Portable Generator for temp power outages.

[kirkawilson]

About a year ago, I replaced a Northern Tool 6000w non-inverter generator (valves got gummy from ethanol fuel) with a Briggs & Stratton QC6500 inverter. It powers my camper (even the A/C) when I'm camping, and my house through a 6 circuit manual transfer switch if I lose house power. I've used it 6-7 times and it has always started (manually) and performed well. I only use non-ethanol fuel in it and load test it every 3 months. It runs at idle speed under low load conditions and throttles up when loaded.

I caught it on sale at Home Depot for $925. It's less expensive than a Honda but seems to perform as well, except it is about 10db louder than a Honda.https://www.homedepot.com/p/Briggs-...with-OHV-Engine-and-CO-Guard-030761/314765690

 

[nybirdman]

The other option is a PTO genset;I know my tractor will start and have fuel.10k for maybe $1500+transfer switch.

 

[grsthegreat]

All electric heat houses are hard to run on an air cooled generators..l even a 22kw. Heat is the killer. Than add wells, ovens, microwave,it’s quite a load.
I have installed gens in houses with 8 to 10 cadet heaters. That’s rates 12,000 to 15,000 watts just for heat in severe weather.
Or heat pumps with electric heat strips. These can pull 60-90 amps of power.

I like Honda, but seriously, my briggs and Stratton 6500 watt is 6 years old, starts with 2-3 pulls every time. Only costs $660

 

[ultrarunner]

With the back to back utility power safety power shutoffs resulting in every other city house running generators it's easy to appreciate quiet...

 

[Buggs67]

What do you consider 'enormous expense'? I'm thinking you should be looking at a 10K unit minimum. A decent one from a US manufacturer could run $1000 to 1500, even going as low as a 7.5K unit. Those can be dual fuel so you can use either gasoline or propane.

I'm in the process of installing a 16K whole house standby unit and I'll be in the $4500 range. To go whole house for an all electric house, you'd probably need at least a 22Kw unit.

Do you have natural gas? LP?

Nope. No NG. The electric is very reliable. I just need to be prepared for 1 day or so.

 

[Buggs67]

The other option is a PTO genset;I know my tractor will start and have fuel.10k for maybe $1500+transfer switch.

I thought of that but running my tractor at 2600 rpm for hours made me cringe both for the tractor and the fuel consumption.

 

[ning]

I thought of that but running my tractor at 2600 rpm for hours made me cringe both for the tractor and the fuel consumption.

Some tractors have an overdrive setting for the pto ("540E" or 1000 or whatever, gets you 540 at lower engine rpm), probably sufficient for most 3pt generators.

 

[seville009]

what fuel does your furnace run on? Oil or propane presumably since you don’t have ng? i know you said your house is all electric, but i wasn’t sure if that included heating.

I ask because if you use propane, that may present other options.

 

[workinonit]

Some tractors have an overdrive setting for the pto ("540E" or 1000 or whatever, gets you 540 at lower engine rpm), probably sufficient for most 3pt generators.

Yea, ePTO is the way to go. I run a 25 kW at 1700 RPM behind a 5310, 55 HP. No better way for me to go. Low fuel consumption and no harm to the tractor.

 

[Frankenkubota]

Honda. You must pay for their reputation, because they earned it. Kinda like Kubota.

Back in the day, honda engines were made in Alamance NC. They had a TV commercial with some lady as QC person. Tag line was.....It's not a Honda until Poopsie says it's a Honda. Then she started it. Not sure if it's still there.

I played a lot of golf just down the street from the plant. That golf course is dead now.