buying a backup generator- what do you have?

[MoparTrucks]

We have a Honeywell 5500/6875 we connect through a transfer switch and it powers our heat, frig/freezer, and some lights and outlets which is all we need. Whole house generators are nice but pricey and we couldnt justify the expense for the amount of time they would be needed and we like the portability of a smaller generator as we use it for other purposes as well.

Most of the smaller generators like ours are Chinese but we have had no problems with ours over the past couple of years. The rubber feet tore off after a couple weeks but I drilled out some hockey pucks to replace them and there has been no further problems.

 

[jgreg65]

I just bought a Northern Tool Honda Engine 13000 watt Gas model and LOVE IT. I went up to it from a All Honda 5000 and I miss the total red Honda but this one is really sweet it runs the WHOLE house, well pump, furnace, and two refrigerators, lights TV's you name it all I can throw at it.

Now I just need to make a small shed I can only put up when I need to set it up because were out of power, BUT I want to make it secure so no one steals it.

BTW if any member wants to buy one from them I get a discount from my place of business. Just message me.

 

[Laker]

Generac Guardian Series 5875 20kW Air-Cooled Natural Gas Powered with transfer Switch . I don't want the wife dealing with rolling out a portable unit, fueling it, and throwing transfer switch in the middle of a storm, while I'm on a biz trip. If Sandy taught me anything it's not to count on an ample supply of gasoline.

 

[sherlocktk]

I have taken a totally different approach to the generators. I live in Southern Cali, I bought a generator for if/when there is ever an earthquake that would totally devastate the infastructure. I estimate it could take weeks to get "power" back on potentially. I went with a Champion Power 42431 1200 Watt. Its enough power to run a fridge and a couple of lights, and my battery charger. Ill use an inverter to get me through the rest. Granted I need to be thrifty with my power, but this unit uses much less gas than a larger 3500w generator. I want to be able to have power as long as possible with the least amount of fuel issues. I typically have 10-20 gallons in containers at home, I believe this should last 1-2 weeks. Beyond that I can start to siphon out of vehicles if neccessary. This generator should be able to run any individual thing I have in the house, but only one at a time.

 

[jdsac]

For areas that have frequent outages this is about as good as it gets.
Might have to build a shed to quiet it if that would be an issue.
20kv, low rpm (1200) built to last forever.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...v4D4CA&usg=AFQjCNGM2YgcWyHjz50MbGOu0_xG0C7ddA

or:

 

[Laker]

I have taken a totally different approach to the generators. I live in Southern Cali, I bought a generator for if/when there is ever an earthquake that would totally devastate the infastructure. I estimate it could take weeks to get "power" back on potentially. I went with a Champion Power 42431 1200 Watt. Its enough power to run a fridge and a couple of lights, and my battery charger. Ill use an inverter to get me through the rest. Granted I need to be thrifty with my power, but this unit uses much less gas than a larger 3500w generator. I want to be able to have power as long as possible with the least amount of fuel issues. I typically have 10-20 gallons in containers at home, I believe this should last 1-2 weeks. Beyond that I can start to siphon out of vehicles if neccessary. This generator should be able to run any individual thing I have in the house, but only one at a time.

Earthquakes would most likely make a / my natural gas generator useless. An interesting perspective we don't really consider in the Mid-Atlantic

 

[uhcrandy]

You cant beat the military MEP series. Get a Diesel. You'll never regret it.

 

[olytdi]

you may regret a diesel when you go to use it and the fuel is old, algae infested, and wet. If you do go this route, you need to have the fuel periodically "polished." Look into diesel boat owners -- they have to do this regularly on larger boats that don't run that often.

 

[NUTTSGT]

We bought a Cman 5600 unit a few years ago. It's been used once when the power was off.

 

[IMStuner]

I wanted a Honda but it was out of my budget so I ended up ordering a Ridgid from Home Depot with a Yamaha motor.

Model:RIDGID 6,800-Watt Gasoline Powered Generator with Yamaha Engine

Spec:

Amperage (amps) 30 A Assembled Depth (in.) 25.625 in
Assembled Height (in.) 36 in Assembled Width (in.) 22.5 in
Auto idle control No Automatic Voltage Regulation Yes
Built-in inverter No CSA Listed No
ETL Listed No Electrical Product Type Portable Generator
Engine Displacement (cc) 357 Engine manufacturer Yamaha
Fuel Gauge No Fuel tank capacity (gallons) 8
Fuel type Gasoline Full load fuel consumption (gallons/hour) .6
Horsepower (hp) 12 hp Item Package Type Cardboard Container
Low oil shutdown Yes Manufacturer Warranty 3 Year Warranty
Muffler Yes Number of circuits/outlets 5
Operational volume (dB) 78 Osha Required GFCI Outlets Yes
Output Receptacles 4 x 120V 20 amp, 1 x 120/240 30 amp Product Height (in.) 36
Product Length (in.) 25.625 in Product Weight (lb.) 240.4
Product Width (in.) 22.5 Rated wattage continuous (watts) 6800
Rated wattage peak (watts) 6800 Returnable 30-Day
Run time at 50% load (hours/tank) 12 UL Listed N-No UL Code Rating
Voltage Rating 120V/240V 60 HZ

 

[kevin-ct]

you may regret a diesel when you go to use it and the fuel is old, algae infested, and wet. If you do go this route, you need to have the fuel periodically "polished." Look into diesel boat owners -- they have to do this regularly on larger boats that don't run that often.

What? I've heard that diesel will last 1 to 2 years, some people even said they have 5 year old fuel that will work but, it smokes and it's hard to start when cold.

Gas will go bad in about 6 months if you don't use an additive.

I would like to hear from people that uses Diesel generators about self life of diesel.

 

[ukrkoz]

I have had Kohler with BS engine, 16HP, for about 4 years now. 8000 running, 11000 peak. Runs entire 2400 sf house, plus septic.
Had it converted to tri-fuel this year, now it's permanently installed outside, connected to natural gas line. Had entire house running on natural gas, just to test it.
Had to install new panel, instead of the old 10 circuit switch, to run EVERYTHING off it. Cost me about a $1000 total. Disappointed, as was told later, that a regular panel can be converted to same function with a special switch addition. Maybe they misinformed me.
But I am ready now. Gas, propane, or natural gas.

 

[46Nash]

Was thinking about converting my Homelite 5000w generator to tri-fuel. You can get conversion kits at www.propanecarbs.com .

 

[GTO]

DEK 7550W with 10K surge
12 Gallon Tank
14hp Electric Start
Hour and Voltage readout.
Transfer Switch

 

[amolaver]

What? I've heard that diesel will last 1 to 2 years, some people even said they have 5 year old fuel that will work but, it smokes and it's hard to start when cold.

Gas will go bad in about 6 months if you don't use an additive.

I would like to hear from people that uses Diesel generators about self life of diesel.

i use one of the 'smaller' MEP units (a 10KW MEP-003) and it drinks about .75gal/hr. i keep its onboard 'day tank' filled to the brim (about 12gal) and a 55gal drum with about 45gal in it. i typically run about 2 hours every two weeks just to keep the machine excercised. one of the upsides to the MEP is its durability. the military allows them to be deployed - so sent into service - with 4000 hours. i'd rather run it every couple of weeks and be comfortable it is going to work. rather know if there is a problem when street power is on rather than in the midst of a storm. because of the durability of the machine, i expect this to be the last generator i ever need to buy.

all that said, because i regularly excercise the machine, even my ~55 gallons of fuel is turned over every year, never mind any significant outages. i think if you regularly test your generator, fuel turnover isn't a big issue. even if you store a lot more fuel, diesel fuel algaecide is readily available. OTOH, i think if you're not regularly running (with a load) any generator you own, you're risking big disappointment when it comes time to need it..

ahm

ps keep in mind a 10KW MEP is a 1200lb machine that is probably closer to 15kw if rated like a big box unit. the difference is, it will run 10KW, all day & all night, 24x7 for thousands of hours with the only interruption being oil and filter changes.

 

[uniballer]

I have 6


1.) brand? colemanx4, generac,?
2.) size? 5000,5500,4000,5000,2250,800 watt
3.) what can you run with it? garage two halves of house
4.) brush or brushless and any issues you have had- ?

 

[crucible]

I wanted a Honda but it was out of my budget so I ended up ordering a Ridgid from Home Depot with a Yamaha motor.

Model:RIDGID 6,800-Watt Gasoline Powered Generator with Yamaha Engine

I bought the same one; it's surprisingly quiet for a frameless, non-inverter, generator. I haven't had the need to use it yet beyond the break-in however.

I'm looking at tri-fuel conversion for natural gas, as well as designs for an outdoor enclosure. Also, I'm debating on transfer switch or interlock kit and related inlet wiring now (leaning towards interlock kit so I can choose which circuits to power at will).

C-

 

[mrb]

I have 8kwh of batteries and a true sinewave inverter.. might add some more batteries.

 

[HOTFR8]

I have 8kwh of batteries and a true sinewave inverter.. might add some more batteries.

How do you charge them ?

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Well, I've given thought to a generator for a while now. really figured I only needed enough to run a light or two and the fridge. What I ended up with is a bunch more, may be too much hassle, but time will tell.

Co-worker bought a genny off a guy getting a divorce. Co-worker already had a 3500 generator and really didn't need more. The new generator is truly new, never been run, never any fuel in the tank, no oil in the crankcase. So I bought it from the co-worker. Appears to be a 2003 model. Got it for less than half of current retail. Even had the manuals with it, was as clean as if it had just left the store.

Northern Tool NorthStar 6500 watt surge, 6120 rated continuous. 10 hp single cylinder Yanmar diesel. Filled it with Amsoil 15w-40 diesel oil (meets all the weight requirements of Yanmar) and #2 diesel and bought a cheap garden tractor battery at Auto Zone, and it did quite a bit of chug-a-lugging but finally settle out and came up to speed.

I plugged in two electric space heaters, one 1500 watt, one 1650 watt (and close to 60 years old, calrod type), and a 500 watt halogen light and a set of two 500 watt halogen lights. Thats 4650 watts if you cannot add, so the unit was rather loaded up. Voltage held at about 125v, cycles were 60 point something, and the DC output to the battery was 14.8v.

Also unplugged one of the lights and plugged in my old 1hp Craftsman air compressor, 17 and some odd amps. Ran it thru a couple of cycles, that Yanmar didn't even burp or slow down.

I let it run for an hour. Its sitting on my pallet jack right now, the wheel kit for it has been discontinued. I'm thinking about mounting it on a tiny trailer, one with a fold up tongue and stabilizers would work great and not take up too much space.

Biggest issue is it is LOUD. Need a real long cord(s).

Charles

 

[amolaver]

those yanmar motors are supposed to be quite good. some of the smaller military gasser gen's had yanmar retrofit kits i believe (military sanctioned kits, not random 3rd party stuff). the gen head is certainly a question, but my gut says its like most electronics; if it works for the first 5 hours, it will probably work the next 500 and possibly 5000

as for loud - you should hear a MEP-003. an air-cooled, 4cyl diesel with no muffler - just the manifold 'Y-ing' each pair of cylinders into one exhaust outlet. i don't go near it w/o ear protection.

ahm