Question:
>Seeing as how I’m in the middle of a power outage (Power went out >Tuesday at 6:00pm, the power company says it might be back by Friday >morning) I’ve decided to buy a generator to tide us over in these >times (I just about had to arm wrestle 40 other people for the rental >unit I have now). >Does anybody have any recommendation on brand or size (I’m thinking a >Honda-driven unit in the 7.5KW range). I have a 5KW unit now as a >rental, and it seems to be doing okay, but I’d like to have some room >to spare. Also, what should I expect to spend for something in this
snip … I bought a Generac magaforce 6500 (contractor model) this summer. It started new out of the box on the second pull, and has continued to do so. I ran it to pump out a new well for about 12 hours a day for 4 or 5 days. Seems to be a good piece of equipment. It came complete with really heavy duty wheels, and 3 tine plugs for the 120 and the 240 V outlets. Pumping my 1 hp pump in a 500 ft. well, the 5 gallon tank lasts 12 hours. The cost of oil filters is out of this world, I need to find a automotive equivalent. Generac also makes 8kw and 10kw models. (some of the home base stores stocked the larger models, some did not). They also make an electric start 6500 watt model which sells for about $100 more. They sell here in Seattle at home Base and Home Depot. They also had a Honda Powered Coleman(600 watt), somehow the Coleman generator did not look very substantial.
Response:
>Size is a function of what you want to run during the outage. The >trade off is fuel consumption and cost. It’s impossible to answer >your question without more data. (keep in mind motors require 3-4X >more starting current than running current).
Yes, I did know this. I’ll probably run 2-3 refridgerators, and a few lights, and a few UPS’s for phones, computers, etc. Fuel consumption and cost isn’t as much of an issue. >I agree that Honda powered units are best. Look for brushless design >generators. >You better have a fuel storage strategy and plan several practice >outages during the year. Don’t let the generator sit with old fuel in >it.
I actually intend to build a generator house about 60′-100′ from the house. This will store the gen-set, fuel reserves (outside / separated from the gen-set), and should keep the unit out of the elements. From what I understand from the other neighbors, I shouldn’t have to do too many practice runs as we get about 3 outages a year like this. >An outage in the summer is one thing, but in a subzero winter ice >storm it’s a whole direrent story. Planning is everything!!!! >I speak from experience. I had everything planned and had fresh fuel >and a procedure for safely connecting the unit. What I failed to >anticipate was getting the unit out of my barn with the sliding door >encased in ice. It barely fit thru the walk in door. I also failed >to have a battery powered lantern. Fueling up the unit requires two >hands – I spilled fuel.
As I said above, I don’t plan to have to move the unit once I have it in place. Also, depending on the motor size, I may retro-fit an electric start kit to make starting easier. Thanx… — Return address munged to prevent SPAM… http://www.geocities.com/researchtriangle/3300
Response:
>>Size is a function of what you want to run during the outage. The >trade off is fuel consumption and cost. It’s impossible to answer >your question without more data. (keep in mind motors require 3-4X >more starting current than running current). >Yes, I did know this. I’ll probably run 2-3 refridgerators, and a few >lights, and a few UPS’s for phones, computers, etc. Fuel consumption >and cost isn’t as much of an issue.
Refrigerators consume approx 400 watts running but 1200 watts starting. If 3 of them all want to start at the same time (liklely scenario in an outage) than your up to 3600 watts just for the refrigerators. Are you prepared to sequence their start up manually? Lights and UPS’s don’t consume too much. You should be OK at 5000 watts. 7500 might be overkill but would get you capacity for future use. >I agree that Honda powered units are best. Look for brushless design >generators. >You better have a fuel storage strategy and plan several practice >outages during the year. Don’t let the generator sit with old fuel in >it. >I actually intend to build a generator house about 60′-100′ from the >house. This will store the gen-set, fuel reserves (outside / >separated from the gen-set), and should keep the unit out of the >elements. From what I understand from the other neighbors, I >shouldn’t have to do too many practice runs as we get about 3 outages >a year like this.
Good idea but you will need to make sure the house has provisions for preventing heat build up and removing exhaust fumes. If you plan to be in the shack while the generator is running have a CO detector installed. Fuel starts to go stale very quickly. Stabil can extend fuel life to a year or maybe two. You might be better off going with a propane powered unit. Especially if your home’s heating system uses propane. That would solve a major storage problem with gas. >An outage in the summer is one thing, but in a subzero winter ice >storm it’s a whole direrent story. Planning is everything!!!! >I speak from experience. I had everything planned and had fresh fuel >and a procedure for safely connecting the unit. What I failed to >anticipate was getting the unit out of my barn with the sliding door >encased in ice. It barely fit thru the walk in door. I also failed >to have a battery powered lantern. Fueling up the unit requires two >hands – I spilled fuel. >As I said above, I don’t plan to have to move the unit once I have it >in place. Also, depending on the motor size, I may retro-fit an >electric start kit to make starting easier.
Don’t forget that batteries tend to loose their charge over time. Better have a trickle charger in your design. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Thanx…
Response:
Size is a function of what you want to run during the outage. The trade off is fuel consumption and cost. It’s impossible to answer your question without more data. (keep in mind motors require 3-4X more starting current than running current). I agree that Honda powered units are best. Look for brushless design generators. You better have a fuel storage strategy and plan several practice outages during the year. Don’t let the generator sit with old fuel in it. An outage in the summer is one thing, but in a subzero winter ice storm it’s a whole direrent story. Planning is everything!!!! I speak from experience. I had everything planned and had fresh fuel and a procedure for safely connecting the unit. What I failed to anticipate was getting the unit out of my barn with the sliding door encased in ice. It barely fit thru the walk in door. I also failed to have a battery powered lantern. Fueling up the unit requires two hands – I spilled fuel. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Seeing as how I’m in the middle of a power outage (Power went out >Tuesday at 6:00pm, the power company says it might be back by Friday >morning) I’ve decided to buy a generator to tide us over in these >times (I just about had to arm wrestle 40 other people for the rental >unit I have now). >Does anybody have any recommendation on brand or size (I’m thinking a >Honda-driven unit in the 7.5KW range). I have a 5KW unit now as a >rental, and it seems to be doing okay, but I’d like to have some room >to spare. Also, what should I expect to spend for something in this >range. I’m not looking for auto-start, or other fancy ‘extras’ I have >several APC UPS’s that will handle smoothing for the more sensitive >devices. I’m also more than aware of code and proceedures for >installing a proper cut-over switch, so we don’t need to start THAT >thread again 
. >Thanx in advance for any ideas or experiences…
Response:
Seeing as how I’m in the middle of a power outage (Power went out Tuesday at 6:00pm, the power company says it might be back by Friday morning) I’ve decided to buy a generator to tide us over in these times (I just about had to arm wrestle 40 other people for the rental unit I have now). Does anybody have any recommendation on brand or size (I’m thinking a Honda-driven unit in the 7.5KW range). I have a 5KW unit now as a rental, and it seems to be doing okay, but I’d like to have some room to spare. Also, what should I expect to spend for something in this range. I’m not looking for auto-start, or other fancy ‘extras’ I have several APC UPS’s that will handle smoothing for the more sensitive devices. I’m also more than aware of code and proceedures for installing a proper cut-over switch, so we don’t need to start THAT thread again . Thanx in advance for any ideas or experiences… — Return address munged to prevent SPAM… http://www.geocities.com/researchtriangle/3300
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