Generator feed back

[LBrown59]

My generator runs 17.5hrs on seven gallons .

At that rate This would keep your Gen. going for 350 hours.

 

[LBrown59]

I have to agree with the guys that suggest that 15KW may be too big. But do you need an all-house auto switch system? The fuel problem is a serious one.
Why don't you go here
How to Pick the Perfect Standby Generator - Standby Generator Advice from ElectricGeneratorsDirect.com
and figure out what you need.
I bought a 6200W B&S from them and I use it, through a manual switch that was wired by an electrician, to power water pump, sump pump, septic tank pump, furnace, most of the kitchen except the range and oven, entertainment center, one bedroom and of course the computer center.
My generator runs 17.5hrs on seven gallons and I have a 22 gallon reserve.

What fuel problem ; what do you mean?

 

[DelSc]

We have a 16KW Generac with 100 gal propane tank and a "whole house" transfer box. We lost power last week for 3 days, and I was really happy to have it.

During the outage, we basically ran our well, oil furnace, lights and appliances without consideration to being on a generator.

I re-filled the tank once the power came back on, and was able to compute that we used one gallon of propane per hour during the blackout. This fuel consumption rate (according to Generac) equates to the fuel consumption for this size generator running at about 1/4 power.

This was the average rate over a 3 days of pretty much constant use. I only stopped it a couple times to check the engine oil level. Since we left it running through the night with the furnace and fridge as the only load (temps dropped into single digits), the load with lights and appliances would have been noticeabley higher, however I dont know exactly how much higher.

If I remember, we sized the unit based on motor starting capacity as well as steady state power usage. In other words, we wanted to be able to leave all systems plugged in, and have the capacity to be able to handle having a couple systems with motors starting simultaneously.

 

[ragkar]

As a residence, I don't need all that much fuel on hand. I only have to run a lawnmower, weed whacker and a few others. so If I had a lot, it would go stale before being used. The other posters have mentioned how difficult it was to get gas during a prolonged outage. I think one said that he had a sixty mile round trip.

 

[LBrown59]

As a residence, I don't need all that much fuel on hand. I only have to run a lawnmower, weed whacker and a few others. so If I had a lot,
*it would go stale before being used. The other posters have mentioned how difficult it was to get gas during a prolonged outage. I think one said that he had a sixty mile round trip.

The only thing i use gas for is the chain saw and the string trimmer.
I only keep a couple or 3 gallon around.
I have a diesel pump and storage set up with 2 drums and extra drums for it so in my case I'd go with a diesel Gen..
*I can store all the fuel I'd ever need during a prolonged power outage, but haven't worked out the going stale issue either.

 

[Doc_Bob]

*I can store all the fuel I'd ever need during a prolonged power outage, but haven't worked out the going stale issue either.

Stabil.
Bob

 

[capi75rs]

It does not necessarily have to be real big, to run everything. A good 5500 watt unit, with a good surge capacity, will run a lot of stuff.

like I said, you would not believe me if I listed it all, I run the everything, except the central air. However; I do run a window a/c in my den.

I couldn't agree with you more, I have a 5500 watt and run my house. Fridge, deep freezer, furnace, window AC, lights, computer (on surge suppressor) 220v pump for my well, and the list goes on and on and on. I will admit I limit what I turn on and when but over the last 3 years have never had an issue.

 

[Pilot]

Think ETHANOL: If you store gas with 10% ethanol very long, it absorbs water from the air and when the temp gets low the ethanol & water separate out. Ethanol is an octane booster, so one effect is that the octane in the remaining gas drops. If your compression ratio is high enough to need the octane specified on the pump, you won't have it. I don't remember the details, but it can cause other big problems with small engines.

I have had my gas powered generator for 10-15 years now, but Oregon has only required ethanol for a year and has exempted off road uses. The problem is that there are only about 20 places in the state where you can get ethanol free gas and the nearest one to me is about 35 miles away & they still want about $4 a gallon. I go 50 miles & stock up on $2 ethanol free gas just for my small engines.

You may not have ethanol in your gas in your area, but it is coming because of federal mandates.

I don't intend to start an ethanol war, and I know there are probably some folks here that think it's great, but I just want folks to be aware of what you need to know if you have it in your area.

Diesel and propane seem like good solutions to me.

 

[Highbeam]

Well of course the folks with a 15KW-20kw gensets and sufficient fuel on hand are perfectly happy. They always have plenty of power. It is not optimal but I would have to agree that the oversized genset will get the job done while the properly sized genset will require some skill and power management.

Ideally, we would all have 200 amp (whatever your service is) gensets on hand and enough fuel stockpiled to make it through the worst case outage. This scenario cost more money than a properly sized genset but it is superior in every way.

My 3000 watt genset cost under 300$ and the fuel stockpile for the longest historic outage is contained in a few 5 gallon gas cans. So I made a decision to save my money and optimize the genset purchase.

 

[ragkar]

I bought my generator before I got my tractor (currently my only diesel application). So a gas generator made sense. If I were buying now I'd seriously consider a diesel generator since diesel is easier to store (i.e. less volatile and fumes explosive).
Since I have fireplace gas logs with a 100 gallon (or is it 100 pound?) tank, I really should have opted for a propane generator. That would have solved the storage and supply problems for fuel.