Portable Generators

[ultrarunner]

My portable Honda 5000 has electric start but the battery holder and cable is an option.

Never bought the battery setup and simply start with the rope pull.

Don't recall any instructions to the contrary about not having a 12v battery.

 

[ultrarunner]

You need something like this to get the noise up and away.. : Amazon.com: Camco 44461 Gen-Turi Generator Exhaust Venting System: Automotive

There are sites that tell how to make on for much, much, cheaper: How to Make a Homemade RV Gen-Turi for Peace of Mind

The original install had the exhaust plumbed to daylight with black pipe... maybe a 45 run with two 90 bends... sounded like loud in the basement and very loud where the exhaust pipe terminated above ground.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I was given a small winco natural gas genset with a 30 amp auto transfer that dated from 1980... ran good and started instantly... it was very loud single cylinder and they needed something not so loud so out it went.

Never did anything with it but should look into how to make the exhaust not so loud.... because it is much to loud for a residential area.

Put a muffler on it. Some old gensets just had a spark arrestor, that would give you a headache if you were within 100 feet of it while it was running.

 

[TomSeller]

Once you cook with INDUCTION ELECTRIC then you will never go back to gas. One can boil water in 70 seconds with induction. No carbon monoxide by-products like that with gas. No safety issues. No explosive gases.

That sure was the case for me. I'd never have gas or traditional electric again. Mine also turns off by itself when I take the pan off. Oh, and does Sous Vide.

 

[DieselBound]

Once you cook with INDUCTION ELECTRIC then you will never go back to gas. One can boil water in 70 seconds with induction. No carbon monoxide by-products like that with gas. No safety issues. No explosive gases.

Isn't this a thread about electrical generators? Cooking with electricity is a big energy draw: also note that some 55% of all electrical generation in the US is from coal (while the gases might not be directly spewing from your home they're still be emitted and one is likely to meet up with them by stepping outside one's home. And for those of us in northern climates heating is our largest energy demand; and many folks (I am one) heat with wood.

There's no such thing as "no safety issues" with anything that's electrical, especially appliances: look up reports by the insurance companies- this is perhaps the TOP reason for house fires.

If I lose electricity I can still cook and heat my home. The well, freezers, electric fences and computers need backup power.

 

[Citydude]

Isn't this a thread about electrical generators? Cooking with electricity is a big energy draw: also note that some 55% of all electrical generation in the US is from coal (while the gases might not be directly spewing from your home they're still be emitted and one is likely to meet up with them by stepping outside one's home. And for those of us in northern climates heating is our largest energy demand; and many folks (I am one) heat with wood.

There's no such thing as "no safety issues" with anything that's electrical, especially appliances: look up reports by the insurance companies- this is perhaps the TOP reason for house fires.

If I lose electricity I can still cook and heat my home. The well, freezers, electric fences and computers need backup power.

Here is an interesting read.
Carcinogenic Chemicals from Wood and Coal Stoves

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Here is an interesting read.
Carcinogenic Chemicals from Wood and Coal Stoves

Emissions have been greatly reduced with the EPA certified wood stoves. Wood stoves are now much more environmentally friendly than fireplaces. Things have changed a lot in the 35 years since that paper was written.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Isn't this a thread about electrical generators? Cooking with electricity is a big energy draw: also note that some 55% of all electrical generation in the US is from coal (while the gases might not be directly spewing from your home they're still be emitted and one is likely to meet up with them by stepping outside one's home. And for those of us in northern climates heating is our largest energy demand; and many folks (I am one) heat with wood.

There's no such thing as "no safety issues" with anything that's electrical, especially appliances: look up reports by the insurance companies- this is perhaps the TOP reason for house fires.

If I lose electricity I can still cook and heat my home. The well, freezers, electric fences and computers need backup power.

That's probably my fault, since I posted about running a portable generator off of propane. I still think it's a good idea because of engine reliability and fuel storage. When I set up a generator for my mother I also gave her an electric hot plate because she was comfortable with that. The generator was to run the furnace so she would have heat. With an electric coffee pot and a hot plate she could have coffee and cook simple meals. A friendly neighbor (Caterpillar tractor mechanic) was always there to make sure the generator was running properly.

For home use, we just cook on the wood stove. I have a portable propane stove I have never used because the wood stove is more convenient. If things get really bitter, I can just move into the FSC travel trailer with a propane furnace and range. I have a tiny camp generator for the travel trailer that will run a couple light bulbs and a battery charger. You just reminded me that I should look into swapping the 12 volt lighting fixtures with LED lighting fixtures. The 12 volt fluorescent over the kitchen table has always been a little anemic for my taste...

I suppose any discussion of generators needs to include why you need the power. I understand why people in the South or Arizona want a whole house generator big enough to run their AC. I can understand why somebody in the NE or Great Plains wants a 100% reliable generator that will keep their furnace going. I'm more lackadaisical, and only fire up the generator on the second day of a power outage. Even then, it's only because I want to take a hot shower. Electricity is more of an afterthought than an essential. My real energy utility is the six cords of dry hardwood in the wood shed.

 

[ultrarunner]

My grandparents had the old radiant heat radiators in their home and the boiler was quite large in the basement and it was certified for wood and coal... bought in 1964... required no electricity to work via thermosiphon and also provided hot water.

I always remember my Grandmother in the kitchen in front of her immaculate stove... she baked all her own breads and everything from scratch... the stove was 1/2 wood and 1/2 electric... she cooked mostly with wood unless it was a summertime heatwave and then would use the electric.

Electricity was really only for lights, an old ringer washing machine, radio and a very small chest freezer... most things did just fine in the 55 cellar...

When my friends from California came to spend a week with me they couldn't believe my grandparents didn't have a can opener or "Trashcan"... everything except for staples like flour, sugar and coffee came from the farm and put up in mason jars... and they didn't have any trash... paper and similar went to the stove and table scraps went to the farm animals...

One year the peaches had blight... so I brought a case of Del Monte peaches... my grandmother was reluctant but once I was able to get one of the cans open she said it was very good... so I went right out and bought them a can opener!

They had a nice home that was very comfortable that they built in 1964... spring water gravity fed and except for a few electrical items could live very well "OFF GRID" and guess they were living GREEN long before the word was ever coined.

If there was real work to be done on the farm there was always the 1950 18 hp Diesel tractor with a belt power take off that got used for the buzz saw and to load the hay loft.

I remember us kids had to stay way clear of that pto belt... grandfather told us a story of a neighbor kid that was killed when the belt slipped... no guards at all.

 

[buickanddeere]

A small bright clean burning fire from dry cured wood with enough airflow for complete combustion in an old oil drum is cleaner than any whiz bang stove stuffed full with uncured wood with the air checked back to try and make the load last all day.