Portable Generator

[Instrument 41]

Looking to get a portable generator. Minimum 10,000 watts constant output, electric start, not sure if I want the dual fuel option (gas and propane). Going with this option instead of a stand by unit. Having a manual transfer switch installed and will plug into this to power house. I see them priced anywhere from $1000 to $3000. Any recommendations?

[rfuerst911sc]

Anytime generators are discussed a lot of folks myself included recommend either a Honda or a Yamaha . They are the top tier of quality generators but also command a top price . I bought a used E3000 inverter Honda and love it . It always starts and runs quiet . When you start getting up to a 15K generator they are quite thirsty on fuel so you have to plan to have a good amount of " fresh " fuel on hand .

Hard to predict how long power will be out so you may have to have 20 - 30 gallons of gas on hand , possibly more . I have been toying with the idea of a 20K stand alone LP powered generator . We have a 500 gallon LP tank which sounds like a lot but then keep in mind they only fill to 80 % of capacity so 400 gallons . If the power were out for a week and we ran the generator 24/7 that 400 gallons would be gone ! Good luck with your search .

[Seahawk]

I have a Honda powered Husqvarna 8K. I also have a manual transfer switch it plugs into. It will runs everything we need except the HVAC, which is fine.

I also have an electric start 3.5K diesel electric start generator. Same set-up.

During long outages (we have lost power for 5/6 days three times) I switch between the two. Sounds goofy, I know, but I keep both sources of fuel on the farm and I like options especially since I have an f'ing basement that will flood unless I keep the sump pumps going.

Good luck!

[expatriot98]

Send a pm to redbeard. That's his business.

[Oracle]

Can't go wrong with Yamaha (my own) or Honda.
Top notch products.

[red-beard]

Look into Champion. They make a 12kW gasoline. Not cheap, but they make good generators.

https://www.championpowerequipment.com/product/100111-12000-watt-generator/

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Look into Champion. They make a 12kW gasoline. Not cheap, but they make good generators.

https://www.championpowerequipment.com/product/100111-12000-watt-generator/

I have the next size down. Ran it for 2 weeks 24x7 the last outage. Ran flawlessly. The only knock on it is it’s a bit loud, but at 1/3 the price of a Honda I lived with it.

[red-beard]

I use specific models for the low-level Mi-Grids

[Instrument 41]

Thanks for the input Red Beard.

[Neilk]

Any thoughts on a Cat RP8000? Tornado just missed us by 2 blocks and it looks like power will out for a while.

[red-beard]

The one generator on the CAT website with a missing spec sheet.

It looks good. But buy a BUNCH of synthetic oil and spark plugs.

Portable generators are good for 50 hours (2 days) of operation before oil change and spark plug change. This is every two days. You might be able to extend the spark plugs.

Generators with oil filters are usually good for 100 hours (4 days) between oil changes.

[edgemar]

can you hook a portable generator to a natural gas line?

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by edgemar

can you hook a portable generator to a natural gas line?

There are kits which basically put a natural gas carb on the front of the air intake. I do not know how well they work.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by red-beard

...
It looks good. But buy a BUNCH of synthetic oil and spark plugs.

Portable generators are good for 50 hours (2 days) of operation before oil change and spark plug change. This is every two days. You might be able to extend the spark plugs.

Generators with oil filters are usually good for 100 hours (4 days) between oil changes.

Why the frequent changes for oil & plugs? Never heard of this aspect and I doubt I'm alone...living in the dark ages even with the power on

[red-beard]

They are air-cooled lawn-mower engines.

Splash lubricated
Low compression with not exactly well sealing rings
Magneto type ignition
Not well speed regulated

On the pressure lubricated generator-engines with filters, they are good for about 100 hours, then you change the oil.

Think about a car engine. What is the average speed you drive over a week? Not highway speeds. Probably closer to 30-40 miles per hour. At 30 miles per hour, 3000 miles = 100 hours of engine operation. My Honda manual said if most driving is highway, 7500 miles is good for an oil change. 7500 miles at 65 miles per hour = 115 hours.

I expect if you were to switch to a C-D ignition and use better plugs, natural gas fuel, a MUCH better lube oil filter, you could get more hours. But these engines are not designed for continuous running long life.

One of the reasons our hybrid system works well is that you run the engine only a few hours a day. Instead of 100 hours = 4 days, at 3 hours per day you are about a month between oil changes. If you upsize some of the solar and batteries, then you may only run the generator on cloudy days and get 3 months between oil changes.

[KFC911]

Thanks James!

[Rapewta]

I put in a manual transfer switch behind my load center. Bought a 9000 watt generator with
two single phase 220 volt receptacles. One a three wire with no neutral and the other a four wire,
Two duplex 20 amp wall plugs. A 12 volt DC output. 60 amps continuous power.
Works great. Everything in my house loves it.

Do we like it? No. Why? The design of an inexpensive generator is real noisy. It is not the exhaust system. It is in the design of the crankcase.
When I run it, everyone within 10 miles can hear it.
If you live in a housing community like me, get a real expensive Honda. They are quiet.

[dustim04]

Check out the Duromax XP12000HE also. You can use propane or gasoline to run it.

[Arizona_928]

I have one of those Hobart champion elite. 11KW & it's quiet. Very good welder, but also a very good generator. Around 3 grand new. Uses around a gallon of gas a hour. So if you're not powering anything super heavy I wouldn't recommend.

I have a westinghouse inverter generator for the cabin. 12 hrs per 1 gal of gasoline.

[hcoles]

Questions on propane kits and manual transfer switches.

I now have a new Honda 2200i and may get a Companion 2200i if more power is needed and/or PG&E shutoffs get more frequent.

I want to run off propane because I don't want to deal with gasoline and aging of gasoline/etc. The two "leading" kits for the 2200i seem to be from Hutch Mountain and GenConnex. As far as I can tell the Hutch Mountain design allows easier return to gasoline power. GenConnex advertises their device is CARB approved. I assume both can control the air/fuel ratio adequately but I don't know. Any comments?

Manual Transfer Switches....
Getting power from a 2200i or then adding a Companion 2200i are all single phase output setups. No way to make 240V. The Honda 2200i has a floating neutral output - not GFCI. When you add the Companion the output changes to the 30 amp L5-30P from the 20amp receptacle.

Given that, a few questions come to mind:

1 - Is it okay, advised, a good idea or safer to get a manual transfer switch that also switches the neutral even if the generator doesn't have a GFCI output? Otherwise the neutral will still be connected to PG&E.

2 - Single phase manual transfer switches seem a bit hard to find for e.g. 6 circuits and 30amps. Where do I get these? One solution is to get a 120/240 switch and only use one side. Is that a good idea or what is normally done? Another solution is to bridge the input and feed both sides of the transfer switch with the one phase but that may not be wise or to code. I will be hooking up to certain 120V loads on a sub-panel in my house. Any ideas or suggestions?

Thanks.
-Henry