Backup Generator

[LittleBill21]

I figure I can siphon gas from the 38 gallon tank in the truck if I need to. Before I had that truck I did once have to make an emergency run out the only open road to a remote gas station in the mountains to buy some overpriced gas.

We run the whole house (minus oven, well pump and AC) off a 5kw Honda. Our outages are in the winter and our water's gravity fed from a 10k gallon tank so the only thing we're really missing is the oven.

The Honda has been totally reliable. Turning the main service off and plugging the generator in is kind of a hassle, and PG&E's tree clearing and service is not going to get better any time soon. We usually lose power for a total of at least a week per year, often two. I plan to get a whole house propane generator but I have to move the propane tank and run a line across the paved driveway. It'll have to be able to be turned on and off manually as I would not want it running all night.

be aware if you are expecting to drain the truck tank, if its a newer vehicle they generally have a defeat device in the filler neck to prevent it being siphoned (might want to see if your vehicle has one). they do make a kit to bypass it, but maybe your not aware of that, otherwise you will need to remove the filler hose, or pull the fuel pump.

your 5k should easily run the well pump, what size well pump do you have? i have a 3/4 horse and have run the well off a older 3500 generator. my 7k doesn't even care. i also run my electric water heater and dryer if need be off my 7k. ( of course one at a time). My house is 100% electric.

even the oven can be run, if you watch the loads. i can run 3 burners before my 7k is maxxed. or 2 small and the oven. just have to watch the loads. i personally push my generator till it trips so i know its limits then i know what i can run when the power actually goes out.

it can be a bit stressful even when fully prepared. i like to know ahead of time what can be run.

 

[Hunter29]

it can be a bit stressful even when fully prepared. i like to know ahead of time what can be run.

Get an amp meter, overloading a generator, especially a small cheap one could cost you in electronics getting fried.

 

[Hunter29]

Down size check your PM

 

[Hunter29]

To me, the only thing worse than the noise of a little screaming gasser would be messing around with gas cans. Knowing how many you might need. Trips into town to get them. In bad weather, I stay put.

How much use do people actually get from those HUGE decks, gazibos or golf clubs (Even club memberships) ? Or that Bass boat! Talk about poor ROI. Yet it's funny, becaue often people in those higher socioeconomic classes are the last to want to spend money on an ugly diesel generator.

There not ugly, there beautiful..

 

[grsthegreat]

A liquid cooled generator will outperform any air cooled unit. Period. Even generacs website states that their air cooled units are not designed for off grid use. There BACK UP UNITS.

GENERAC DOES HAVE AN OFF GRID AIR COOLED VERSION, but it has a 5 quart oil bath instead of the usual 1.7 quart version.

A 4 pole rotor is so large and heavy an air cooled motor just cant handle it. Generacs liquid cooled 22 generator has a huge rotor. I question weather a 4 pole is any better than a 2 pole as far as output goes. My 22 air cooled keeps its output very steady. The lights dont even flicker.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

A 4 pole rotor is so large and heavy an air cooled motor just cant handle it.

aaaawww, not always true... An air cooled Deutz or SLH will easily power a 4 pole genset!

SR

 

[LittleBill21]

GENERAC DOES HAVE AN OFF GRID AIR COOLED VERSION, but it has a 5 quart oil bath instead of the usual 1.7 quart version.

.

I was under the impression that was for extended oil changes? 200 hours? vs 50?

 

[LittleBill21]

Get an amp meter, overloading a generator, especially a small cheap one could cost you in electronics getting fried.

i own prolly 7, i only do it for a split second, i watch the hz and voltage the entire time I'm loading. I've learned u can actually push them more then what they are rated on average.

 

[RoyKing]

All machines will run over for awhile, and how long is the big question, how you rate them. KVA or KW the difference KW uses power factor. The most accepted PF is 80%. So a fair way is KW at 80'C continuous duty. So you may find a 16kva that will actually only do 11KW continuous. Another fact is how much copper versus alum in the rotor. The hardest load is a motor with large static load, pump, winch. To your alternator they look like short, so how long at 300% over rated can they hold the load look for 10 seconds. Modern Air conditioners are not hard to start. A well having to move all that water is hard to start.

 

[shooterdon]

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200308467_200308467

What about something like this for those of us who need emergency power and are not trying to run a business or a farm?
My plan would be to mount it on a carry all and move it into place when needed. Do I need to construct a canopy to keep the weather off it while it is running? Having it mounted on a carry all would allow me to help neighbors as well.

I am trying to stay away from gas units as these things are not used much and gas can go bad quickly. I have propane but it is an expensive fuel option.