Comparison Home Stand By Generators

[dave1949]

one of the real downsides of a portable gen is how to run in the pouring rain or blowing snow when you don't have a convenient overhang to park it under. I won't even run mine in my garage with the doors open. Never know where that CO2 will wind up; always run it outside, at my last house under the totally open front entrance porch. At this home, I don't know yet, will have to be out the garage back door, which then gives my extension cords a straight shot into the kitchen.

So what happens when a gas powered generator is operated outside in the pouring rain for several hours?

Honda Generators - Generator Operation
Keep the generator dry.
Do not use the generator in wet conditions, such as rain or snow, or near a pool or sprinkler system.

I can't say for other brands, but Hondas are not rain ready. My Honda gen. doesn't like to get wet, the engine starts missing.

 

[jaywdeee]

Good question.... I've always run mine in our unattached shed with the door open. I ran it in my in-laws in a yard barn with the door open. I guess that's something that needs to be planned for before it happens. If its pouring rain, you probably shouldn't be messing with a generator anyway. Good way to get whacked. :shocked:

It is a necessary safe practice to ground every generator well. All have a grounding lug and I have driven two 8' electrical ground rods and connected a braided copper wire to the grounds with copper connectors and then to the generator lug. This must be done to insure that all the connected loads are grounded and safe.

 

[ultrarunner]

It is a necessary safe practice to ground every generator well. All have a grounding lug and I have driven two 8' electrical ground rods and connected a braided copper wire to the grounds with copper connectors and then to the generator lug. This must be done to insure that all the connected loads are grounded and safe.

I've wondered about this because I have a truck mounted unit that I use for grinders and drain rooter machines... the generator is bolted to the truck... the truck sits on tires... nothing is driving into the ground.

 

[MossRoad]

I've wondered about this because I have a truck mounted unit that I use for grinders and drain rooter machines... the generator is bolted to the truck... the truck sits on tires... nothing is driving into the ground.

Yeah, makes you wonder about all those portable generator/welder sets you see on service trucks. Does anyone really ground them?

 

[ultrarunner]

Yeah, makes you wonder about all those portable generator/welder sets you see on service trucks. Does anyone really ground them?

That's the story of my life... living on the edge...

Speaking of grounds... and off topic.

Mom was having a hard time keeping the critters out of her vegetable garden even with the cyclone fence I put in.

Next step was to add a hot wire which worked ok in the winter... stopped working during the California drought... so I added a ground wire from the fence charger to the metal fence... talk about an electric fence... nothing climbs up and over anymore.

Next problem is mom would forget and was always getting shocked.

So I put the charger on a timer and all is good... only time the critters would attack the garden was under cover of darkness...

Moral... Proper use of grounds is important!

 

[Sodo]

and grounds maintenance

and I enjoy making coffee grounds too :stirthepot:

 

[buickanddeere]

one of the real downsides of a portable gen is how to run in the pouring rain or blowing snow when you don't have a convenient overhang to park it under. I won't even run mine in my garage with the doors open. Never know where that CO2 will wind up; always run it outside, at my last house under the totally open front entrance porch. At this home, I don't know yet, will have to be out the garage back door, which then gives my extension cords a straight shot into the kitchen.

So what happens when a gas powered generator is operated outside in the pouring rain for several hours?

CO2 is a minor hazard compared to how lethal CO is.

 

[daugen]

CO2 is a minor hazard compared to how lethal CO is.

my error, meant CO"1"...

Monoxide is the baddy, Dioxide is what we exhale, right?

 

[check]

Getting back to the original question, what is the best standby generator? I see a lot of people here with Generac/guardian generators, but when I was buying mine I was told to stay away from them because they're not reliable. What have your experiences been?

 

[doxford jim]

Getting back to the original question, what is the best standby generator? I see a lot of people here with Generac/guardian generators, but when I was buying mine I was told to stay away from them because they're not reliable. What have your experiences been?

I very much doubt that the major generator manufacturers would knowingly put out a product that wouldn't hold up to use. That being said, my Kubota has been great and very reliable to date. The only non-start issue has been a low battery in the middle of winter - I now keep two batteries there.
I expect what you were told is basically BS and don't buy from the competition for whatever reason.