Generator question... Balls out or off... any way for an in-between?

[AVIVIII]

Even though it was running at full RPM, it needs to as previously stated, when not under a load, the engine is working less. If you were to load up the power circuit, you would see increased resistance from the gen head and even higher fuel consumption.

I find 5-5.5kw the high end of non-inverter portable generators that can run even marginally efficient. Once you get into the 7,8,10kw range, the larger motors required will use more fuel simply due to their size. If your load is that low, It would be worth picking up a small 2000w inverter generator that will sip gas and be quiet.

Up here in the NorthEast, I can minimally operate my house on my 5.5kw, taking into account well pump and refrigeration compressor surges and minimizing electric appliance usage. If I didn't need the well pump, the furnace and the pellet stove, 2kw would probably be plenty!

 

[dodge man]

I've got a similar generator. It was by no means cheap, but it is inexpensive compared to the invertor style. Mine is also loud but no more than I use it, worth the money.

 

[IchabodCrayne]

Nature of the beast. Consumer generators guzzle fuel. Find an older gas engine Miller welder. They are designed to run as generators just off idle speed. Very economical.
My Lincoln had to run at "high idle" but still returned about 12 hours per tank pushing 30amps@220volts.
I sold my Lincoln to a tourist out fitter who uses it only as a generator. Puts out 9kw of 220volt/60amp @100 percent duty cycle for $3500.00

 

[ericm979]

Even though it was running at full RPM, it needs to as previously stated, when not under a load, the engine is working less. If you were to load up the power circuit, you would see increased resistance from the gen head and even higher fuel consumption.

Yep. The generator has a governor like your diesel tractor. Only it controls the throttle instead of the fuel injection system like on a diesel. The governor will open the throttle enough to maintain 3600 rpm, whatever the load is. On no/low load the throttle is not open that far. On full load it's open all the way.

I have a 5kw Honda that I bought when we moved to the mountains 20 years ago. The power goes out often here. It uses more fuel when we're running a lot of stuff off it... up to about a gallon per hour.

If I was buying a new one I'd look for an inverter type if they are up to 5kw now.

 

[LittleBill21]

i own the same generator, its also why i have a inverter 2k generator as well. my house is 100% electric , we run the big one for well/ showers cooking and water heater, rest of the time everything runs off the 2k including the fridge.the big genny barely run 2 hours a day during a full outage.

if you only burned 15 gallons for 36 hours thats really good. i burn over 1 gallon an hour when i use it, but i run it at 80-95% load the entire time im using it.

 

[orezok]

Many of the inverter generators can be had with a "Extended Run" cap that you use to connect to a larger can (such as a boat gas tank), then it will automatically fill its on board tank from the boat fuel tank. Here is one: Amazon.com : iFJF Aluminum Red Extended Run Gas Cap Adapter for Honda Generator EU2i EU2i EU1i EU1i fit 1/4"NPT Line(1/8" Thick Fuel Resistant Sealing Gasket with Each Kit) : Garden & Outdoor
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Aaron Z

I don't believe that that cap will work with most generators. Honda is one of the few that has a fuel pump internally on their small inverter generators that can "pull" the fuel from an auxiliary tank. Most others rely on gravity.

 

[hawkeye08]

My daughter borrowed my Generac 5000 generator to run the travel trailer until they get power in on new property. She was pretty excited until she found out how loud it is (and the 30A outlet is not working so have to be careful of what they run on 20A circuit). She is going to get a small perhaps 2000 watt inverter unit to run battery charger, etc and just run the bigger generator for air conditioner when needed.. They should have power in a few weeks if things happen as expected. They made an offer on 10k/7.5k (10k surge, 7.5k run) open frame loud generator that runs on propane. We'll know this week if they get it. No worries with fuel storage then.

I'll fix up the 22 year old Generac when she returns it, we were pleasantly surprised when we pulled it out after 22 years and put gas in, topped off oil and it ran. Several of the outlets have crap in them and don't work so I'll repair or replace them. Our Honda does not have 220v so need this old generator to run well if needed.

 

[wagne223]

It would be interesting to know what the long term reliability of Inverter Style generators is. They make their power with transistors in which I have very little confidence, for this application and market. Especially when engineered to be cheap!

I have 2 Champion 2k inverter gens. For hunting camp. Run both for AC or heat when needed. Otherwise run 1.

I put hour meters on both for maintenance.

One has 410 hrs the other 430 hours. One had a control board fail at 20 hours. Under warranty. No issues other than that. Both run good still. Of course I maintain and clean them.

From what I have read, the average life expectancy for inverters is 1000 hrs.
But I cant get hard data on whether it is the engine or the electrical that fails and is not worth repairing. Or if parts just become not available.

 

[Industrial Toys]

A friend is in the commercial utility mobile inverter business. As far as I am concerned, these things fail too freuquently, but it's always the customers fault. They must have plugged in such and such. Too fussy for my liking. If it's pure sign, fused and got a 110 plug, anything with a plug should be fare game! And if not, the fuse or breakers should go, not the MOSFETS going snap, crackle and pop!

 

[TheMan419]

Not sure why you were consuming so much fuel. You do not need to run the gen set constantly during the power outage. We have natural gas heat but of course need to run the pump on boiler. When our power went out in the dead of winter we ran it probably about 1/4 of the time mostly to run the boiler pump. Also needed to run the well for water for the horses. In 14 hours of power outage we used less than 5 gallons of fuel. Probably could have reduced that further with better planning on when to fire up the generator and getting the maximum other use of the power out of it while the heat was running.