Gas powered generator?

[Tyme2fish]

After this storm hit the Louisville area, I think I'll buy a generator once the stores are restocked.

What features,etc. should I look for. I don't want or need or can afford a "whole house outfit". Just something to run a freezer or fridge and maybe the coffee pot.

Saw one in a flier I received today.( 3500 Watts max/3000watts rated: 6.5 HP engine, 15 hours continuous run time at 50% load.

I know nothing about gas generators, except to not run indoors and make sure exhaust is away from the house to prevent carbon monoxide build up.

 

[gss036]

Re: Gas powered generator?

COSTCO has an ONAN in the current flier that is good til the end of the moth. Don't think you are going to find a better unit for twice the price. If you a Honda go it, I have a 3500watt Honda and have used it many times, always starts and runs flawlessly.

 

[gstanton]

Re: Gas powered generator?

We have a Craftsman 3500 watt (~ $600 )and have used it many times, sometimes for 3 days straight during power outages. We purchased, and started using, it in 1999. It has barely enough to power most of our house, and I'm itching to move up to at least a 5500 watt. You'll find that you'll want to keep adding some of those "conveniences" without dragging down the genny. We originally got it for just the oil furnace and kept adding things from there! It surprising that sometimes the power is out but the TV cable is still on!
Even a 5500 watt will be limited, so if you can, go for a bigger one. However, the price gets really steep as you go higher.
My BIL went top flight with a propane super duper automatic and, I swear, it is waaaaay more expensive to keep up than my little gasser that we use 2-3 times a year!

A whole 'nuther thread and argument is a transfer switch and how to actually plug it in to your house.

 

[mthieme]

Re: Gas powered generator?

I had contemplated the same thing once. We really don't have catastrophic storms, but the electric can go out long to upset things.
I had found a 10KW generator head I figured I could run off the PTO of hte tractor, it was $400. You can run a small village of this puppy!
She said we could stay at any hotel for a couple nights for that.
Well, her argument was very persuasive.
BUT.
What I did do since that time is a get a little solar array going.
I'm up to 13 panels and 3 batteries.
I can run what I need to for a couple/few days. NOt everything mind you.
But we'll have water, the food won't go bad, that kinda thing.
I also have wired some 12V lights here and there which are used regularly.
I have about a grand into it now and figure I save about $20 a month on the electric just from the lighting. Oh, and I was abale to deduct some of it on my taxes.
The generator we might have used one or two days every half dozen years.
The solar I use every day.
Food for thought.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Gas powered generator?

Whatever size/brand you buy make sure that the extension cords that you plan to use are adequate for the size generator that you buy.

For what it is worth ours is s 3.5 kw that I bought right after Andrew in 1992 and ran it for the three weeks it took to get our power back. It powers a 20' & 25' fridge plus a small TV and a couple of lights. If I want to run other stuff I simply unplug sumthin then add whatever - - - in other words you have to manage the load. I pull it out of the garage every couple of years and run it for a spell. I then drain all fuel, change the oil and spray the cylinder liberally with WD-40.

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Gas powered generator?

I have one I got from Home Depot about 8 years ago. Has a 10 hp briggs engine with 2 110 ac and 1 220 ac outlet. When a storm knocked out power at my Dads he used it for almost a week running 8 to 10 hours a day and it came through like a champ. cost approx 400 bucks.Good idea to put gas stablelizer in the tank and crank it at least once every 6 months for a few minutes and then run it with tank closed till it stops. When the lights go out its no time to have to tinker to get it started.

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: Gas powered generator?

We've used our generator several times after hurricanes knocked the power out for several days. Having a generator makes life much easier and you can hear them running all over the neighborhood. I'd get at least a 5500. More if you can afford it. As several others have pointed out, you have to keep up with the maintenace over the long periods of time when you're not using it. Keep in mind also, that if you don't have power, gas stations probably don't either.

 

[zoe'sdad]

Re: Gas powered generator?

If your home has natural gas buy a tri fuel generator or convert a standard gasoline one to run on natural gas. Kits run about $250. After Gustav a lot of people found out that most gas stations do not have back up power and can't pump gas when the power is out. Also look into installing a transfer switch at your electric panel. This will allow you to run a 220 power cord from the generator to the panel and select which circuits you want to use instead of running multiple cords to each appliance. Look at the starting or surge power on the genertor. Most 5kw's have between 6500 and 8500 of surge for start up on large appliances like an air conditioner. Once the AC starts it does not draw as much power.

 

[ehenry]

Re: Gas powered generator?

Here's my 2 cents worth. I've got 3 gnerators. One whole house 15kw natural gas, a 6500/9000 surge Craftsman with a briggs engine 7 gallon fuel tank, and a Honda EU2000i gnerator.

The 15kw is a Genrac and is really nice to have BUT it uses natural gas like you're flushing a toilet. It ran for 48 hours when Katrina came through which is the longest it'd ever run since i'd had it. When the the utility bill came I almost died.

The 6500 watt I bought to run my shack at deer camp. It will run 22 hours on 7 gallons of gas pulling just an 8000 btu a/c unit, a light bulb, and tv with a satellite tuner.

The little Honda that only weighs 40 lbs is an inverter generator, will run 13.5 hours on a a gallon and a half, pulling and refridgerator and a freezer. Its quiet and really handy to use for things around the place. You can strap it on your wheeler and use electric tools most anywhere. It can also be hooked in parrallel with another EU2000i for 4000 watts. I have a buddy that has two he uses in parrallel to run his his entire camper. The only draw back to these units is they are expensive. Honda makes a 1000 watt, 2000 watt, 3500 watt that can all be used in parrallel with a like unit.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Gas powered generator?

Due to the storm putting out many in our area, generators were a hard thing to come by. Size depends on the items you want to use. Mostly around here it was to run freezers/refrigerators, water well, and hot water tank. A 6K unit can run all 3, but pretty much at its max and will suck up the gas. Half load will reduce its consumption.


As for a quick hook up, we have a dryer plug on the end of the cord for the generator. We shut off all needless breakers plus the MAIN breaker. Plug the cord into the dryer outlet and then you can back feed your panel. Then hopefully by the use of an amploc on a meter, you can monitor the amp draw as you turn on the items you want on.

I have a small 1500 watt unit that I use just for a few lights, and radio for news. I'm lucky to live where the power only goes out for short periods. Even during the brown out several years ago, my power was only out for 30 minuets, while others was out for days. Even during this past storm, ours was out for only 6 hours. It helps to be on the main feed for the hospital