Hurricane generators

[Baz]

That time of year again.

I already have a Wen 5500w generator but it's 15 years old and am considering buying another. Having two means I will have a backup, just in case.

I was considering buying this:

Westinghouse iGen2500 Portable Inverter Generator 2200 Rated & 2500 Peak Watts, Gas Powered

And then looked at this one which has electric start and dual fuel capability:

Rainier R4400DF Dual Fuel (Gas and Propane) Portable Generator with Electric Start - 4400 Peak Watts & 3600 Rated Watts

Top one is lighter and more portable but uses gas only and not as powerful.

I wonder if having the propane capability is something of value - this is for my home - not an RV. But I do keep propane for my grill. Would help with any fuel concerns when SHTF....

Thoughts?

[Arizona_928]

I have the igen 2200, and 2500.
On the Igen 2200 I have prolly a couple thousand hours on it. I've gone through three carbs, 2 spark plugs and ignition coil in the one year of ownership. They really need a hour meter. The igen 2500 I have maybe 500 hours. And it could use a carb. They don't like Sustained low load even though that's how they're market for... Primarily use for mine is an off-grid a.c. unit, and battery bank charging. They can be daisy chained, but I don't do that. I use Wal-Mart synthetic oil since day one and alternate the use of them.

Where they shine is American tech support (But they're easy to diagnosis yourself), and online parts ordering through Westinghouse.

Propane units are more stationary units, and they're all a crap shoot until you get into diesel. I would recommend going to a basic solar setup (if you plan to use For appliances and not a giant a.c. Unit).

[flatbutt]

I have a gasoline powered Honda and it doesn't seem to care about light load or heavy. It is very pricey though. As for propane I've been told that it isn't as energy dense as gasoline but I don't know if that matters for light use.

[Seahawk]

I have a Honda-powered Husqvarna that has been bullet proof for years.

Because I have a lot of diesel powered equipment, I bought a used diesel generator for back-up. Electric start.

Both are rated at 8000kw which is all I need. I bring down an upright protable a/c unit for comfort and power the well, fridges and entertainment!

Since we do lose power here in storms, often for a week or so, I also have a PTO powered gen that will run the everything, HVAC included.

When I replace them, I am going to go with two small Honda generators. We have two for flight test and remote ground control station power, support gear and they have been flawless for many hundreds of hours. We can also run them in parallel if need be for extra oomph.

Yes, they are pricey but worth it. There is a lot of junk out there. Portability is also important and the bigger gens are a pain, even though they are wheeled.

Here is the one I am referencing and my company owns two:

[masraum]

Funny, I read the thread title and my first thought was "wow, we can create hurricanes!"

[GH85Carrera]

One of my friends recently installed the whole house generator, natural gas fueled, Generac generator. There was a thunderstorm in his area of town a a string of power poles were felled. His generator kicked on automatically. He was really happy about the purchase, until it started having brownouts and flickering lights all over the house. Right now he is really mad at the generator and the company that put it in.

Every time there is a new thread on generators I seem to go down the rabbit hole of wanting one, and I start with the little Honda one to run the basics, but for just a bit more......

Soon I am looking at whole house generators, and then I slap my forehead. In the 22 years we have lived here there have been just two power outrages that lasted more than an hour. One was due to a major ice storm, and another was a thunderstorm and high winds that damaged a transmission tower. Those only lasted overnight and less than 14 hours total.

I will live live on the edge with no generator backup.

[Baz]

Thanks for the replies and input so far.

I went ahead and pulled the trigger last night on the Ranier dual fuel unit and it will be here on Friday.

I may go ahead and get the smaller one by Westinghouse as well - maybe next month.

The Ranier is about 100 lbs. and not really huge so that was important to me. Having the capability to run on propane and switch back and forth to gas with the flick of a lever was also of much value to me. I can see myself keeping a couple propane tanks here in addition to the usual stash of gasoline I keep to have adequate fuel just in case.

I can always keep the Westinghouse in it's box just for emergencies. In dry storage these units are good for many many years.

We don't usually suffer from power outages except when a hurricane comes by. In the 24 years here in this house I've experienced this a handful of times and it's always in late summer early fall so hot and humid.

I have a small 110v window AC unit in my living room and another larger one I keep in it's box I can install in minutes if necessary and plug them both into a generator as well as my fridge along with TV, DVD player, lamps, etc. etc. as needed. So that's what is needed when we get those extended (multiple days sometimes) power outages.

I'm trying to be proactive, which is really the key to getting through these types of events.

[Baz]

Another item on my to-do list is to build a cabinet to reduce noise from my generator. Plenty of options here to consider so will take some planning on my part to do it right.

[GH85Carrera]

The couple that live behind us have a portable generator. They set it up on the back porch during the ice storm outrage. He used to work for the power company, and he understands the dangers of electricity. He pulled the main breaker on the panel, and ran extension cords to the stuff he wanted powered. Our power cam back on and his generator ran for hours. Finally I called him and told him the power was back on. He had no idea, but was happy to get back to normal.

[wdfifteen]

I've done a couple of hours of research on the interwebs, reading reviews etc. I'm looking for a 7500w portable generator and a new transfer switch. (I am NOT installing it myself.)
Westinghouse gets good reviews.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I'm looking for a 7500kw portable generator and a new transfer switch. (I am NOT installing it myself.)
Westinghouse gets good reviews.

I had a transfer panel put in with fuses to shift power depending on load. One plug into the house grid from the generator.

Takes a few minutes. For hurricanes I pre-stage everything. The house board is not completely isolated and two lights in the house come on when power is restored.

We have thought about the auto whole house set up but I just can't make it pencil out since I'd still have a back-up generator

[Baz]

At some point, I will replace my electrical panel. It's in my kitchen on the wall facing the back of the house, where my electric meter is.

When I do that replacement - I will configure some kind of transfer device so I can just plug my portable generator in and power whatever I need through the breakers.

I am NOT doing this myself either...lol. I have friends who do this for a living.

That is later down the road though.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Baz

I am NOT doing this myself either...lol. I have friends who do this for a living.

It took me ten years and cords all over the house and running outside to the sump pumps - two story house with a basement - to finally do it.

Here is the before picture:

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

It took me ten years and cords all over the house and running outside to the sump pumps - two story house with a basement - to finally do it.

Here is the before picture:

LOL......

Not so bad here. Single story home but sits up on a dune with garage at ground level so I do run an extension cord up and in through my LR window. Inside though...yeah. Quite a few cords going every which way!

Also don't have a sump pump. City water and never had an issue through any storms. Which is nice.

[Arizona_928]

I forgot to mention the igen2200 has a plastic tank, and the 2500 has a metal tank. Something to consider for long term storage.

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by masraum

Funny, I read the thread title and my first thought was "wow, we can create hurricanes!"

Same here. I thought this thread was about some new wonder weapon. Bitterly disappointed.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by masraum

Funny, I read the thread title and my first thought was "wow, we can create hurricanes!"

i was thinking don't they have enough problems with hurricanes already?

[sammyg2]

[gchappel]

I just purchased the westinghouse 12,500 dual fuel generator.
Well packaged. Poured some oil in, and ran it for the first time last night on propane. Easy peasy.
Hope I never need it, but.....
Ac guy is actually here now wiring up a split ac system so it can run off the generator as well.
Gary

[Baz]

Originally Posted by gchappel

I just purchased the westinghouse 12,500 dual fuel generator.
Well packaged. Poured some oil in, and ran it for the first time last night on propane. Easy peasy.
Hope I never need it, but.....
Ac guy is actually here now wiring up a split ac system so it can run off the generator as well.
Gary

Just looked at it on the HD site - very nice, Gary!

Well done on being proactive, and absolutely - I hope we don't have to use ours - for this season at least!