Generators, sizes and fuel options?

[Larry Caldwell]

A 10KW generator will use 1 gal of propane per hour at 50% load. Depending on what else you do with your propane it might not last as long as you think it will. That is before the "penalty" you take in power for being at altitude.

We have a 6500 running watt (8K starting) and it will run everything but the cooktop/stove. We do not have the circuit wired in as a result. We have the well, sump, fridge, boiler (gas heat but electric for the pumps) and some lights/outlets wired in. For cooking in an extended outage we have an electric griddle that we can use to cook a lot of things.

Electric start is a must for an engine that big. I am still pretty fit, but pull starting my generator is a huge ask, and I do not think much longer until I simply cannot do it. Wife could absolutely not do it. Last time we had to start it the battery was dead. So I had to jump start it. Pain in the butt yes, but I could get it done.

Often I wish I had two generators. A smaller one to run when I do not need the well pump, which is most of the time. It would consume less fuel. Of course there is the pain to swap out generators when you want to shower or flush.

In any event if you can get 10K running watts at altitude that would power a good set of the basics plus some.

Make sure you keep oil on hand for oil changes in an outage.

I have a small camping generator that will run the computer, lights, TV, refrigerator and router. With wood heat and low pressure gravity feed water, we only need the big generator for heating a tank of water and running the pump for a shower, dishwasher, and laundry. Under full load, the little generator will run 4 hours on a gallon of gas. The real advantage is not having to listen to generator noise. The camping generator is ultra muffled, and makes no more noise than a kitchen mixer. The big generator is propane, and only runs maybe 2 hours a day, and never at night.

 

[dodge man]

I’m pretty cheap at times and we have lived outside of town for 25 years now and the power has gone off for an extended period of time just twice. Maybe one of those was a little over 24 hours. I have a generator, gas powered, probably 15 years old with something like 17 hours on it. It roughly 6500 watts and would power the fridge, freezer and a few other items easily but I have to use extension cords. Not convenient but I’m all in for under a $1000.

 

[stumblinhorse]

I think I can be all in for under $1500. A 10k dual fuel is about $1200 and cords and fittings will be a few hundred. That seems good for peace of mind.

 

[grsthegreat]

I had a 20,000 watt natural gas Briggs and Stratton system installed about 2 1/2 years ago. It will run the whole house. I have two gas water heaters and a gas furnace. It came on twice this past weekend. The generator starts four seconds after the power goes out but doesn't transfer power for twenty seconds in case the line power does not stay off. My five ton A/C will pull it down some when it starts but it runs it without any problems. B&S has come out with a 26,000 watt generator now, may try to trade for one in the future.

You dont need a larger generator, simply place a soft start unit on the ac unit. I placed one on my 5 ton ac unit, and it took 60% of the starting load off the system. Generator doesnt even burp when ac cycles.

 

[TheMan419]

1 gallon an hour is livable. I want to plan for 3-5 days without power and depending on the conditions I would not expect to run the generator 24 hours a day. So if I could plan for 18 hours at 1 gallon/hour for 5 days = 90 gallons as a max. I think that is a good start.

I also don’t need the well pump much or the stove For that matter. Maybe a 8k/6.5k is also enough if I ration/plan properly?

I always thought I would not run the thing 24/7 in a power outage too. However what I have learned is when we have these -35 wind chills the pump on the boiler rarely shuts off. So to keep warm I will be running the thing 24/7 in those temperatures. If the temperature were more moderate I doubt I would run even 18 hours in a day. Have to run about every 4 hours for the refrigerator assuming you do not open it.

We have horses so would need power for the well several times a day to keep them watered. That would also help the fridge. I would estimate a good 8 hours a day by the time you shower, cook a few meals, water the horses etc.

That said for you look at the power you are actually going to get. My 6.5 is running gasoline and is at like 700 feet of elevation. If you had my generator, converted it to propane and ran it at altitude you would not get 6.5KW of power.

Also if I did it over I would buy an inverter type generator. Yes more money, but uses less fuel and is better for electronics. No I do not expect to save enough $ on fuel to justify the price difference, but means less trips to the gas station.

I keep enough fuel on hand to run the generator for about 30 hours or so of actual run time. Around here snow or wind is the biggest threat to power. By 30 hours the snow is clear and we can get out and about.

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

We've never lost power for days but I figure cut water off to the house and hit the road south if it gets bad enough

 

[LittleBill21]

You can run an electric stove on a 10k, I do it on a 7k, you just can't use all the burners at the same time, and have to manage loads. I use everything, including the dryer/ water heater if I use it, when I pull the 7k out ( I have dual inverters as well). It pretty much runs full load its entire time, as we are heating water, or cooking or pumping, my house is 100% electric.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

A couple things to consider.

Sizing of your LP tank for the lowest temperature at your location.
Then sizing the pipe to feed the generator. Both can be found at the link below.

Winco PSS12H - Standby Generator - Winco Generators - Agricultural, Commercial, Contractor & Residential

The PSS12 is the only automatic emergency unit that is powered by a Honda engine. It can be placed in both prime and standby applications so it is just as appropriate for a remote pump as it is for your house.

www.wincogenerator.com

I have a 12,000 watt LP gen and when it gets below 15 degrees (Farenheit) I sometimes don't have the capacity to vaporize enough fuel with my 250 gal tank.

A 10,000 watt generator will likely start your well pump, but a soft start would be reccomended to stop the surge current needed to get the pump up to speed. Your generator will thank you later.

Edit:I see grsthegreat already covered part of this.

 

[stumblinhorse]

I always thought I would not run the thing 24/7 in a power outage too. However what I have learned is when we have these -35 wind chills the pump on the boiler rarely shuts off. So to keep warm I will be running the thing 24/7 in those temperatures. If the temperature were more moderate I doubt I would run even 18 hours in a day. Have to run about every 4 hours for the refrigerator assuming you do not open it.

We have horses so would need power for the well several times a day to keep them watered. That would also help the fridge. I would estimate a good 8 hours a day by the time you shower, cook a few meals, water the horses etc.

That said for you look at the power you are actually going to get. My 6.5 is running gasoline and is at like 700 feet of elevation. If you had my generator, converted it to propane and ran it at altitude you would not get 6.5KW of power.

Also if I did it over I would buy an inverter type generator. Yes more money, but uses less fuel and is better for electronics. No I do not expect to save enough $ on fuel to justify the price difference, but means less trips to the gas station.

I keep enough fuel on hand to run the generator for about 30 hours or so of actual run time. Around here snow or wind is the biggest threat to power. By 30 hours the snow is clear and we can get out and about.

So a 10k makes the most sense. I will run on propane because I don’t store gas only diesel. None of my electronics are a concern since they will not be on the circuit that is powered…. So somehow this forum would have to live without me for a few days…

I think I will probably get a large propane tank specifically for the generator that can sit right next to it and run it for 40-50 hours. That is the most direct route I think. No need to mess with the main tank.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

We've never lost power for days but I figure cut water off to the house and hit the road south if it gets bad enough

Closing up the house and checking in to a hotel is one option, particularly if you live in the city. If things get really bad, roads are no more likely to function than the power. In the recent holiday storm, I understand hotel rooms were pretty rare too. Planning for self-sufficiency in rural areas is a good idea. That can be anything from a camp stove and extra blankets, to 19th century pre-electricity home tech, or running your own power plant.