Backup Generators

Does anyone have any experience with this generator?

http://heartlandamerica.com/browse/item.asp?product=2800-watt-gas-generator&PIN=44006&GUID=016914FD-6E6B-4595-9332-74B00E954589&DL=IVU1

Seems like we lose our power for several days once every 5 years or so. It gets pretty bleak being cold and in the dark for more than a day. I'd just like to run the fridge, furnace and a few lights.

I figured for $250 it would be a worthwhile investment.

Edit: Looks like it's sold/marketed by Sunpentown and "manufactured by subcontracted companies in Taiwan."
http://www.sunpentown.com/tg286poge.html

Paul

2800 watts may be pushing it for the fridge and the furnace depending on how many amps each draws. The way to tell is amps x volts = watts. For example if your furnace operates on 120 volts and draws 15 amps it will require 1800 watts.

The price is not bad but just watch on those bargain units. If you rarely use it it will probably be fine. Look on craigslist or other classifieds. You can pick up a used one pretty cheap if you look. For used if you can get a generator at $1 per 10 watts you are doing good. I.E. 3000 watts for $300. If you can find one with a briggs and stratton or even a honda engine that would be best.

Thanks Jesse - I found a website that helps size generators. Looks like a fridge and furnace alone would have a running power requirement of ~1400 W and a startup requirment of 4300 W. Clearly wouldn't want both trying to start at the same time.

if you hook up a backup generator remember to pull your main breaker before you fire it up. If you backfeed all the way to the pole transformer you may be putting as much as 7200 volts on a line the power company thinks is dead. This really pisses off the pole climbers, they just don't see the humor in grabbing a live line.

Obviously the generator cannot be run indoors. I suggest making some sort of pad outside the house where you can easily put it out when the need arises. I also suggest making that pad as a detachment from the house itself. In other words don't put the gen on a porch. They all vibrate to some extent and the really bad ones are very irritating to hear and have bouncing around just outside your living room.

Complete dittos on the feed back issue but you can work around that by using a short heavy gauge drop cord to bring the service inside by way of a carefully closed door and then attaching appropriately gauged drop cords to a multi head and then to your fridge, furnace and some simple lighting. If you connect your computer or other sensitive device be sure and run the service through a good surge protector/UPS first.

We do it all the time in the winter up here in the mountains.

You might want to test run any generator before buying it to see just how badly it does the vibration thing and how quiet the exhaust is.

Jack

Thanks for your response Jack.

Last winter there was a pretty widespread power outage in our area that lasted 0 to 7 days depending on where you lived. There were a number of tragic news stories of people dying of CO poisoning. Many were non-english speaking imigrants who were likely accustom to living in less airtight dwellings and were burning charcol, gas grills, etc in their apartments.

Don't forget that you're only planning to use this in emergencies, so you don't NEED to run the furnace AND fridge at the same time. You could run the fridge for an hour, then the furnace for an hour, etc. And of course, if it's cold enough to need the furnace, you could always put your food outside to keep it cold!

And, of course, don't forget to start the generator every few months to keep it read as well as a supply of fresh fuel.

Just make sure the generator is big enough to power your computer so that you can spend your time waiting on the Forum!

Finally, don't overlook a deal on a used one!

http://burlington.craigslist.org/tls/441529973.html

Don't buy any generator before you hear one just like it run. Some of the cheaper ones scream like a banshee from the generator no matter how quiet the engine is.

if you are all by yourself in the outback, make sure you have a quality one....also if you live near a few...maybe pass the hat and set up your own lights out network that will support all the houses that chip in and then the home is still warm..

I currently have a 6250 watt model, and it powers the fridge,the water heater, the stove(if i turn off the water heater) all teh lights and fans in the house , tv and a window ac unit, its a bit noisy, but it is outside the side of the house when it is running so it doesnt bother anyone, Its the best 500 bucks i ever spent, not gonna go for weeks without power again, since all those hurricanes hit here in florida, i think just about everyone has one!
The only issue i have had with it was finding Gas! when power outages are widespread, the gas stations have no power either, but i think like i said even they have gennys now!

I'd follow JDWs advice. Buy a used Honda before you buy a no-name unit. Who knows if it will actually start after sitting in staorage for months/years without being used. I've successfully used a Honda for years and years and it ALWAYS started by the 3rd pull no matter how old the gas was or how long it had been out of service. I also used a 2500 Honda to power my house while we were cut off from a storm for 5 days. It did everything we needed.

I'm with Jeff on this one! When I worked in coal exploration, we needed a generator to power the electronics and winch. Typically, we would buy Honda generators - they would always start first or second pull, and we abused them like crazy (what is oil?). After about five years of abuse, running three to four hours/day five days/week, they would quit! We would take them in to the dealer, he would service the engine (typically a new crank), and they would be good for another two or three years!

The boss once went on an "economy" binge and bought two B&S generators - they lasted about a month and were VERY noisy.

The Hondas were smooth, quiet, and the AC "waveform" was much cleaner than the B&S - important for some electronics!

The problem with most gen sets sold at your local home depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight etc..... is that they use "high stress" engines.... ie they have to be run at MAX RPM to make power.... so they tend to (as JDW mentioned) scream like banshee's. They are also NOT designed for continous duty cycles. They are designed to only run for an hour or so on an occational basis, and NEVER with max-load. I have seen too many people burn out their Home Depot generators trying to run them continously during major power outages.......

Personally, for a good back-up generator I would reccomend a good mil-surplus gen-set. I have one (a PE-103) that was built in 1943, is 120v/15amp AC and 12v/100amp DC that I picked up for $35 bucks at an auction that I have taken out on many search/rescue ops and run continously for several days at a time... it uses a 6hp wisconson that runs quiet enough to hold normal conversation next to it.
I also have a 10KW gen that is also 120AC/12DC that I picked up for less than a hundred bucks at a sale..... it uses a 10hp Briggs-Stratton ZZ eng that also runs quiet (also WW2 surplus).

The reason the Wisconson and Briggs eng's run quiet is that they are low stress gen's...ie they make their power with the eng running just off idle at low RPM's.... Therefor they can be run in continous duty cycle for days on end without problems.

So remember... when buying a back-up generator HIGH RPM equals High Strees and SHORT duty cycle......... and LOW RPM equals Low Stress and LONG duty cycle..


Another great way to get a nice low RPM/STRESS gen set is is see look around for older or wrecked motorhomes..... as they tend to have great servicable 4-10KW Onan generators..that are Low RPM and Lond duty cycle..... and also are remote battery start.
I do alot of Amature Radio Emergancy service... so I have to have long duty cycle gen-sets....

Michael
K7SSC

This is the one we use.... Not too big or pricy..but big enough to run most every critical system in the house at the same time(stagered starts)..2 frezzers..1 fridge..TV..lights..two small window AC units if needed...fans..microwave..computer....... Less central air and electric stove or elec water heater..
http://www.buypowermate.com/product.asp?product=PM0435003&section=GEN

Something like this would be ideal:
http://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/tls/442776029.html

Wow - Thanks for all the input everyone. I think my best bet it to just go over to Michael's place next time the power goes out ;)

Jeff - I called on the craigslist ad. It's ony 5 or so miles from me. Hopefully I'll be able to get over to see it before it's gone.

Paul

Paul - I would suggest that you seriously consider installing a transfer switch with your generator. It is much safer way to run the generator without any fear of back-feeding onto the power grid. It is also a lot more convenient than running multiple extension cords. I have a 6200 W unit that will run fridge, furnace and lights with no problem.

As I understand it you can not run a computer or newer appliance or the new tvs on a regular generator. You need 'clean' power because of the new electronice. We use the honda eu 2000. The power goes out thru an inverter.(895.00) It is whisper quite and runs for hours on 1 1/2 gallons. Like Derek said, the frig and furnace dont need to be on all the time.
Paul