel pipe. Your fuel pump will run 1/2" line without a problem. Its definitely the length of run that is your issue. You can try to run a smaller line, but If that doesn't work you will need to shorten the piping as short as you can. Possibly putting the tank closer to ground would help along with penetrating the side wall of your building to get closer to the tank. Good luck. Also your check valve is another issue. What you need is called a "foot valve" Look it up Morrison makes it and is meant for the bottom of the fuel line.

We all need the generator here in NC after this storm

Eric try using unions on your black iron pipe it makes it easy to disconnect and replace.

hook up at bottom of tank to your shutoff valve .use your iron pipe to go inside ,put a water separator filter for gen , you can put a T at valve to go to boiler

The Kwanzaa hut is a thing of beauty! The video just started, but I am hoping to hear that Bandit is OK. ❤

Incredible Knowledge 😮 Wowser So Interesting 💡🤔🧐 That was Really Funny at the end of the Video 😅😂 Laughter is The Best Medicine 😊❤It will be a HUGE Blessing to have the Generator for the Winter 🥶 Just and Awesome video can't wait to see the Trail Cam vid 😊 Take Care🙏💪❤

Several things I noticed. But first I'm glad you figured out the two 120V needs to be 180 degrees out of phase to get your 240V. On the tank: you should be drawing fuel from the bottom. And lastly only 8K watts? That's 30Amps 240V. To run a large shop like that you have you ought to be feeding at minimum 60A 240V. It doesn't seem right for a very large 3-cylinder Kubota engine to be producing such a small amount of electricity. My guess is twin (or more) 8K Watts.

You 2 Can Do Anything!! Yall Rock!!!❤️

You two are the best on you tube.love everything you do.keep up the great work

Those feathers are beautiful!

Since you live in an area that gets really cold, diesel when really cold will gel. There are additives that help this situation. Talk to locals to see what is recommended. Love you two and happy to see Bandit up and around.

Love your videos, always happy to see when they show up.

I needed a video from you two! 😊 Crying in North Carolina!😢

Wrestler style. LOL I always stay for the outtakes. Hilarous.

😂😂😂Glad I stayed til the very end... you two are too funny! Ariel is a little freaky-deaky and Eric is game! Variety is the spice of life! 😜

TY for the video, you are the best and a always looking for your new posts.

well done Eric, you are a real gun when you do a project , , you never give up . hello Arial

in line electric fuel pump will salve the problem and its better to run soft copper line for the incoming fuel line will prevent air coming in to the system.

Yea!!!!!!you amazing me how hard you work ! Thank you for sharing! I always enjoy your channel!

Hi guys...love your channel

Geweldig te zie wat Eric allemaal kan super

I have a modern “oil heater” with an output of approx. 20 kwh. The diameter of the oil pipes is much smaller. My three oil tanks are connected to each other with a thicker pipe (but even thinner than yours) , which then flow into a really thin semi-flexible copper pipe. The oil is pumped out via flexible floating pipes that are lowered into the tanks. They do not touch the ground so that no slag is drawn in. Then comes a transparent collecting tank of approx. 1 liter with oil filter and oil level. Air pockets can also be clearly seen there. The difference is that the excess oil only circulates within the collection container, i.e. it is not fed back into the tanks.The collecting tank also has the advantage that it is inside and the oil is already preheated by the room temperature. Unfortunately, this is a European (German) system. But maybe you can get some ideas out of it. Thx for you vids !

You may want to wrap the exhaust clamps as well. They may get really hot too.

Another Eric video

Love your videos

Have you thought of adding a "day tank" in the inslde space and using a second pump to fill the day tank based on a lwvel sensor in the day tank. This would alllow for the larger black pipe to stay outside and you could add the check valve back into the system. The nice part would be that in an emergency you can fill the day tank with your 5 gallon cans. This would also give you room to grow if you ever need a larger generator and not have to repipe everything. - Gary

You got this Eric!!!

Love the videos, keep them coming. Love from FL.

lol them bloopers 😂 Eric..please don’t hurt Arielle ❤

I learned so much, this episode...thanks

Lovin' the Bloops!

Just run your feed from the bottom of the tank. You'll have good head pressure and it will be a flooded pick up like a hydraulic unit.

Eric Spaghetti wires scare the hell out of me, braver man son🤫👍🙌👏👍

Prepare your fuel lines for diesel jelling in cold weather and get the battery off the floor put something under it

The video i have waited for since you guys bought that big ass genni

That’s a great beard Ariel 😂

I would run a Fass fuel pump inline that way you get a fuel filter and water separator with it. With that tank being outside in the cold you are going to get a lot of water in the fuel.

Feed the generator gravitationally I would say. The pump will recirculate the excess back. Nice job!

From my research, you do not want a bonded neutral in the generator AND the panel because that can create a ground loop which is apparently very dangerous. As I understand, you need to have the generator NOT bonded. I am NOT a professional, so please look into this yourselves to be sure. Love your setup, I'm just in the process of building my system now as well. Thanks for another great video guys.

Great show

Just a shot in the dark, maybe a tiger loop at the generator would help. One feed line and no return to tank it keeps a prime. Used on oil fired burners. Worth some research

Hook your supply line to tank bottom with a tee and two shut off valves. A water separator will be needed of course in any hook up scenario.

You could pull off the bottom of the tank use gravity thanks great show. Keep it up

I've no direct experience with oil tank installations, but I can tell you that you need a foot valve designed for the situation, not a regular check valve. Your tank is elevated above the generator, so once the line is full, the pump may be okay. Right now, it needs to suck all the way up to the top of the tank first. Maybe you can create a siphon to fill it? I've also noticed that you've made no mention of an air intake opening in the utility room. You might be able to suck enough air under the door to get by when you are around, but if it runs for a long time with the building shut tight you might run into problems. I've really enjoyed watching the progress and would love to see you have less trouble with getting power this winter.

Hello from France . you need to add a double-ball non-return strainer, to the suction pipe at the bottom of the tank. normally with this, there's no need for another pump. (it's the same principle as for a central heating oil burner). the oil tank risks freezing in winter. Jean-Luc .

You should cut pieces from an old rubber tire and put between the fuel tank and the angle iron. When you fill it with oil , the diesel fuel weighs about 8 lbs per gallon, that would be approx 4ooo lbs pushing on the side of the tank onto the the angle iron. Regards Wayne

Gravity feed the large tank to a smaller tank in the generator room. Use a float valve to make is simple. This gives you a chance to run a water separator and an inline filter on the small tank and pump the fuel using the stock pump on the geny.

I see Ariel's Cabin Fever is setting in early.

I needed a software upgrade before the Solark would charge the batteries from the generator input. I remember it being quite frustrating especially in a scenario where the generator was running and power was also being generated by the solar panels - the system would not take full advantage of both which was annoying. I was going to switch the generator to the grid input but never got round to testing that configuration.