Comparison Home Stand By Generators

[buickanddeere]

Calculating so Called watts via colts X amps and ending up with volt amps is the reason why a "correctly sized" generator will not carry the load.
There is the fact that a 1000W load on 120V can draw 1500VA if there is a leading or laggin power factor. Bubba adds up 4000watts, purchases a 4000Watt generator and wonders why the generator won't carry the load. Loading the 4000 watt generator with a 4000watt load that draws 50amps instead of 33.3 Amps as expected.

 

[DarkBlack]

I think undersizing a generator is a bad idea. I had a Coleman 7.5 kw generator, and I could hear it lug down when my well pump kicked it. One day, it lugged down, threw a rod!! A hot water heater draws at least 4500 watts, and that is a pretty constant load. My well is about 200 ft deep, a 3/4 pump with a 30 amp breaker, so I would allow 3000 watts just for a well pump. You don't want to run a motor on low power, it will shorten the life of the motor.

Your 7.5kw generator didn't throw a rod because of your 3/4hp deep well pump kicking in for 30 seconds. No way-no how.
All small engines are 'rated' at full load. Defect engine, worn, wrong oil, bad oil..

 

[Sodo]

It lugged down because it was throwing a rod!

 

[daugen]

It lugged down because it was throwing a rod!

well, that would do it... hard to keep up rpm when parts are missing.

lot of snowblower engines blow up for some reason; wonder if it's too much load too quickly
on a cold engine.?????

 

[K man]

Check Yes, they may seem to promote those brands cause they are the most popular affordable smaller standby generators for the average home owners. Not sure if you browsed the site right cause there are a lot of info on if you click on the left top quick search box under brands, sizes, fuel etc and there are hundreds of portable and standby generators. You can compare and read reviews. I think there is enough info there for the average guy who has no or some clues about generator and this site explains a lot. This was based on my decision to buy a Generac.

 

[Dave Gobis]

I have had a Generac NG 17KW for 8 years. Except for one occasion where the contacts were soiled on the auto back-up switch it has always worked. Have the winter kit, change the oil and filter every year, tune kit twice, and replaced the battery. It does what it is supposed to and I am happy.

 

[K man]

I have had a Generac NG 17KW for 8 years. Except for one occasion where the contacts were soiled on the auto back-up switch it has always worked. Have the winter kit, change the oil and filter every year, tune kit twice, and replaced the battery. It does what it is supposed to and I am happy.

What does the winter kit include?

 

[Garandman]

lot of snowblower engines blow up for some reason; wonder if it's too much load too quickly on a cold engine.?????

If you are talking about Ariens, if the oldTecumseh L heads got a little low on oil, and you tilted them (as often happens at the end-of-driveway pile) enough times, the engine would notify you of your poor maintenance practices by breaking the connecting rod and punching a hole in the side of the case. The "youngest" engine I'm familiar with was nearly 10 years old.

 

[check]

Check Yes, they may seem to promote those brands cause they are the most popular affordable smaller standby generators for the average home owners. Not sure if you browsed the site right cause there are a lot of info on if you click on the left top quick search box under brands, sizes, fuel etc and there are hundreds of portable and standby generators. You can compare and read reviews. I think there is enough info there for the average guy who has no or some clues about generator and this site explains a lot. This was based on my decision to buy a Generac.

Thanks again, K man, I was looking over on the right-hand side of the page. I did later look at the left-hand side display, whereby you could choose specific brands, and I looked up Kohler, and the 14 RES and the 20 RES seem to have cold starting problems. Mine is the (now discontinued) 17 RES, and I am wondering if maybe these newer 14 and 20 kw generators have gone downhill since I bought my 17 kw in 2010. I have never had a problem cold starting with my 17 RES, even at 20 below or colder.

Meanwhile, it would be interesting for someone to collect a little table with the various specs from the various brands, such as noise levels, total distortion, and the like. It seems that these types of specs, especially the distortion specs, would really affect how hard the generator is on your electronic equipment. Also, I have installed a whole house surge protector, but I have heard that the problem of "brownouts" is the what you really have to watch for in terms of their effects on electronic equipment, including your furnace controller. So, it would seem to be important for the generator to start up as quickly as possible when the voltage drops down but not completely down to zero. My Kohler manual made a big deal out of the fact that the generator kicks on fairly quickly after 10 seconds, and kicks on even if the power isn't all the way down to zero. So another question is, which generators start up quickly, and which generators kick on when, for example, the voltage level drops X percentage? I have been at the cottage when the lights would dim and then brighten, then dim and brighten, to the point where I ran downstairs and turn off the power completely so that the generator would kick in, in order not to damage my equipment. This has happened more than once, and I take it as a kind of warning sign that the power is about to go out completely.

 

[turbo36]

Its nice to know some folks don't have a budget. :laughing:

In all seriousness, I understand the need for sump pumps. And I enjoy convenience. I'd just like to know if anyone has figured out how much it would cost to run a large automatic generator 24/7 for a week, instead of everyone saying "who cares?", that's all.

Why the rolling eyes? Maybe some people have it better figured out than you do.