Generator Question

[one more cast]

After going 30 hours without electric and single digit temps. over the weekend I think its time to buy a generator. My question is, I can easily get by with a 5000 watt unit but if I also wanted to run a 30 gal electric water heater how much bigger would I need to go?

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Generator Question

I know someone who ran his cottage with an electric water heater with a 5000w. The thing about the water heater is you can heat it up and then let it sit, while you power up other things. Most water heaters are 3000w-4500w so that leaves you some room to spare. Takes about 1hr to heat. Naturally you need a generator with 240v outputs.<br /><br />After listening to the deafening blare of the tecumseh for two years, he got wise. Traded the 5000w for a 1200w for the pump and lights and got a propane water heater. The waste of turning gasoline to heat, then to rotary motion, then to electricity, then to heat again deeply disturbed me.

 

[one more cast]

Re: Generator Question

Thanks Paul, It looks like I would need around 10,000 watts to power everything and I'm not willing or able to pay the price they want for them big ones plus the cost to run it. I think I will still need around a 5000 watter just to run my furnace, lights, fridge,freezer and water pump. My Mom has a 4000 watt homelite and it runs everything but her furnace but it only has a 3/4 gal fuel tank so I was at her house every 3 hours day and night for 30 hours. That sucked so I will make sure I buy one that will run much longer before refueling

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Generator Question

But a 5000kw for your house, then tell mom your gonna need to keep hers at your house to save time during the refueling effort.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Generator Question

I have the Colemen 5000w generator. Runs the house with no problem. Just have to allocate where the watts go. <br /><br />Get a bigger muffler. The Tecumseh is rather loud.<br /><br />Wish I had spend the extra $$ for the automatic control. Throttles back the motor under light load. Saves gas and noise and probably wear and tear.

 

[boling]

Re: Generator Question

I got a Generac 5500, it powers the whole house, just can't turn everything on at once. One good thing is a 5 gal tank, good for 12 hours before a fill up.

 

[BR549]

Re: Generator Question

I have a 5500w that I picked up from Lowes - works great for powering the house ( I have gas waterheater so that is not an issue). Have used a 3000k Honda for years at the cabin and did not realize how spoiled I had become ( Honda's are very quiet but you pay a premium for it). My solution was to build a 3 sided enclosure outside insulated with roll in insulation and egg crate. Makes a huge difference on the noise - just be sure to allow plenty of ventilation ( I have a box fan in the box to prevent overheating in warm weather)

 

[PierBridge]

Re: Generator Question

Here's a thread on connecting the Generator to your house.<br /><br /> I-Boats Thread

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Generator Question

hahahah yep<br /> I to have a 5500W with a 10hp techumse. man what a hollering beast.<br />however if I am careful it will power up most my essentials. my hot water heater is 4500 watts so I have to cycle it but most the rest of the house is no problem.<br /> if its winter I have a freestanding perfection oil heater thats my backup, it does have a chimney so i can run it all night.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Generator Question

Steve... if you want a deal on a high endd Honda generator drop me an e-mail. They sell them where I work. They are the quietest I have seen.<br /><br />Bob

 

[one more cast]

Re: Generator Question

Thanks Bob, You got mail.