What's everyone's opinion on portable generators ?

[WaterBoyz]

The HF 9000/7250 on special coupon one day only for ITC 03/07/19 is $549.99.

That is $80.00 less than the sale they had last week.

Anybody added a remote start for this generator?

 

[floridafarmer]

180 hours on the 803 now. Had less than 100 when I bought it but loaned to a friend during the last hurricane and they used it for a few days. The guy I bought them from said he's seen them with thousands of hours on them still purring.

 

[floridafarmer]

930Dreamer - the guy I bought mine from said lots of his business is selling these for event tents and hunting camps - he has some with 5 ton 3 phase A/C systems built on the same trailer and they just run the ducts to the side of the tents/cabins.
Let me know if you want his number - he's in Live Oak FL and sent a bunch of units to Texas a couple years ago after the hurricanes.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Anyone wanting to run a >5000W PORTABLE generator anywhere near their house for more than a couple of hours is CRAZY !

• First, the noise will drive you insane
• Second, the amount of fuel that those things guzzle will mean you need to keep about 25 gallons of gasoline on hand just to run 24 hours OR have a huge LP tank and hope the delivery guys and get through within 24-48 hours.

If you really need that much power, get a whole home generator.

If you can live WITHOUT central air conditioning, electric hot water, electric stove, and can manage your loads, a 3000W inverter generator or a pair of 2000W inverter generators in parallel are enough !

 

[Bretny]

Many "Whole house" generators burn more fuel than the portable smaller ones. But usualy the hole house generators are hooked to a 500gal propane tank or NG. Still very expensive to run and rely on someone else to bring you fuel.

 

[WaterBoyz]

Just out for almost 4 days. I know that's nothing compared to the east coast and south. We had no running water, fortunately have wood stove and a 4x4 to get out of driveway. I am going with the Duramax 12000/9500 dual fuel electric start. It will be wired in with a transfer switch so I can use anything in the panel - just not all at once. With one of us still working at a job that likes you to have showered, we need the hot water heater. The other two big users are the well pump and the refrigerator.
I'll post an update when after I test it with a load. There are several Youtube videos on this model of generator.

Looks like I'm gonna get the HF 9000/7250 unit and get a propane conversion kit.
Can you expand on the "transfer switch" that you plan on?

I have a sub-panel that is a transfer panel. I'm looking for something that is automatic kinda like what the big boys use.

 

[jacric2005]

WaterBoyz,

As I understand it, there will be a switch replacing the "Main Principal" switch, which will change the power source between the utility and the generator. The existing panel door will close over it and look the same as it currently does. There will be no separate panel. I am assuming I will switch off all the breakers, throw the switch to generator power, plug in and turn on the generator and start loading it by turning on the breakers I want. Of course, I won't be able to run everything at the same time, but everything will be theoretically available (I think the heat pump and furnace would overload it, but we have a wood stove.).

So, it's not automatic like the full house backups, as I understand how they work. I'll post a picture after it's installed by the electrician.

I live in the country, so the noise is not a factor to us or our neighbors. In fact, we were jealous when we heard on humming during the recent outage.

 

[tncatadjuster]

I own a Honda 2,200, Coleman 3,500, Troy Built 4500, Generac 10,000 and a 35KW generator. I went 21 days without power at home and the 3,500 was was at my house the entire time and worked perfectly. Loud but you learn how to place and it only runs so many hours of the day.

The little Honda kept my neighbor happy, other were on loan as well. The 35KW was outside shop and transformer was inside where needed.

"Hurricane Elvis"

The point is having one when you need it. Electric start is nice but not necessary.

 

[WaterBoyz]

WaterBoyz,

As I understand it, there will be a switch replacing the "Main Principal" switch, which will change the power source between the utility and the generator. The existing panel door will close over it and look the same as it currently does. There will be no separate panel. I am assuming I will switch off all the breakers, throw the switch to generator power, plug in and turn on the generator and start loading it by turning on the breakers I want. Of course, I won't be able to run everything at the same time, but everything will be theoretically available (I think the heat pump and furnace would overload it, but we have a wood stove.).

So, it's not automatic like the full house backups, as I understand how they work. I'll post a picture after it's installed by the electrician.

I live in the country, so the noise is not a factor to us or our neighbors. In fact, we were jealous when we heard on humming during the recent outage.

That is what I call the "Interlock" style.

My plan has been revised....again.

Gonna install an interlock onto my main panel. That way I can choose what circuits I want to use, within reason of course. I will be also installing a watts meter on each of the two legs so I can keep an eye on the balance.

I did get an official Generac quote for an 11K with an auto transfer of 12 slots for $6200.00

I was gonna use a transfer panel I already had that has 20 slots but I would have to buy all new breakers for it since I can't use my existing brand. And since some of them are the ARC style, my cost is waaaay up there.

Bought the propane kit which is the carburetor replacement style for <$40.

Most people use plastic sheds but I'm gonna build my own "doghouse" for it.

 

[jacric2005]

Got the transfer switch installed by an electrician. Pictures show inside the main panel, plug on outside wall and instructions for hookup. Will be using it with a Duromax 9500/12000 dual fuel. Having done all this, now it will be years until needed!

 

[WaterBoyz]

Got the transfer switch installed by an electrician. Pictures show inside the main panel, plug on outside wall and instructions for hookup. Will be using it with a Duromax 9500/12000 dual fuel. Having done all this, now it will be years until needed!

Heard this many times but I will add mine anyway.
As I get older, having the creature comforts is getting more important.

I'll probably do a once month self-test just because if I didn't well.........

 

[tncatadjuster]

I'll probably do a once month self-test just because if I didn't well.........

Change the clocks, start the genset.

 

[Bretny]

Change the clocks, start the genset.

Thats what i do. But i dont have a gas, propane or nat gad generator. Diesel military unit.

 

[aunsafe2015]

Got the transfer switch installed by an electrician. Pictures show inside the main panel, plug on outside wall and instructions for hookup. Will be using it with a Duromax 9500/12000 dual fuel. Having done all this, now it will be years until needed!

Mind telling me how much the electrician charged you for that?

 

[theoldwizard1]

Got the transfer switch installed by an electrician.

Technically speaking, that is a generator interlock, not a transfer switch, although it performs the same function.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Anyone running a gasoline generator should once a year drain the fuel tank inspect the inside of the tank with a flashlight and then fill with fresh fuel and fuel stabilizer.

 

[jacric2005]

Mind telling me how much the electrician charged you for that?

They bill after the first of the next month. I’ll post the price when I get that bill after May 1. However the phone estimate after sending pictures and discussion with their guy who manages this was $1050. That included all the parts and the time (not the actual generator). It also included a 25 foot 50 amp Generac generator
cord, which I got the impression was quite spendy and high quality. I just figure it’s worth it to be safe and have the backup.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[aunsafe2015]

They bill after the first of the next month. I’ll post the price when I get that bill after May 1. However the phone estimate after sending pictures and discussion with their guy who manages this was $1050. That included all the parts and the time (not the actual generator). It also included a 25 foot 50 amp Generac generator
cord, which I got the impression was quite spendy and high quality. I just figure it’s worth it to be safe and have the backup.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

Nice, thanks for the info.