Stand by generators

[grm61]

What people need to realize is that the answer to this question isn't as simple as calculating your load. How much work are you willing to do? A PTO generator is a good option if you have a tractor that isn't needed or can live without power while the tractor is in use for other tasks. Then that brings up the next question. Are you willing to spend a few minutes to turn on and off breakers. If you've been using your tractor bringing feed to the livestock and the power has been off for a few hours once you connect the gen back up it's very possible all the fridges and freezers will come on at once, possibly the furnace, the well pump and what ever else was running when you shut off the power. That will take quite a bit of power. However if you turn off all the breakers and one by one turn them on and let each device do what it needs to and then shut off you can get by with a smaller (cheaper) generator.

As for the type of fuel, each has it's advantages and disadvantages. Diesel is usually easy to get for most, even during power outages. It can be stored for long periods of time with additives. Stand alone diesels are expensive (because of the engine). Propane stores nicely. But you need a large tank. Getting your tank filled during an emergency can be hard. For me it's impossible during an ice storm. Even during the winter it requires me to put down a thick layer of sand on the road for the truck. Natural gas is nice if you have it going to your house. If the gas company shuts it off you are dead in the water. Shouldn't be an issue with a snow storm but in an earthquake lines could be broken. Gasoline is cheap and portable. Usually most people have 5 gallons around the house for things like lawn mowers and snow blowers. Gas can get hard to find in large power outages since more people want gas vs diesel. The downside is they don't usually have as long of a life as a diesel and they can be noisy.

For me a diesel stand alone makes the most sense with a tractor pto not far behind. Right now my Honda 4200 is getting me by but it's a little small for my needs. What ever replaces it will need to be something that will last 20 years+ and will need to be able to start up without any monkeying around. I always have at least 50 gallons of treated diesel around for the tractor vs maybe 10 gallons of gas. The standalone makes more sense for me because most times we loose poer I need the tractor for storm clearing (snow, trees, ice, sanding the drive, etc.) One option I would like would be to get a generator that could be set up for PTO use and later be converted to standalone down the road.

Yep, a guy that had two tractors would have it made with a PTO generator....But Honey, I need another tractor....:laughing:

 

[GManBart]

Natural gas is nice if you have it going to your house. If the gas company shuts it off you are dead in the water. Shouldn't be an issue with a snow storm but in an earthquake lines could be broken.

Many models allow you to switch to propane with nothing more than sliding a lever/tab on the carb, so you wouldn't really be dead in the water, you'd just need to come up with a propane source.

 

[grsthegreat]

Wow 100 ampsfor ur heating coils? Must be 1 heckuva unit. Been in generator business for over 10 years an we sell more 10 to 15 kw units than anythings. A 20 kw unit will power most houses just fine. But as with most generators u have to be smart with ur load. Because with most loads its start up that sucks up the wattage. Except for resistive loads like heaters stoves etc

100 amp, 24kw heat coils are the norm up here in Idaho

 

[southerndeere]

100 amp, 24kw heat coils are the norm up here in Idaho

I guess ur right. Down here an the south we don't need all that. Heck most houses here still use a 200 amp service

 

[Oiltech]

Yep, a guy that had two tractors would have it made with a PTO generator....But Honey, I need another tractor....:laughing:

^^^^^This is the way^^^^^
I own several businesses as well as properties. With an approaching storm I fill up (2) 55 gallon drums and my 200 gallon portable fuel tank with diesel. This is enough fuel to last well over a week and usually within 2-3 days of a hurricane making land fall some fuel stations open up for fuel sales only powered by their own generator. If the storm doesn't hit our area I consume the diesel in two different diesel vehicles and with normal use of tractors & mini ex.

When a hurricane hits our area we can be 1-2 weeks without electricity so having a 22 KW PTO generator powered by one tractor I can bring power where it is needed such as my office/shop facility during the day & home in the afternoon to run all appliances as well as the AC until the morning. We have natural gas available at our home and office but all it takes is for a gas line breakage and we could be without gas for 1-2 weeks so a natural gas engine generator is risky IMHO and I would be one irate individual if I had a whole home generator sit for several years and when I finally need it I wouldn't be able to run it because of no fuel.

My other tractor & mini ex can be used to do any clean up work while the one tractor is busy powering the generator. A couple of other pluses are:
I can bring my generator to any remote location and have plenty of power.
I can bring my 50 amp mig welder anywhere and power it up for any remote welding.
Not having a engine/generator package that costs probably around $10,000 sit for possibly years with no usage.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Gary,

Check the schematic of your water heater. I have a 8000 watt water heater but only the top 4000 watt heater runs until the top of the heater is hot (a.k.a quick recovery element). Once the top is hot, the bottom 4000 watt heater comes on and heats the remainder of the tank. You can also verify this with a volt meter.

I have a 5500 watt continuous generator and can run the water heater with manual load management without disconnecting either element.

Bob

Thanks I will check it out. I was just going by what is on the tag for wattage, don't have a clue as to how it is supposed to work.

 

[crazyal]

Many models allow you to switch to propane with nothing more than sliding a lever/tab on the carb, so you wouldn't really be dead in the water, you'd just need to come up with a propane source.

Are you talking portable or stand alone? I haven't seen any stand alone NG/ Propane generators that are also set up to burn gasoline.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Where did you come up with the 4.8 gal per hour to run a 20kw on propane? Generac owners manual says 1.89 on 1/2 load and 2.90 on full load. Odds of you running full load for any extended time would be unusual. When we're running stand by, we're very conscious of what we are using and pay attention to space loads out or postpone some things to a later time.
Some things have to run, well, heat, fridge, some lights , etc. Odds of them all kicking in at the same time? I'd say remote to never. They all may end up running at the same time, but all starting at the same time. Doubtful. Other than that you will call the shots.

I got my info from the generator spec on Lowes website. I went back and looked it up and the correct figure for the Generac 20kva was 2.14 for 1/2 load and 4.0 for full load. The Kohler powered 20 KW is a bit higher on the fuel consumption and list 2.3 for half load but 8 gal per hour for full load but I think that must be a misprint.
I think your owners manual must be wrong also on full power only burning one gallon more than half power as most specs are only a fraction less than double the 1/2 load consumption

 

[Toyboy]

I got my info from the generator spec on Lowes website. I went back and looked it up and the correct figure for the Generac 20kva was 2.14 for 1/2 load and 4.0 for full load. The Kohler powered 20 KW is a bit higher on the fuel consumption and list 2.3 for half load but 8 gal per hour for full load but I think that must be a misprint.
I think your owners manual must be wrong also on full power only burning one gallon more than half power as most specs are only a fraction less than double the 1/2 load consumption

I'll stick with the gallon per hour that Generac publishes in their Owners manual until I know different. How you will know for sure one way or another, will be a challenge.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I'll stick with the gallon per hour that Generac publishes in their Owners manual until I know different. How you will know for sure one way or another, will be a challenge.

At this point (you already bought it), it makes no difference what the fuel consumption is. You will pay the cost of fuel or you simply don't run it. My 8000 running watt /10,000 surge watt Generac portable claims to run 11 hours @ 50% load on a tank of fuel which lists as 7.5 gallon capacity so 1.46 GPH. I have only ran it a few minutes to check it out. It was hard to start the first time also. I had to remove the air filter and spray gas directly into the carb to get it to fire and run and continue this for a minute or so till it finally primed up and ran on its own. Fuel shut off is a bit confusing also, so had to remove the fuel line to be certain which way was flowing fuel.