If efficiency isn't a concern, my recommendation is to get diesel generator with a glow plug. Military generators have them. There are plenty of resources for self-repair assistance. If you do not care if it is new, there are many municipalities that auction off 10-45kw generators for under $2k with under 1k hours. Closing businesses auction standby generators often with automatic transfer switching along with the generator. Stay as small as needed as long as you can operate what you need to. Larger generators cost more to operate and maintain. Keeping a fuel tank inside where the temperature is constant and above dew point to reduce water in the fuel and have no need for anti-gel agent.
I don't remember if you have fuel oil delivered or if you have to pick it up yourself. Get a trailer! Fasten your tank to the trailer and haul it to get it filled then pump it yourself. No need to remove drums from your van. Park the trailer where you need it and leave it. Connect to it with quality connectors, lines and valves. This is true with propane even! Buy a tank of the size you desire and mount it to the trailer. Have a small backup tank to keep you going a day or two in case you run out on the large tank and need time to go get more.
If you want to be efficient, read on. Caution, I'm a tinkerer and don't mind the extra work to keep things operating. I"m not a set it and forget it type of guy.
I know this is not what you asked for, but may help in determining where to look for what fits your situation. I use solar power and many different generators at my home. A bit of our background can help you understand my thinking. If you don't want the background, just go to the "*" line for a recommendation.
We live off-grid. Most of the time the sun provides us with the power we need, but when the clouds cover for days, the generators are the ones who shine.
For the most part, when the batteries are low, we use smaller inverter generators of the 2kw range since we operate only high efficiency lights and appliances. I get about 10 hours from a gallon of regular unleaded for a draw that is usually about 1000-1300w (including 600w battery charging). If the batteries are down to 20% remaining, I don't use high draw devices until the battery has had time to recharge...by either the sun or generator. This usually only takes an hour before I can use the induction cooktop or oven.
That's how we manage our power in our home in the summer. In winter, we use wood for heat and cooking. Propane is used for cooking when it's just too hot in here to start a fire. A masonry heater stays warm all day and all night with only a few small fires. Many times only one in the morning takes us 24 hours when above freezing. We do not use electric for cooking in the winter because the sun is just too unreliable.
When working in the garage/barn/wood shop, I have different power requirements. We are still in the process of configuring power supplies for the out buildings. My lights and radio are run by 2 Trojan 305ah batteries and a 1500w inverter. When I need to use a power tool, if it's not a low-draw device, I use the Honda eu2000i inverter generator. Btw, check the breather filters often. As I found out recently, they get deteriorated in high heat/age and will **** in through your engine...taking all the dirt and dust and chicken feathers that they previously removed from the intake air. But when I need to weld...I start the Onan 6.5kw. I really don't like to start the Onan. It uses too much fuel. It can run about 8 hours on 5 gallon of gas. Even on a busy welding day, it runs about 4 hours. But in those 4 hours, I'm welding only 2 hours. To weld for 2 hours, running the Onan cost roughly $9 (4x$2.20). When welding it is operating at a maximum of 2/3 load. the rest of the time, it's at no load. To me, operating a generator when it's not putting out at least half power is wasteful. Especially at that the financial AND ecological cost.
I also have a MEP-802A 5.0 kw (brushless clean power) rated diesel generator that I recently mounted on a '99 F350 4x4 flatbed field truck so I can move it where it is needed. The truck also has a 60 gpm water pump, 200 gallon tote, 10 HP 60 gal. 23 cfm air compressor (soon to be operational thanks to MacMcMacmac for his assistance) and 1500 lb 600ah 24V battery. I have plans to install a 3kw/6kw surge inverter and complete 120/208/240V 1/3 ph 60hz gang outlet bank for any power anywhere. The compressor and MEP generator all start from the 24v battery and the MEP currently charges the battery.
The MEP generator at half load can operate for 24 hours on 5 gallon of diesel. Diesel is $2.40/gal. So, $2.40 x 5 / 24 = $0.50/hour. That's $2 for that 4 hours of operation.
Diesel is much cheaper to operate as far as fuel cost. Also, because of the upper cylinder lubrication, the engines can last much longer. You are 61 years old. My wife (50) and I (53) are not that far behind you that we don't think about longevity of our high cost equipment. We have been told by those who use them that they have a life expectancy of 20-30,000 hours. This is much longer than we will ever use it. We must take care of it with regular maintenance like oil, oil filer, air filter and coolant changes. But we must put a full load on it occasionally to burn out the diesel loading that occurs when diesel does not run at a high enough temperature for long enough that it pushes raw fuel into the exhaust. Being as efficient as we can be, our load bank is a couple of electric elements in a 5,000 gallon boiler tank used to supply heat and hot water to our house.
I know this information isn't all relevant to you, but it goes to show that I try to be flexible in my approach to power. I am constantly trying to make out production of power match our use...not only in the amount produced when required, but when required. We adjust our use to what's most efficient but not so much that it becomes cumbersome. Everyone's balance is different and only you can determine what that may be.
*************************************************************
Now, my assumptions:
- Electric water heater
- Electric range and oven
- Electric water pump
- Electric dish washer
- Electric toaster oven (More flexible than just a toaster and uses less energy than an oven)
- Electric etc.
Recommendations:
- Figure out when all the high power consumption occurs. Can more of the high power consumption be timed to the same time? Can the water pump, water heater (on a timer), dish washer, cooking all be done at the same time in the morning? Operate a bigger 1800 rpm generator at that time when many operations can be done consecutively and more fuel consciously. This will also help ensure a diesel will burn cleanly. Then switch to a smaller inverter generator to conserve fuel when power consumption is less.
- Grid-tied battery backup inverter and large battery bank. If power is often interrupted for shorter periods, this may be the way to go. The inverter will recharge your batteries automatically when power comes back on. As an added benefit, it will be easy to add photovoltaic panels and/or maybe a wind turbine at a later date if desired. This is probably the most desirable method as you can size the inverter to your power consumption levels and the battery to your daily needs. Then use a smaller inverter generator that can run at 75-80% of it's full constant load daily to recharge the batteries to get them ready for the next day.
Be sure to have an hour meter on the generators to properly maintain them.
I'm sorry I cannot be more thorough in my post but I need to get to work on my own stuff here. If interested in anything or needing clarification, please ask. I will try to help you figure a possible solution. I will check back.
)
