Generator

[Highbeam]

"How are they on fuel? What do they weigh?"

I have read up on the listeroids and some of the more efficient models can get one kilowatt hour out of 1/8th gallon of diesel. The specifics are on the utterpower site which is apparently based somewhere in WA.

They look to be heavy suckers. Forklift type of deal. The installations are permanent and the sound they make is like a big single cylinder motorcycle at idle pop-pop-pop-pop-

 

[DieselPower]

I have 2 5K and 1 10K generators. All are military surplus. The most I paid was $450 for the 10K one. All 3 of them are 3 phase generators. If memory serves correctly they are all built prior to 1965 and all are reconditioned units. All work flawlessly. Military generators are known for being under rated. The 5K's are more like 7K and the 10K is more like a 12K. One of the 5K's is hooked up to the house for backup power, the 10K is hooked up to the garage for backup power and the other 5K is used in my mobile repair truck to run my arc welder and mig welder. The one on the house and the one on the garage are hooked up with transfer switch's. If you want a good bullet proof generator built like a tank then check your local military surplus dealer and see if they have any generators.

 

[BobRip]

You definately want to run the well. Without water you cannot stay in a house. The generator size for the well depends on the horsepower of the well which is determined by the well depth. I have a 300 foot well and my 4000 watt (continous) generator would not start it. I had the wire upgraded and now a 5000 watt will start it. Priorites during power outage are water, refrigeration, heat(try to get that from something else), lights, cooking (using your grill is good), entertainment.

My generator says run it every two weeks, and I do with an electric heater as the load. If you are not going to do this and the other maintenance don't waste your money. I had a neighbor let one sit for two years. It ran for 2 hours during hurricane Isabel and then the generator end shorted.

 

[CurlyDave]

want to get a portable one that can be used for other things as well. Using it for the house would just be refrig and light and maybe tv. We are on well water and to get one to run the pump I am sure will take a big one. Anyway does anyone have a suggestion.

For my money, the indispensible feature on an emergency generator is an electric starter.

You may be able to start it by yanking on the cord, but how about your wife? You aren't always going to be home when the power goes out. Plus, I am getting up there myself. I am going to be living in the country long after my ability to pull that cord on a big generator has declined.

I got a Briggs & Stratton with electric start from Sears: 6500 watt continuous, 7500 watt surge for $1099 last August.

 

[MrJimi]

I have had 2 generators in the last few years and I think they have come a long way in starting with a cord, both of mine would start at half a pull and it was not nesserary to pull like a muscle man, My 120 pound 5'2" wife grabs cord and leans back and it starts with the 10 HP Briggs and the 13 HP Honda and on the first pull. See this post for picture
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/1019355-post14.html
Jim

 

[scesnick]

I have 2 5K and 1 10K generators. All are military surplus. The most I paid was $450 for the 10K one. All 3 of them are 3 phase generators. If memory serves correctly they are all built prior to 1965 and all are reconditioned units. All work flawlessly. Military generators are known for being under rated. The 5K's are more like 7K and the 10K is more like a 12K. One of the 5K's is hooked up to the house for backup power, the 10K is hooked up to the garage for backup power and the other 5K is used in my mobile repair truck to run my arc welder and mig welder. The one on the house and the one on the garage are hooked up with transfer switch's. If you want a good bullet proof generator built like a tank then check your local military surplus dealer and see if they have any generators.

Or, you can check here.

GSA Auctions®, General Services Administration, Government Site for Auctions

They won't ship anything, so you have to be prepared for a road trip to pick it up... I bought a FEMA trailer from them last year. Had to run to Fl. but the transaction was very easy....

What about a PTO Genny? I have a 5,000 watt portable generator right no but I am in the market for a good PTO generator. The reason being is that I would not have another engine to maintain. Also everything else I own runs on diesel so I wouldn't really need to rush to by gasoline.. and the wife can easily fire up the tractor.. just a thought..............

 

[Dusty]

My fear is that when I need the generator, I will also need the tractor, so a PTO generator isn't an option for me. If the power goes out during a snow storm or a tree takes out the power lines, I need the tractor to deal with these problems. They will put the lines back up, but they rarely take the tree away, just enough to get it out of the way where they are working.
Dusty

 

[BobRip]

want to get a portable one that can be used for other things as well. Using it for the house would just be refrig and light and maybe tv. We are on well water and to get one to run the pump I am sure will take a big one. Anyway does anyone have a suggestion.

For my money, the indispensible feature on an emergency generator is an electric starter.

You may be able to start it by yanking on the cord, but how about your wife? You aren't always going to be home when the power goes out. Plus, I am getting up there myself. I am going to be living in the country long after my ability to pull that cord on a big generator has declined.

I got a Briggs & Stratton with electric start from Sears: 6500 watt continuous, 7500 watt surge for $1099 last August.

I keep a trickle charger on both of my generator batteries. Even though I run them every two weeks for 15 minutews, this is not enough to keep a battery chargered. Northern sells battery maintenance units that help reduce sulfation. I highly recommend them. I also keep one on my tractor and lawn mower, and car that sits a lot.

 

[Dusty]

My generator has a standby mode and will automatically transfer power when there is an interruption from the main source. The generator will start and continue to run until the main source is restored. Along with this is a built in battery charger to keep the electric start operational. Mine powers the entire home panel, but we only use certain circuits during a power outage. Dusty

 

[thingy]

Welder gen is way to go,,[well,if you ever thought you might weld anything I guess],but for just a little more money,[not much],you can get a name brand welder generator,that will do way more,As far as tranfer boxes,yeah,,they make them,,and sell them,,but for just power outages,[normal],,you don't need one,,,just turn your main breaker off,,get a circuit thats 220,,,plug your gen into an outlet thats on it,[a 220/230 outside outlet is what you want],,just use what your gen can handle.
Water pump uses a lot,,about 3,000 watts or more for 1/2 h.p.,[startup],,but,,,thats 1/2 the battle,,oil/gas furnace don't use much,,tv,,,few light bulbs,,,who needs much else,,,,your gen will limit you,,,you need a 10,000 or bigger to think about whole house,[bigger],,thingy