jenkinsph
Super Star Member
Realistically, if the generator is for emergency use then even 100hrs per year average would be relatively high. Maybe down south you need 24hr A/C but in New England we manage to use emergency power for only 4-6hrs per day without trouble. Seven days a year without grid power would seem unusual on average too. Maybe 50hrs a year is a better more realistic estimate. For off grid use to top up batteries etc in conjuction with solar or wind would probably use only 500hrs/yr assuming relatively efficient appliances etc (1.5 hrs/day is about what a sailboat genny runs).
Seems to me that most of us would be better off with gas or propane powered emergency generators as 100hrs/year would still mean about ten years from a 5000-10000W gas engine powered unit costing $500-$1000. Gotta have some other reason than just emergency home backup to justify a diesel unit at three or four times the cost. I'm guesstimating that the average gas/propane powered generator based on the Honda GX or clone lasts about ten years/1000-2000hrs with average maintenance. That does seem where the best bang for the buck is. I know gasoline has its hassles as does propane compared to diesel but still it seems most economical even factoring those things in to the equation. Off the grid is a different matter.
I agree about using the smallest gas genset you can get by with. I have a Honda 2000i, 3000i and the Onan CMQD5500. I also have a Miller trailblazer portable welder about 8kw that will wake up the dead when running. That said I can get by easily for a couple of weeks with the small rv and Honda 2000. As long as the natural gas is available I can run the furnace blower with the Honda 2000 at home.
Supposed to snow here all day and night, I will see if I need the gensets.