Generator Exhaust

[LS6 Tommy]

CO is heavier than air and tends to hang around the floor. Grab a CO meter and go start the car in the shop, just for a few seconds, and then turn it off. Watch the CO meter change from arms length high, to the floor-it'll be higher at the floors.

All of your info is great except this. CO is not heavier than air. That is an OLD myth. It's actually slightly lighter than air. That's why CO detectors can be mounted up high on walls or ceilings (always install them in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions).

The reason the CO meter reads higher near the floor than at shoulder height immediately after you shut the car off is because the CO has not dissipated into the rest of the air in the room.



Tommy

 

[Sureshot]

I use a piece of silicone(high temp) heater hose on my Yamaha 3500 Inverter. I have used it in the attached garage in the winter with the hose under the door and in the genset compartment of the fifth wheel to get the exhaust outside. Works great. Be cautious and smart about CO but I'm no safety nazi and like to run with scissors and tack weld with no gloves in short sleeves with only tinted safety glasses.

 

[Dragfluid]

OP read this post over and over. The guy who called us “safety nazis” should also read this over and over. Listen to people with experience and expertise. It’s not safe. Period. End of story.

Wire up an inlet and wheel the generator outside.

Yes indeed! Good info from Warrior! Don't **** around with CO!

This type of thread comes up every once in a while here. There's always someone that blurts out the "Safety Nazi" ******** and has to argue the point. I don't get it. I just don't get it.

Again, don't **** around with CO!

Happy Thanksgiving.

 

[JRC3]

Yes indeed! Good info from Warrior! Don't **** around with CO!

This type of thread comes up every once in a while here. There's always someone that blurts out the "Safety Nazi" ******** and has to argue the point. I don't get it. I just don't get it.

Again, don't **** around with CO!

Happy Thanksgiving.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/michigan-family-dead-co-poisoning_us_56cb5dede4b0ec6725e35f36

All dead because of a generator. Do a search, it is very common.




I'm not saying I wouldn't run a generator in an unattached (from the house) open shop for a very short time, but I certainly would not shrug off the risk of doing it. Also the risk of fire would concern me. I've heard stories of houses catching because there was a problem with the generator and it spread to the house because it was too close.



With CO poisoning you usually don't get a do-over.

 

[scooby074]

CO is serious business. Dont run a generator in any enclosure without a CO detector. It will sneak up on you before you know it.

That said, I used to run my large Honda inverter generator in a detached baby barn, with both doors open, with the exhaust sticking as far out as i could get it before the wheels fell off the barn floor. I could refill it standing in the doorway and wouldnt go inside the barn without the gen off and allowing it to air out. I would not do this at the mouth of an attached garage (for example), all it would take would be a change in exhaust direction to blow CO back inside.

Now I have a Kohler Propane, 20kw whole house, with Auto Transfer and would never go back to gas powered. Strongly consider a propane powered gen with ATS, you wont regret it.

 

[Showkey]

PORTABLE GENERATORS
✔ Never use a generator inside your home or garage, even if doors and windows are open.
✔ Only use generators outside, more than 20 feet away from your home, doors, and windows.

On exhaust blow back.....one of the generator stories that ended poorly :
Generator 4-5 feet outside the garage service door.....prevailings winds blow the exhaust back into the garage .......CO leaks into the home........

CPSC has been looking at generator CO for years......they proposed a mandate of catalytic converters. Converters pretty much means FI which on small units means a large cost up.....they are coming soon.

There's a myth that carbon monoxide alarms should be installed lower on the wall because carbon monoxide is heavier than air. In fact, carbon monoxide is slightly lighter than air and diffuses evenly throughout the room. This actually make CO more dangerous in some situations.

 

[checkthisout]

CPSC has been looking at generator CO for years......they proposed a mandate of catalytic converters. Converters pretty much means FI which on small units means a large cost up.....they are coming soon.

I actually like that idea a lot. Catalytic converters (just 2 way systems would be fine for now) on boats, generators, lawnmowers, leaf blowers etc.

I work on this stuff all the time and I instantly know and am highly sensitive to vehicles and equipment without pollution controls.

Just so much nicer to be around to be around stuff that pump out gobs of CO and Hydrocarbons. . I don't know how those old technicians survived in automotive shops during the days before catalytic converters.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

CPSC has been looking at generator CO for years......they proposed a mandate of catalytic converters. Converters pretty much means FI which on small units means a large cost up.....they are coming soon.

The CPSC and the EPA have been trying to force converters on ALL small engines and motorcycles since the 80's. I don't think they've gained any significant traction on getting it done as Lobbyists for Briggs and a bunch of other manufacturers are saying the cost isn't the issue, it's a safety risk and reliability issue do to higher operating temps, and the increased fire risk from the high temps of the converters.

Tommy

 

[Dragfluid]

The CPSC and the EPA have been trying to force converters on ALL small engines and motorcycles since the 80's. I don't think they've gained any significant traction on getting it done as Lobbyists for Briggs and a bunch of other manufacturers are saying the cost isn't the issue, it's a safety risk and reliability issue do to higher operating temps, and the increased fire risk from the high temps of the converters.

Tommy

You'd probably be looking at a unit 1/3 larger in size to allow for the protection of the other components from the heat of the 'cat.

Ridiculous.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

You'd probably be looking at a unit 1/3 larger in size to allow for the protection of the other components from the heat of the 'cat.

Ridiculous.

Agreed.

Tommy

 

[JRC3]

So I'm watching I am Legend just now and noticed this shot in this scene.

Hmmm.

 

[u3b3rg33k]

that's quite the exhaust system lol.

 

[JRC3]

that's quite the exhaust system lol.

This is as best I can get a look at it. Looks like a register boot and some insulated flex duct is all you need. And maybe a few zip-ties.


Good movie, just making fun of this scene.

 

[Organized_Garage]

Generator enclosure for our trailer- black cube on right side. Photos are during install, not seen is added lower door (screen) air inlet as that was sent out for black powder coating. The original enclosure was shorter in height, I removed and made taller enclosure to meet the height of the front cabinets just to the left of the generator enclosure and increase the size of the air vent.

This is inside the enclosure, taken during the assembly process. The exhaust is ran to the floor and then outside the trailer. Exhaust, 1 1/2" flex tube, is wrapped with a heat displacing header wrap primarily used in motorsports. Installed also is an 8" inline fan thats purpose is to evacuate the hot air from the enclosure to the outside of the trailer. This turns on immediately once the generator is started.

This is the exit point of the 8" air vent. Closed for this photo, but quickly opens and allows for massive exit of air from the said inline vent. There is a Carbon Monoxide Detector mid-level on the interior wall (not seen) adjacent to the enclosure. I test it frequently and we have not had it alarm at all during use. I plan on adding a second one as well for back up and good measure. The genny is never ran with any of the trailer doors closed. Both the ramp door and curbside door are opened during it's use.

 

[Jeepster04]

Somewhat local to me, a dad and 2 of his kids died when the dad was warming the car up in the garage while they were in the car... News didnt say if the door was open or not. News kept saying CO2.....

Seemed odd to me... But yes, CO is nothing to mess around with.

 

[u3b3rg33k]

This is as best I can get a look at it. Looks like a register boot and some insulated flex duct is all you need. And maybe a few zip-ties.


Good movie, just making fun of this scene.

lol and a big fan on the other end.

the real question is, why is he running all THREE inverter gensets at the same time?

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Generator enclosure for our trailer- black cube on right side. Photos are during install, not seen is added lower door (screen) air inlet as that was sent out for black powder coating. The original enclosure was shorter in height, I removed and made taller enclosure to meet the height of the front cabinets just to the left of the generator enclosure and increase the size of the air vent.

This is inside the enclosure, taken during the assembly process. The exhaust is ran to the floor and then outside the trailer. Exhaust, 1 1/2" flex tube, is wrapped with a heat displacing header wrap primarily used in motorsports. Installed also is an 8" inline fan thats purpose is to evacuate the hot air from the enclosure to the outside of the trailer. This turns on immediately once the generator is started.

This is the exit point of the 8" air vent. Closed for this photo, but quickly opens and allows for massive exit of air from the said inline vent. There is a Carbon Monoxide Detector mid-level on the interior wall (not seen) adjacent to the enclosure. I test it frequently and we have not had it alarm at all during use. I plan on adding a second one as well for back up and good measure. The genny is never ran with any of the trailer doors closed. Both the ramp door and curbside door are opened during it's use.

Pics don't show for me...


Tommy

 

[buzzworth]

Somewhat local to me, a dad and 2 of his kids died when the dad was warming the car up in the garage while they were in the car... News didnt say if the door was open or not. News kept saying CO2.....

Seemed odd to me... But yes, CO is nothing to mess around with.

http://www.wdrb.com/story/39560824/...ed-after-being-found-in-valley-station-garage

 

[Organized_Garage]

Pics don't show for me...


Tommy

Dang it- sorry Tommy! Anyone else not seeing them?

Showing up on my end, but that don't mean much.

 

[u3b3rg33k]

looks fine to me...

 

[Showkey]

http://www.wdrb.com/story/39560824/...ed-after-being-found-in-valley-station-garage

It’s possible....not real common. The news may have got wrong.
Most new cars produce very little CO ( almost 0 ) so when vehicle is operated in confined space for a fairly long time.........it can use all the O2 while producing a large amount of CO2. C02 displaces the 02.

The home is tight, bedroom close to the garage.
The one that comes up is keyless ignition vehicles........operator is distracted and fails to shut the vehicle off in the closed garage. It runs all night......producing CO2 and maybe some CO.