Waffling on buying a generator...

[hook682]

I bought a Westinghouse generator and a manual transfer switch panel in the Spring of 2012. I did the installation and did a dry run not knowing when and if I would ever need it. I got a little static from the wife about why I wasted all that $ for no apparent reason. Well on October 30th Sandy rolled through. The grid was down for like 11 days. I was able to run the generator during the evening hours in order to keep the food in the fridge cold and basically have power throughout the entire house for anything I wanted. Powered up the TV and used my HDTV antenna to watch the local broadcasting. Yeah I would definitely do it again.

[HardDrive]

Done. I'll have an electrician install an external outlet kit at some point. In the mean time, I'll run the furnace and fridge off extension cords if the power goes. I don't have buyers remorse. I know I'll need it at some point. Wife liked the idea as well.

[MT930]

I would not be without one. I use it for many other things so it's run pretty consistently welding or plasma cutting.

It was -20 (Yes 20 Below 0) this morning the pipes would freeze in a few hours if we lost power. It runs 80% of the house including the well. When the power goes friends and neighbors show up. It was a buy of opportunity that was one of the smartest things I have ever done. We use it 1-2 time a year in emergencies.

Generator loads build up pretty quick, get one that's up to the job.
Make a list of priority circuits to make sure it will handle the load. Add them up and add 15% Motors have a high initial load.

My Priority circuits are

1.Furnace fan
2.Fridge
3.Well Pump
4.Septic Pump
5.Kitchen entire
6.Bed room lights
7.Bath lights
8.Garage lights
9.Outside lights
10.TV Just one
11.Computer

10K Trailblazer Gen/ Welder


I put a switch box in to make it easy and safe. Backfeeding can kill line workers.

It's more than most people need. Quite satisfying to fire it up on a sub zero night when there is a storm and the surrounding landscape is black. Worth every penny.

[MotoSook]

We have a 500 gallon tank that supplies the house. We just tapped into the feed. With a full tank the generator will run over a week at full load.

I'm considering a 250 gallon tank on wheels for backup.

Quote

Runs on propane

Just what I'm looking into. What size tank did you install?

[gshase]

2500 watt/$199 Not a bad price if you need 2500 watts 3125 peak

PowerStroke 2500-Watt Gasoline Portable Generator-PS902500 at The Home Depot

Free shipping Buy it, test run, drain gas out and run it dry, wait till you need it.

[Bill Douglas]

Umm, showing a bit of ignorance here...

Is the power from a generator clean power. In other words, are the sine waves good enough to not damage things, delicate things, such as your TV or computer?

[cstreit]

Originally Posted by t-tom

We run ours via the 220 dryer plug. Power goes out I shut off the main, unplug the dryer set the generator outside the garage door (chained to a post) and we have power again. Ours is Honda powered but with a no name brand generator on it. It runs all night on one gallon of gas. It sure is nice watching tv when everyone else power is out.

I hope you shut off your main. If you don't, the back-feed into the grid can kill a lineman!

[futuresoptions]

Manual or automatic transfer switch with a propane fired genset. Anything other than the propane, you will spend the rest of your life tinkering on to keep running...

[futuresoptions]

You may even consider running a battery backup/ inverter and do away with a genset all together, just depends on your desires....

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Umm, showing a bit of ignorance here...

Is the power from a generator clean power. In other words, are the sine waves good enough to not damage things, delicate things, such as your TV or computer?

A good one, yes. Thats why I bought the Honda. They actually advertise it as safe for electronics.

[NY65912]

Get one. I bought mine a few years ago when I went on the drug Humira. I usually have between 4 to 1 pens in the fridge. If the power goes out.....medicine goes bad. At $1000 plus per pen it was cheaper to get a gen than shell out $ for replacement pens and the fridge is cold, meaning food is not spoiled and the beer is cold.

I used it last year during Sandy. It was a Godsend.

[Robert Coats]

Generally speaking, standard, conventional-design AVR (automatic voltage regulation) generators provide reasonable power profiles for most household devices and appliances. The one big downside is they must run at 3,600 rpm to create the needed 60Hz power, regardless of the actual load. So this results in the engine running at or near wide-open-throttle, even if you are only powering a 'fridge or a few lights. Poor fuel economy, and reduced engine life, but better than no power. Most are open-frame and quite noisy.

Inverter-type generators are more sophisticated, and use an inverter to convert DC to AC, and this means they DON'T need to spin at 3,600 to make 60Hz, and can run the engine at speed to match the load. They offer much cleaner power profiles, a more precise sine wave, and a a good choice if running sensitive electronics. They burn less fuel, and are often fully enclosed with a much lower noise profile. Suitable for emergencies, jobsites, or use with an RV / camping. Significantly more expensive than a traditional generator.

Because nearly all portable generators that run on gasoline use a carburetor, it is a good idea to keep the fuel tank and carburetor bowl fully drained of all fuel if you expect the generator will not be used in < 30 days. Modern ethanol fuels quickly decay, and can plug up a carburetor in very short order. While fuel stabilizers help delay this, it eventually will happen if you store fuel in the tank or don't drain the carburetor bowl. Always use fresh gasoline for best results. If you must store some fuel, first buy some without any ethanol, store it in an good quality fuel can, fill up the can all the way, and use fuel stabilizer. Dump the fuel into your car's tank after 90 days and start over. Again, never allow fuel to be stored in the generator's tank or carb bowl > 30 days.

Always operate your generator outdoors, and never under a window or inside a garage. The exhaust creates contains carbon monoxide, which is odorless, colorless, and will kill you in minutes.

Finally, don't "backfeed" into a dryer outlet or the like. You run a tremendous risk of electrocution, fire, etc. You might be tempted to think, "Oh, I know what I'm doing!" and you may be right, but what will happen that one time you are out of town and the power goes out? Your wife or kid will try and "hook up" the generator just like they say daddy do it, and might or might not remember to switch off that main breaker, or understand the double-male suicide cord could have live, hot prongs of power. To be safe and legal, use a transfer switch ($100-$400) and have it installed by an licensed electrician. The switch can be configured to direct the generator's power to the outlets and devices you select, and completely and safely isolates the generator and utility company lines. If you don't want the extra cost, then just run some extension cords and power strips direct from the generator.

Caveat: I work for Honda Generators, but the preceding is my opinion alone.

[herr_oberst]

WOOT is selling generators today.

I know nothing about WEN generators.

Tools.Woot

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Robert Coats

Generally speaking, standard, conventional-design AVR (automatic voltage regulation) generators provide reasonable power profiles for most household devices and appliances. The one big downside is they must run at 3,600 rpm to create the needed 60Hz power, regardless of the actual load. So this results in the engine running at or near wide-open-throttle, even if you are only powering a 'fridge or a few lights. Poor fuel economy, and reduced engine life, but better than no power. Most are open-frame and quite noisy.

Inverter-type generators are more sophisticated, and use an inverter to convert DC to AC, and this means they DON'T need to spin at 3,600 to make 60Hz, and can run the engine at speed to match the load. They offer much cleaner power profiles, a more precise sine wave, and a a good choice if running sensitive electronics. They burn less fuel, and are often fully enclosed with a much lower noise profile. Suitable for emergencies, jobsites, or use with an RV / camping. Significantly more expensive than a traditional generator.

Because nearly all portable generators that run on gasoline use a carburetor, it is a good idea to keep the fuel tank and carburetor bowl fully drained of all fuel if you expect the generator will not be used in < 30 days. Modern ethanol fuels quickly decay, and can plug up a carburetor in very short order. While fuel stabilizers help delay this, it eventually will happen if you store fuel in the tank or don't drain the carburetor bowl. Always use fresh gasoline for best results. If you must store some fuel, first buy some without any ethanol, store it in an good quality fuel can, fill up the can all the way, and use fuel stabilizer. Dump the fuel into your car's tank after 90 days and start over. Again, never allow fuel to be stored in the generator's tank or carb bowl > 30 days.

Always operate your generator outdoors, and never under a window or inside a garage. The exhaust creates contains carbon monoxide, which is odorless, colorless, and will kill you in minutes.

Finally, don't "backfeed" into a dryer outlet or the like. You run a tremendous risk of electrocution, fire, etc. You might be tempted to think, "Oh, I know what I'm doing!" and you may be right, but what will happen that one time you are out of town and the power goes out? Your wife or kid will try and "hook up" the generator just like they say daddy do it, and might or might not remember to switch off that main breaker, or understand the double-male suicide cord could have live, hot prongs of power. To be safe and legal, use a transfer switch ($100-$400) and have it installed by an licensed electrician. The switch can be configured to direct the generator's power to the outlets and devices you select, and completely and safely isolates the generator and utility company lines. If you don't want the extra cost, then just run some extension cords and power strips direct from the generator.

Caveat: I work for Honda Generators, but the preceding is my opinion alone.

Thanks for that explanation. It makes sense why the inverter type is more expensive.

[t-tom]

I'm using mine right now. 60mph winds + big tree limb = no power. No problem dig out the generator and we're back in business