Emergency power generators

[jgreco at ns.sol.net (Joe Greco)]

> On Thu, 21 Jan 2010, Mike wrote:
> 
> > site owners a solution to test and verify generator operation. Does anyone 
> > have any pointers to possible solutions or vendor white papers I could look 
> > at? We probably want to verify start, read voltage to verify output, and 
> > maybe even gauge fuel in the tanks if thats possible.
> 
> Start with the generator owner's manual.  You'd be amazed at what helpful 
> maintenance suggestions can be found there.  Sometimes they're even 
> online... :)

Seriously, "talk to your vendor."  You can frequently get gear with 
remote reporting, some of it will do dry contact or even talk RS232.
If you can not, a lot of it can be measured anyways.

If your gear doesn't "support" it, talk to generator service guys who 
are well-thought-of in your area.  I'd place good odds that they'll be
happy to outfit you with a computer-readable fuel level indicator, 
oil pressure, remote test, etc., etc., though they may be smiling their
way to the bank and thanking you for all the custom work.

... JG
-- 
Joe Greco - sol.net Network Services - Milwaukee, WI - http://www.sol.net
"We call it the 'one bite at the apple' rule. Give me one chance [and] then I
won't contact you again." - Direct Marketing Ass'n position on e-mail spam(CNN)
With 24 million small businesses in the US alone, that's way too many apples.