Robin RGD3300 Diesel Genset

Re: Robin RGD3300 Diesel Genset

westbranch wrote: »

Chris, I keep getting an error when I try to open the attachments???

Sorry - I must've done something bad when I posted it. I went to the Advanced and re-attached them so they should show up (maybe).

[video=youtube_share;WlXlqTwxgHs]http://youtu.be/WlXlqTwxgHs[/video]
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Chris

Re: Robin RGD3300 Diesel Genset

I've been looking for either a used Yanmar or a Subaru-Robin for awhile because I wanted it for prime power. If I want to have "grid" power for long periods of time on the AC1 input of our inverter the little Robin will do it cheap. I couldn't believe the fellow sold it for only $775 but it worked out because he needed more money and less generators and I needed more generators and less money.

Ralph - the Robin engine has a Zexel injection pump and nozzle so it starts and idles quite nicely when it's cold. Under normal operation that's what I'll do - start it and let it idle at 2,000 rpm for a few minutes to get warmed up. It also has a smoke screw with a governor buffer to increase the torque rise and power output under surge (which I already tweaked). She blows pitch black smoke now when you try to lug it down and it won't lug down under surge load. It would only put out about 3,300-3,400 VA when I first ran it on surge. But I got that up to 4,000 VA for 20 seconds before the breaker trips - although the cloud of black smoke is pretty impressive after I tweaked the smoke screw.
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Chris

Re: Robin RGD3300 Diesel Genset

Yes, it can easily be set up for autostart. The controller takes care of the warmup period before loading it.

It can handle up to 12.5 amps per leg so it wouldn't make it very far on a split-phase system with high loads without the transformer and the XW to help it out when it needs help.
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Chris

Re: Robin RGD3300 Diesel Genset

Ralph Day wrote: »

Soundproofing a must as well. A diesel banging away would drive most of us batty. Wait! I just remembered your wood chipper video...forget this post.

Well, the 12V71 on the chipper runs out in the middle of the woods where it only bothers a couple squirrels. I'll build a sound attenuated generator room for the little diesel and put a truck muffler on it. It will be as quiet as the Honda. I got a little Schweitzer turbocharger around here someplace that came off a Honda CX500 motorcycle and I might rig that up on it. The Robin DY27 has a pressure lube system and I can tap off the oil sender for oil to the turbo. That would even make it meet Tier IV. That's the only reason they don't sell the DY23/DY27 in North America anymore - they wouldn't certify for emission standards. They still sell them in every other country (except EU countries) but they discontinued sales in the US and Canada in 2005 and switched to the Hatz 1B30 on the post-2005 Subaru-Robin RGD3300 gensets.

Subaru then switched their attention to their new gas engine line that has chain-driven overhead camshafts.

The Robin is a much tougher and more durable engine than the Hatz and it has Zexel injection instead of Robert Bosch. The injection pump on the Hatz diesels has been very problematic. The Zexel pump on the Robin was designed and built thru a joint effort between Diesel Kiki and Zexel, and are bullet-proof, mainly due to superior quality control and machining by the Japanese.
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Chris

Re: Robin RGD3300 Diesel Genset

Been mulling over the best way to use the little Robin diesel for prime power when the RE system don't work. I've pretty much decided to build a new powerhouse with both generators in it and make it big enough so a person can stand up in it and have room to service the generators without moving them or unhooking them from their exhaust systems, service wiring and control wiring. I'll leave the Honda EM4000 on auto-start for peak loads hooked to AC2. And I'll have the little Robin on manual start hooked to AC1. I'll probably build the powerhouse with a walk-thru insulated steel door so a generator can be wheeled in or out.

The Champion is on wheels so rather than permanently wiring that into a transfer switch for backup on AC2 I'll leave it as portable power so it can be used where ever it is necessary.

I did have a little problem with my Guaranteed To Look Like Real Chrome Paint on the exhaust stack on the Robin. It sort of burst right into flames and burnt off during load testing. So I went with 1000 degree BBQ Power Black (at least that's what it says on the can) instead

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The stack is 1.5" OD and 1.5" ID flex pipe fits nicely over it so the exhaust can now be easily plumbed in a large truck muffler to make it really quiet. Plus I welded on some stack braces so the stack don't bust the outlet on the muffler eventually.

The fuel tank holds three gallons of fuel. I test ran it a couple days during an extended rainy period here when we didn't get hardly any RE power - running on AC1 for prime power like I plan to use it. It runs at varying loads anywhere from about 800w -1 kw to full rated power (3 kW) doing that. The batteries stayed pretty much at float voltage the whole time and it ran for 14 hours during the test. I refilled the tank from a 2 gallon can and it could've held a little more fuel yet, but not much. So it runs pretty cheap and the batteries were pretty happy because they basically went on vacation during the run test. The little prime power generator can prevent cycling the batteries during bad RE times. So my thinking is, what's cheaper? A few gallons of diesel fuel for bad RE times, or putting some more cycles on the batteries and sometimes having to charge them with the Honda because they get below 50% SOC? Batteries are $9,000 for new ones - I can buy a LOT of diesel fuel for $9,000.

This generator would not be suitable for auto-start and peak load. It requires a five minute warmup at fast idle before you put it to work, or it's hard on it because it over-fuels due to incomplete combustion. And it's going to require substantial pre-heat to start it in the winter (haven't figured out what to do for that yet). But once started, warmed up, and online - it runs so cheap that it's almost unbelievable. It is one of the smallest 120/240V diesel generator sets that you can buy, so it's sized perfect for the type of duty I'm going to use it for.

I've tested it plenty now, and it performs flawless. Just need to finish figuring out the details of how to integrate it so it works the way I want it to - all in the hopes that it will eventually pay off in battery costs.
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Chris

Re: Robin RGD3300 Diesel Genset

inetdog wrote: »

Sounds like you are lucky to get the old one. The first review I found online for the current model using the Hatz stated that cost for a replacement (plastic) fuel tank was $500 plus shipping from Germany. :-(
It is also not clear whether the current model is rated for prime mover use. Part number is now RDG3300H, for Hatz, I guess.

Yes, the H-suffix model comes with a Hatz. The models with the Robin DY27 are still sold overseas (except in some EU countries) where they don't have to meet stringent emission specs. They stopped importing them here in 2004 due to emissions (Nox is off the scale on the little Robin due to extremely high exhaust temps and the high compression ratio).

The Hatz diesels have had their share of problems with injection pumps too. I had one given to me because it wouldn't start due to a bad injection pump, and that seems to be a common theme with them - they run while they run and when they break they're so incredibly expensive to fix that they get junked.
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Chris

Re: Robin RGD3300 Diesel Genset

Thom wrote: »

Honda parts are expensive !

Oh, Honda is VERY proud of even a quart of GN4 oil
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Chris

Re: Robin RGD3300 Diesel Genset

A little more progress. I got the new powerhouse partially sheeted in with a roof on it. The Robin diesel will be against the back wall as you come in the door with the switch and control panel facing out, and the exhaust routed out overhead. The Honda EM4000 will be to the left of the door with the switch and control panel facing out and the exhaust routed directly out the side like it is in its present small enclosure.

I bought a pre-hung insulated steel entry door and that door will stay locked all the time. That is necessary to keep the grandkids out of there because if they go in there and see switches and buttons they'll flip and press them just to see what happens.

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Chris

Re: Robin RGD3300 Diesel Genset

I bought a 39 foot roll of 6" thick x 24" wide fiberglass insulation. And I figured I'd cover that with that fire-retardant foil-faced 1" foam stuff like I used in the small enclosure for the Honda. For ventilation I'll pressurize the building like I do with the present small enclosure, as that helps force exhaust gases (where the most heat is) and fumes out the exhaust vents.

With the building well insulated and louvers that close on the ventilation fan intake and exhaust vents I'm hoping I can keep it above freezing in there in the winter with the same 75 watt heat lamp that I used to heat the Honda last winter. At least that's my hope - time will tell if that's going to work or not.
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Chris