I'm researching portable backup generators for my house. I installed a manual transfer switch box with a remote power input box. I'm looking at the Yamaha and Honda models in the 3-5K watt range. Do I need an inverter generator to run my computer and flat screen TV or will some of the non-inverter generators do the job? Of course I'll be running other items too, like the refrig and heater blower but I assume any generator will power these. Anybody run their sensitive electronics with a non-inverter generator?
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inverter generators
- Thread starter Kapt
- Start date
cowboyjosh
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2010
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- 1,066
look for a non-inverter generator if you want more capacity, just make sure they advertise "clean power" technology. Otherwise a inverter generator will work, but you won't get a whole lot of running watts out of them. On some of the cheap, Chinese made generators the power quality is awful, with generators like anything else, you get what you pay for. As for sensitive electronics, a line conditioner is just the ticket.
Highbeam
Well-known member
You don't need an inverter generator for any of this except maybe the computer. You will find that a good quality brushless genset will make pretty dang decent power and that your devices are equipped to accept pretty junky power.
I have no problems running my samsung LCD TV with a Champion Chinese genset. Picture is totally clear no funny noises. Also run the rest of the house including fridge, and cfl lights.
My computer, well, I'm too chicken to run the dell on genny power. Not sure I would even run it on an inverter genny. Too much to lose.
Since you have a whole house transfer setup you will NEED to get a genset that makes 220 volt power to feed both legs of your panel. I have the same setup so I chose the smallest available 220 volt genset of sufficient quality.
How often do you see 220 volt inverter gennys? Not very often and very very high dollars.
I have no problems running my samsung LCD TV with a Champion Chinese genset. Picture is totally clear no funny noises. Also run the rest of the house including fridge, and cfl lights.
My computer, well, I'm too chicken to run the dell on genny power. Not sure I would even run it on an inverter genny. Too much to lose.
Since you have a whole house transfer setup you will NEED to get a genset that makes 220 volt power to feed both legs of your panel. I have the same setup so I chose the smallest available 220 volt genset of sufficient quality.
How often do you see 220 volt inverter gennys? Not very often and very very high dollars.
rlitman
Well-known member
I have no problems running my samsung LCD TV with a Champion Chinese genset. Picture is totally clear no funny noises. Also run the rest of the house including fridge, and cfl lights.
My computer, well, I'm too chicken to run the dell on genny power. Not sure I would even run it on an inverter genny. Too much to lose.
See, I feel exactly the opposite. It's unlikely that a generator will damage any part of your computer except for the power supply, and that's relatively inexpensive to replace on a computer. It's much more expensive to replace on a TV. Still, I'm also comfortable, in that I keep good backups of what I consider "important".