Running portable generator during inclement weather

[charlz]

The 'Longest Power Outage' thread got me to wondering about running a portable generator during rain or snow... possibly for days at a time. I looked through the owners manual for mine but it doesn't say anything about running it in adverse weather conditions. When I need mine for emergencies it is likely to be winter which means snow or rain. I don't have a place where it would be out of the weather and could still be operated. Do you cover yours? Just let it run in the rain? Or?

 

[jix]

I have a 6KW gasoline sinewave genny..made by a Chinese outfit called KIPOR. It is my best friend and has been in service as an auxillary forabout eight years. It is under my front porch out of the weather, but in open air. It uses about 3 gals of gas in 24 hours under 50% load, because it has a "smart throttle" which means it uses only as much power from the engine as a varying load requires and runs at idle power the rest of the time. The voltage output is ultra stable at all loads and it produces accurate 60 cycle AC always. It can power my computers, TV and electronics safely, as well as my water pump, freezers and main house lights, my standby oil furnace, but not my geothermal heat pump. I cook with propane and heat water in a big kettle. We have had 14-day outages here and that little gem saw us comfy enuff during those times. I would not want to be without it, but it was a tad pricey when it was new.

I would NOT leave it without rain and snow protection. That would be BAAAD for the electronics inside the casing.

It is electric start, but not automatic. It is very very quiet too. I recommend it. It is easy on gas..to the max. but getting it serviced is a do it urself situation. I do oil (synthetic) and filter changes, but so far, no other service has been required. I burn standard gas in it (four cycle) and put Stabil in the tank with each filling. Best Chinese device I have ever seen!

It has always started with the choke applied, no matter how cold

 

[JamesHW]

I have a front porch so was able to just place my Honda portable there and run the extension cord through a slightly opened window, so no problem with direct weather. I was thinking of building an insulated box on wheels that could two of the generators could fit in (It is the type that can be ganged with a second unit to double output) and run it in there when needed. Figured if I lined the box with metal and provided metal exhaust extensions and adequate ventilation it would work well. My plan calls for the side of the box to fold down for easy access.

But in an emergency situation something constructed out of plywood, tarps & cinder blocks strategically placed could work to keep weather off a portable. Last storm in my neighborhood I saw one house where they had the generator up on the utility pole with the line strung to the house. Another house had their portable just chained to the utility pole. In neither case was it protected from the elements.

 

[XMS]

You need power?

Cover it. Hurricane Isabelle left my house without power for 12+ days. I had no generator. I lost more than $1000 worth of food, but was single so whatever.

Years later, my severely premature son came home from more than two months in the newborn ICU (under two pounds, glass box, fed by IV, assisted breathing, the whole works) with a 24/7 heart/lung monitor. He had a little habit where he would stop breathing for fun, a few times a day. The battery pack would last twelve hours. We had a hurricane scheduled four days hence.

We lost power for five days. I had an older Generac, but also bought a tiny Yamaha Inverter made for sensitive equipment right before the storm hit - the firm in California shipped it to me priority (meaning they dumped another customer) because of the heart/lung monitor. We did fine, even after five days of no power.

You need to protect your generator at least as well as the things it protects. You need to look at that dumb machine the same way you look at your food, your well water, or your kid attached to a heart/lung monitor. Even if it's just freezing that hog you cut up last year...if you want to take care of your life, you gotta take care of "Genny". I now got three generators and do twice annual "drills" where I run through a complete power outage and set them all up (even though I only need one).

'nuff said.


OK, I lied. Got more to say: my son is now three and freaking awesome. Many thanks to the excellent people at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) in Annapolis for giving him life - literally. They save more lives in a day than they can count, and wash it down with caffeine like it doesn't matter. It does, and so do they. Also, don't put the genny in an enclosed space, or the build-up of Carbon Monoxide will be enough for you to need good people like those at AAMC.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Mine stays under the back porch in the dry...
Pretty convenient since the main service to the house is located beside the basement door which is under my back porch...
It would be better to keep it in the dry but if push comes to shove running it in the rain should work...
What about a pop up to put it under?
Those can be had for $50 or so...

 

[bcp]

We finally had to build a small roofed 2-wall enclosure about 50 feet from the house. At any other covered space near the house, it would set off the inside CO alarms after a while. Wind direction here is very erratic.

Bruce

 

[Locoweed]

If you need to run it for a extended period (days) you may need to change the oil. Read the manual on how many hours before a oil change.

 

[dave1949]

My Honda generator doesn't like getting wet, the engine will miss.

In rain or snow enough to matter, I run it inside the detached garage about 1' inside the man door and the exhaust aimed out the door. I've considered building a generator shed but it doesn't seem worth it for the number of uses and needing to clear snow around it.

Another option would be a folding three-sided shelter with a removable top. Something light to handle and easy to store.

 

[MikePA]

Our Honda generator sits on an open(3 sides) front porch, so there's a roof over the generator, and rain/snow cannot fall directly on the generator. However, rain/snow can be blown on top (where the gas tank is) of the generator. I created a U shaped surround out of louvered shutters which both 'hides' the generator as well as protects the sides, but can be slid away for service and easier fueling. The louvers allow air to reach the generator and the exhaust to vent. The generator ran for almost 4 straight days after we lost power due to the ice storm early this year. The generator is connected to our breaker box via an automatic transfer switch. It will run 12 - 14 hours on 5 gallons of gas.

 

[Garandman]

Do you cover yours? Just let it run in the rain? Or?

We use a large plastic bin with the sides cut out. We have a raised platform to keep it off the ground.

Some people have modified dog houses.