Another Generator guestion

[PhilNH5]

We have a Robins 6100 generator. We have a Generac transfer switch. There is an outlet on the side of the house to plug the generator into.
I paid an electrician to do this hook up. It was out of my league.

I have the furnace, well pump, refrigerator and some lights hooked up to the transfer switch. The furnace supplies hot water as we can keep the house warm with wood stoves.

I picked the Robin after doing some research. Our furnace is in a detached garage. The pipes run into our house by coming under a deck in an uninsulated pipe chase at the time. We have since fixed this scenario. But I wanted a good quality generator. I figured saving a few hundred bucks up front would not be worthwhile if the unit failed.

I keep 30 gallons of gas treated with Stabil over the winter. I then use the gas up in the following summer in various outdoor power equipment.

The Robin cost us $1600 in 1999. that was fun - buying a generator in the Y2K madness. Everyone kept trying to sell me guns and ammo too! We got the wheel kit as well. That was thrown in for free as the salesman took a shine to my wife.

The Robin starts easily. Its best feature and one I highly recommend regardless of the brand you chose is "auto - idle". If there is no electrical load the Robin will throttle down to an idle. Once a load is placed on the system the engine kicks back up to proper rpms. I tested this with a drill and there is no lag time. The auto-idle saves gas.

After all our looking and researching we have only had to use it once in 9 years. We had an ice storm in 2006. I used 3 gallons of gas over 21 hours. I was pleased with the performance.

Here is a pic of me fueling it up during that storm.

Phil

 

[DavidVT]

"Y2K" :Wow that brings back memories.
I purchased a 5K B.S. genset back in 99 after moving to rural Vermont to do cottage commuting with my high tech company. I connected it to a generac manual switch panel (maybe 10 circuits).

After several years went by with zero usage, I loaned the genset out for a few home construction projects. At least the paint finally burned off the muffler.....

It has saved our backsides a few times in the very cold winter. I did however have to change the engine oil to synthetic after snapping the pull cord at -30F. Long story but I do recommend the synthetic to anyone in a cold climate.

Be careful about exhaust and make sure your CO detector is on a genset powered circuit! I almost did my wife in when a door seal to the outdoor genset compartment failed and the CO exhaust was sucked into the basement.. That is when I realized the CO detector was on a non-emergency circuit. It went to 200+ when I plugged it in. Scary....

I try to run it about 15 minutes a month. If I wait too long, I have to hit it with a small shot of ether to get it running. I also rotate the gas tank with the mower's fuel.

I like this thread and how everyone shares. I want to upgrade so I keep my eye on this topic....

 

[LarryD]

I never could justify buying a generator to get me through the few hours of power loss we experience during the winter.

I have however enjoyed installing a pair of these for the Navy...now this is quality. 4 turbos pushing 2 mega watts will keep you awake though.

 

[IXLR8]

I want to thank all who provided thoughts, comments, and inputs. As I continue my search for a generator a few decisions have been made. It will be a gas not a diesel generator. Nearest service for a diesel generator is over an hr away. Most gas engines can be serviced at any good engine shop and if I loan it out I won't have to worry about the wrong fuel being put in it. After talking with a few folks, and listening to my 2 neighbors units scream at full throttle all night long... one with an auto idle is a must, along with electric start for SWMBO, in case it is needed when I am not at home. So my choices have been narrowed down to Honda, B&S, Generac or Subaru Robin. After pricing each of those and passing the info on to the CFO, she said "for that kind of money I will fill pots before a storm and sit in the dark for a while!!!" I am going to continue to narrow down my choices, presently leaning towards Honda or B&S. That way I will be ready to buy when SWMBO, aka CFO, gets tired of "sitting in the dark for a while"

 

[MossRoad]

I want to thank all who provided thoughts, comments, and inputs. As I continue my search for a generator a few decisions have been made. It will be a gas not a diesel generator. Nearest service for a diesel generator is over an hr away. Most gas engines can be serviced at any good engine shop and if I loan it out I won't have to worry about the wrong fuel being put in it. After talking with a few folks, and listening to my 2 neighbors units scream at full throttle all night long... one with an auto idle is a must, along with electric start for SWMBO, in case it is needed when I am not at home. So my choices have been narrowed down to Honda, B&S, Generac or Subaru Robin. After pricing each of those and passing the info on to the CFO, she said "for that kind of money I will fill pots before a storm and sit in the dark for a while!!!" I am going to continue to narrow down my choices, presently leaning towards Honda or B&S. That way I will be ready to buy when SWMBO, aka CFO, gets tired of "sitting in the dark for a while"

You may want to check on the cold starting abilities of the Robin. Over in the Power Trac forum, many Robin owners report problems when the mercury drops.

 

[groundcover]

Jim, what you need is a good ice storm! In '98 we were out for four days and the old 3K 8hp briggs was getting pretty tired. It got us through but the CFO said she didn't even want to know that the power was off. That was all I needed , had a nice 8KW lincon welder 16hp Onan that same week for the same money that some were paying for 5k Hondas,there was some real price gouging going on during that storm though.

 

[Doc_Bob]

I am going to continue to narrow down my choices, presently leaning towards Honda or B&S. That way I will be ready to buy when SWMBO, aka CFO, gets tired of "sitting in the dark for a while"

Please let us know what you finally decide. Sounds like you have thought about it very carefully.
Bob

 

[Scooby074]

IXLR8 my recomendation to you is a Honda EU6500i. Honda Canada
Dad got one, has been BULLETPROOF for over 3 years. It has electric start (starts in a few cranks at -10), and its an inverter so it will give you cleaner power for any electronics (ie TV or computer) and its pretty quiet when on economy too. He uses it to power up his storage sheds lights and plugs so it sees lots of use besides power outages. Exercising you generator regularly is a very good thing for its longeviety.

Yeah its expensive (he paid less than the MSRP on the web site though) but its hard to put a price on lights and watchin TV when most of the neighbours are dark

 

[IXLR8]

IXLR8 my recommendation to you is a Honda EU6500i. Honda Canada Dad got one, has been BULLETPROOF for over 3 years.

This unit has been recommended by several folks and is at the top of my list, it has all the features I want... except price. Then again.. you get what you pay for and it is probably the unit I will get. An added plus for this unit is a full service dealer 9 miles from my house.

 

[MossRoad]

... its hard to put a price on lights and watchin TV when most of the neighbours are dark

You forgot cold beer! Priceless!!!

 

[Egon]

For me watching TV may not be so glamorous but having a shower and watching the fire in the Fireplace with a cold beer may be next to heaven or seem so.

 

[milkman]

Here's a 6500 watt for $500, just search on E-bay.

 

[dmccarty]

I WANT a diesel generator. We just brought home a 285 gallon tank that a friend of the family gave us. The tank is to hold fuel for the truck and tractor.

Northern Tool has a small 6500ish watt diesel generator for 3K+.

The tractor was sized to power the house and the PTO genny is the best bang for the buck but too much dollars for the amount of usage.

So we ended up buying a genset the hooks up to the DR Brush Cutter for $600. Its 5500ish watts and will give us water from the well, shine the lights, and power the fridge and freezer. Since the DR gets used frequently its not sitting unused like most genset engines. I do need to hook up the generator and put a load on it though.

Anywho, if you need something like a DR Brushcutter the add on generator is something to consider. The DR does have a grass cutting deck as well. Figured we would eventually buy the deck but the brush cutter works fine for us.

Later,
Dan

 

[schmism]

huh... apparently DR has decided to make the modern day L gravely something gravely never was able to do (sadly) I didn't realize they had swappable head attachments.

Sounds like a good alternative. Let us know how it does on fuel use.

 

[MossRoad]

For me watching TV may not be so glamorous but having a shower and watching the fire in the Fireplace with a cold beer may be next to heaven or seem so.

So you're drinking beer while showering AND you have a fireplace in the bathroom??? Man, that is heaven!

 

[Scooby074]

You forgot cold beer! Priceless!!!

I must be slippin The beer fridge was definitely part of the load calculation when sizing the generator. Gotta keep the Keiths properly chilled

IXLR8 i checked Dads today, i posted the wrong model. Its not a Honda EU6500i its a EU7000i. I dont think they make that model anymore though.

 

[Egon]

So you're drinking beer while showering AND you have a fireplace in the bathroom??? Man, that is heaven!

Uhh, made a mistake. Should have said bath.

 

[Lloyd_E]

Similar to AMR:

I run a Coleman 5500 - peak 6850 generator - gas. It plugs in just outside house... actually resides there under a cover. I start it once a month. I also use it around the property too.

There is a manual transfer switch next to the main panel.

It powers the following:

- one light in each of the main five rooms 1st floor plus two rooms on the 2nd floor
- TV, satellite, computer/office stuff, fax etc
- Fridge, coffee maker, propane stove - for ignition only
- well pump, furnace

It will run our deep freeze with an extension cord. We went for 5 days without power several years ago. I would turn off breakers for pump, furnace and fridge and let the deep freeze run for half hour or so. If you don't open it most things will stay frozen for a long time.

This unit, on average, runs at least 2-4 days a year for backup, averaging 8-12 hours a day. At night we just shut it down. If you don't open the fridge or freezer you're good for a least 6 hours I figure.

I am really pleased with the economy of engine/fuel.
Two weeks ago it ran for about 7 hours and it used maybe a quarter of a tank.

Hope this helps. I had a professional electrician install the transfer switch and circuits.

Lloyd

PS: I use it around the property(fencing etc.) during the non-power outages.

 

[Doc_Bob]

Similar to AMR:

I run a Coleman 5500 - peak 6850 generator - gas. It plugs in just outside house... actually resides there under a cover. I start it once a month. I also use it around the property too.

Cold weather staring okay (I assume it, but nice to hear).
Bob

 

[MossRoad]

Uhh, made a mistake. Should have said bath.

Ahh. One of my most favorite places that I have never visited.