which portable generators do people have

[ultrarunner]

The way I and my friends use them is we already have them for our computer/printer/modem to protect against power surges and low power...

With a generator in place... the UPS would only be carrying the load for as long as it takes the generator to come up to speed...

Here at the Hospital it averages 7 seconds from the time power is out to when the generator is supplying the load... in the interim... the UPS maintains power.

They can get pricey fast... depending on the size and quality of power supplied...

Another way to look at it is they are a device that smooths out the highs and lows of utility power...

Only the very large ones are hardwired... most simply plug in to the source and then have 4 or 6 outlets on the back...

 

[ultrarunner]

PS... some I know will unplug sensitive electronics or selectively turn off breakers until the genset is up to speed and then staggering turning things on... this way a genset otherwise capable of supplying the load is not hit all at once when everything starts at the same time...

 

[plowhog]

My champion generator says always start up and shut down with zero load. They want a few minutes of run time to stabilize before a load is supplied. It handles lights and the refrigerator but I don't altogether trust its power for sensitive computers, etc.

Costco has 2000w/1600w Yamaha powered inverter generators right now for $499 ea. They include the parallel cable so you can link them together for double the output. I bought two of these and used them when we upgraded our electric service to 400a. They seem to work well. Note they are *not* Yamaha generators, which are about $1,000 ea. Even though they look almost identical? They do, however, use the same Yamaha engine. If you dug into them I'm guessing they are very, very similar.

One of the niceties of the Honda 2000w generators is how quiet they are. I was very pleased with the Costco units-- they also ran pretty quiet. Certainly OK for campground use.

 

[90cummins]

I’ve had several generators gas and diesel and have tested them all for capacity (does it produce the rated output), fuel consumption and overall reliability.
Fact is there is no 1 size fits all. If you buy one sized to run all your items it will use a lot of fuel. A lightly loaded generator will consume at least 50% of the full load rating.
For a long term outage when you need to conserve you may run out of fuel.
Ideally you need one for long term essentials such as heat & lights and a larger one for high current appliances such as electric range for cooking.
I have a Honda EU 2000i that will support my Oil or wood furnace along with lights, tv, and electric blankets.
Testing I’ve done has shown the little Honda EU2000i (1500 Watts) will run the heat & lights for 10 hours on 1 gallon if fuel and with the auxiliary 4 gallon fuel tank is good for over 40 hours.
For something that could make the difference between being OK or freezing to death quality and efficiency should be the primary concern.
The Honda produces power quality the equals or exceeds the utility making it safe for any modern Appliance.
90cummins

 

[Old Red]

I致e had several generators gas and diesel and have tested them all for capacity (does it produce the rated output), fuel consumption and overall reliability.
Fact is there is no 1 size fits all. If you buy one sized to run all your items it will use a lot of fuel. A lightly loaded generator will consume at least 50% of the full load rating.
For a long term outage when you need to conserve you may run out of fuel.
Ideally you need one for long term essentials such as heat & lights and a larger one for high current appliances such as electric range for cooking.
I have a Honda EU 2000i that will support my Oil or wood furnace along with lights, tv, and electric blankets.
Testing I致e done has shown the little Honda EU2000i (1500 Watts) will run the heat & lights for 10 hours on 1 gallon if fuel and with the auxiliary 4 gallon fuel tank is good for over 40 hours.
For something that could make the difference between being OK or freezing to death quality and efficiency should be the primary concern.
The Honda produces power quality the equals or exceeds the utility making it safe for any modern Appliance.
90cummins

Agree...I have a 10KW military diesel genset that will run my 5 ton heat pump and my 2.5 ton heat pump at same time...That thing is a beast. I have a lot of fuel for about 10 days...which is long enough for storms but probably not for something bad....I also have a couple 2000 watt gas burner inverters for light loads such as lights. But I'm all electric here...so my power needs are fairly high.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I have a few generators, BUT when the power goes out and I NEED some power, the Honda 2000 comes out first!

That keeps the essentials going and does it on the least amount of fuel used!

On a loooong term outage, I hook up to my pto powered 15kw generator to my small Kubota and power my whole house... Using a tractor, among other things, it gives me a diesel generator with low fuel usage, easy fuel storage, high load starting torque and long oil change intervals...

For me, the pto generator is easily the best way to go, to power my whole house...

SR

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have a Yanmar 3.7 single cylinder air cooled Diesel for Portable use and have used it to run the entire complex albeit with heat and water heater shut off. Noisy, stinky, stupidly fast running and heavy, but really reliable. And makes nice power.

I always seem to be getting used APC 1500 watt UPSes. People would rather run out and spend their companies money then get a new battery pack. Has anyone ever used these with an external battery? OR even a lead acid deep cycle battery? There is telecom stuff and entertainment stuff I wouldn't mind putting on these and don't want to spend the money on batteries, especially when I am also always being given good larger lead acid batteries for Inverter applications. Is the float voltage for gelled batteries so much different from flooded to make a difference?

 

[buickanddeere]

I don't need to run everything, my current generator is large enough for what I need to run. My concern is will my old generator blow a circuit board on my furnace or fridge?
In MN I am more concerned about heat than cooling. I plan on putting in a wood stove, but that will come with a major remodel that is not going to happen for a couple of years yet.

You don稚 have to run everything. The generator does have to be able to provide enough inrush current for starting without lowering the voltage, lowering the frequency and without a noisy wave form. A 5000 watt consumer grade generator should not be continuously loaded past 4000 watts anyways .
Never understood why some people are so how proud of how little they can get along with.

 

[ultrarunner]

I have a Yanmar 3.7 single cylinder air cooled Diesel for Portable use and have used it to run the entire complex albeit with heat and water heater shut off. Noisy, stinky, stupidly fast running and heavy, but really reliable. And makes nice power.

I always seem to be getting used APC 1500 watt UPSes. People would rather run out and spend their companies money then get a new battery pack. Has anyone ever used these with an external battery? OR even a lead acid deep cycle battery? There is telecom stuff and entertainment stuff I wouldn't mind putting on these and don't want to spend the money on batteries, especially when I am also always being given good larger lead acid batteries for Inverter applications. Is the float voltage for gelled batteries so much different from flooded to make a difference?

See it all the time... easier to have Office Depot drop off a new one every 3 years... not a screwdriver in the place and then they would need to know what batteries to order...

Many will not open anything electrical which might be a good thing.

A few here take a dedicated 30 amp receptacle in the server room... with 8 outlets in the back... one requires two separate 20 amp circuits and will shift power should one side fail... or maybe one is generator backup and one utility...

My only concern with changing batteries other than OEM is the built in charging circuit...

 

[ultrarunner]

You don稚 have to run everything. The generator does have to be able to provide enough inrush current for starting without lowering the voltage, lowering the frequency and without a noisy wave form. A 5000 watt consumer grade generator should not be continuously loaded past 4000 watts anyways .
Never understood why some people are so how proud of how little they can get along with.

I think it is those that have an understanding of how things work... plus... conspicuous consumption makes you a target in the big city.... honest.

I really don't care if I can use the electric clothes dryer on generator or operate all 4 electric Jenair elements plus the griddle if the power is out...

I would like to know I have water and hot water, refrigeration, lights and keep up with the news...

Never lived anywhere with A/C... so I could see how this could be a game changer if needed.