Buying Advice What is the best generator for our needs?

[BobRip]

I wanted to make a point about the need for water. The main thing I got the generator for is running the well. Everything else was secondary. Life is impossible without it and if you have to get it other ways than out of the faucet it takes a lot of work to handle, even if it is available. Flushing the toilets is vital. For me it would be a mistake to buy a generator that could not run the well. There have been many options proposed here and they are certainly viable. But they involve some cost. I like the backup manual pump, but it is very expensive too. The tanks take up space, bottled water can go bad, etc.
When the local cities lost power to water pumps, they put that on a high priority. Anyway, it would be a shame to buy a small generator and during the next outage wish you had gotten the one big enough to run the well.
My secondary priorities are as follows:
Septic tank pump - you do not want this stuff backing up into your house
Sump pump - you need it most during and after a storm
Refrigeration - you need food and you can pay for the generator from food saved in a couple of outages.
Radio/TV - you will want to know what is going on during any crisis. These are pretty low power items, but you might consider a TV Antenna to backup cable since it will probably not work. A satellite dish can easily run on your generator.
Lights - These are lower priority than you think since long running flashlights can give pretty good light and are needed anyway for times when the generator is not running. You should be able to power some of course since lights and particularly CFLs are very low power.
Cooking - Use your microwave, electric skillet, and grill. Keep an extra propane tank always full or plenty of charcoal.
Other stuff - the longer the power is out the more stuff you will want to run. After a couple of days the hot water heater will be cold and a well water shower or bath does not work for me.

We seem to loose power just prior to big events. Both daughters weddings with a house full of people. We were very glad to have the generators.

Just my opinions and some things to consider. Considering my other misleading comments on this thread, my opinion here is probably not worth much. Good luck with whatever decision you make.

 

[Carl_NH]

Bobrip,

All good points you make and we in the same boat - well pump, sump pump, fridge, and furnace/hot water (off furnace) were the priorities. Lights, and TV are nice to have. We have propane stove.

In 2006 we lost power for 4 days and food spoiled and then in 2008 again, but wife put us on a list for a generator at HD that day and that night they came in so didnt really have a "choice of KW" but did get a 5700/7125 watt with a Yamaha 360 motor that I rigged up to run by wiring into the breakers.. That worked - even the well pump too 1.5HP but I turned that breaker on "as needed" as we have 28 Gal drawdown reserve.

I then put in the outside outlet and backfed the panel and did a lockout device so its one connection now. This year I decided to be proactive and buy a bigger unit finally with electric start -7000W running capable of 30 amps 240V running current that will handle the well pump and other circuits at the same time and so my wife could hookup and run in case I was away.

I sold my old generator to the neighbor and wired that this weekend with a panel disconnect so he is all set now too. He was the only guy in the neighborhood without one..

 

[jenkinsph]

I wanted to make a point about the need for water. The main thing I got the generator for is running the well. Everything else was secondary. Life is impossible without it and if you have to get it other ways than out of the faucet it takes a lot of work to handle, even if it is available. Flushing the toilets is vital. For me it would be a mistake to buy a generator that could not run the well. There have been many options proposed here and they are certainly viable. But they involve some cost. I like the backup manual pump, but it is very expensive too. The tanks take up space, bottled water can go bad, etc.
When the local cities lost power to water pumps, they put that on a high priority. Anyway, it would be a shame to buy a small generator and during the next outage wish you had gotten the one big enough to run the well.
My secondary priorities are as follows:
Septic tank pump - you do not want this stuff backing up into your house
Sump pump - you need it most during and after a storm
Refrigeration - you need food and you can pay for the generator from food saved in a couple of outages.
Radio/TV - you will want to know what is going on during any crisis. These are pretty low power items, but you might consider a TV Antenna to backup cable since it will probably not work. A satellite dish can easily run on your generator.
Lights - These are lower priority than you think since long running flashlights can give pretty good light and are needed anyway for times when the generator is not running. You should be able to power some of course since lights and particularly CFLs are very low power.
Cooking - Use your microwave, electric skillet, and grill. Keep an extra propane tank always full or plenty of charcoal.
Other stuff - the longer the power is out the more stuff you will want to run. After a couple of days the hot water heater will be cold and a well water shower or bath does not work for me.

We seem to loose power just prior to big events. Both daughters weddings with a house full of people. We were very glad to have the generators.

Just my opinions and some things to consider. Considering my other misleading comments on this thread, my opinion here is probably not worth much. Good luck with whatever decision you make.

We all like to live in total comfort and I have four gensets of my own so feel I am well covered. But it strikes me that you need to be able to get by with less on the rare occasions that electric, gas or water is unavailable. I have been through a few hurricanes and the lack of power after a few days can be unpleasant. Dumping a gallon or two of water into the toilet tank is too much trouble you think? Then you are too soft and spoiled like so many Americans.

 

[meburdick]

We all like to live in total comfort and I have four gensets of my own so feel I am well covered. But it strikes me that you need to be able to get by with less on the rare occasions that electric, gas or water is unavailable. I have been through a few hurricanes and the lack of power after a few days can be unpleasant. Dumping a gallon or two of water into the toilet tank is too much trouble you think? Then you are too soft and spoiled like so many Americans.

In your scenario, where does the "couple gallons of water" come from to dump in the toilet if you have well water (which BobRip does)?

 

[jenkinsph]

In your scenario, where does the "couple gallons of water" come from to dump in the toilet if you have well water (which BobRip does)?

Read my prior posts where I suggested to have some water stored on hand. I suggested this stored water for flushing toilets and also distilled water for drinking. I should add that I personally have a deep well pump too. Recognize the OP has a limited budged.

 

[dave1949]

Part of BobRip's idea is that buying a generator that isn't big enough for a well pump when relying on a well, has an economic side too. Containers for storing water aren't free, and buying drinking water is more expensive than generator fuel in many cases. Chemical treatments for long-term storage, a suitable place to put the containers and so forth are a cost too. A generator for the well is capable of supplying endless clean water. What looks like a big savings may not be.

 

[BobRip]

Just to build on this case, when the power fails we don't just drop to caveman level, we drop below that level. Caveman was very adept at living in his situation, we are not.

That being said, I do not power my AC or central heat. Also since I need (or thought I needed) an 8kw generator to run my well, everything else is relatively small. Since I have a solar hot water heater, as long as the sun shines,I have hotwater for a 40 watt load. I keep wanting to get that well pump that will run on a small generator, but just cannot justify it.

I could get water out of my neighbors pool or maybe the creek for toilet flushing.

 

[BobRip]

Read my prior posts where I suggested to have some water stored on hand. I suggested this stored water for flushing toilets and also distilled water for drinking. I should add that I personally have a deep well pump too. Recognize the OP has a limited budged.

These are valid options, certainly. I think all of these are good to know about. The pump can fail from other things than not having electricity. Everybody should keep some bottled water handy. I keep fittings and hose so I can link my water system to my neighbors. The only time we needed to do this, it was below freezing and the neighbors hose was frozen, but we could have done it. Know your options and be prepared with some of them.

 

[Ductape]

I then put in the outside outlet and backfed the panel and did a lockout device so its one connection now. This year I decided to be proactive and buy a bigger unit finally with electric start -7000W running capable of 30 amps 240V running current that will handle the well pump and other circuits at the same time and so my wife could hookup and run in case I was away.

Just curious what make generator your new one is? Sorry if you mentioned it and I missed it.

 

[crk133]

people have covered just about everything so I figured I woudl just give you a link to what I bought. Robust reliable, clean power, and well built. good luck

Generac 5747 Portable Generator - XG8000E - 8000 Watt Electric Start Portable Generator