Loading your small stationary Diesel engine to keep it happy

I have a Petter PAZ1 series two in "survivor" condition (ie original paint etc, but OK to look at and works well)

I know that it is not good to run engines like this for too long with no load.

Question1 = Do you dear reader consider this important?

Question2 = This is a 1.6bhp / 1000 rpm engine. How much load / what load do you reckon it needs to keep hot enough to stay clean inside?

Q1 unsure. Didn't have my diesel with me long enough but it was running a Dynamo with a few 100 watts of lights. Got plenty hot enough!

Q2. Centrifugal water pump or Dynamo.

Thanks for the input Steve

I wish to avoid the "water" thing for at least two reasons.
It's a bit of faffing around, and also, at rallies you see too much yellow water and ducks in my opinion.

I am considering a car alternator, a battery and a fairly big inverter (all hidden in a "period" box ) and find something 240V to use as a load (maybe a fridge full of beer )

ghost123uk wrote:Thanks for the input Steve

I wish to avoid the "water" thing for at least two reasons.
It's a bit of faffing around, and also, at rallies you see too much yellow water and ducks in my opinion.

I am considering a car alternator, a battery and a fairly big inverter (all hidden in a "period" box ) and find something 240V to use as a load (maybe a fridge full of beer )

Something like this?



Inverter in the bottom and battery at the back.

I would run the engine close to its maximum load, a generator with a selection of suitable lamps will keep it busy.

Maryalice

Robotstar5 Something like that yes  - Though I have decided that if I ever wish to use an inverter (and battery) with it, they will be "remote" and not part of the engine (this so as it looks neater and is also more of a flexible / versatile set-up). I have a "poly V" belt style alternator on the way and I am hoping to mount it directly to the frame my PAZ1 is on. I will be driving it from the main flywheel. Just need to arrange and fabricate some nice looking brackets and tension swing arm when the alternator arrives.


Maryalice - Thanks for confirming that. I think I have correctly figured out that the PAZ1 is 1.6hp and that is roughly 1KW. It will be interesting to load it up with "known loads" (likely have to be bloody bulbs !!!) and see how the engine reacts, especially smoke wise (currently it barely produces any smoke).

I will be using the "unit" at a friends orchard and allotment. We have a big shed there with 12 Volt off grid electrics via solar, but the solar is not keeping up in the dull short days outside of the summer months.

I still might do the "inverter and fridge full of beer" when I take it to any rallies