Generator Open discussion

[nfernaays]

Finally looking to pull the trigger on a new genny, i am looking at this one:

Champion Power Equipment 100296 7500 Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generator with Electric Start at Tractor Supply Co.

In a blackout situation i need to run 2 fridges, 2 freezers, 2 sump pumps, my comms, and my water pump...at a minimum.

What does everyone else use?

Would love to hear suggestions and some insights in to options when purchasing.

 

[turbobike]

We've run this for a couple years at camp (4 campers), no issues what so ever...only $599..

8750 Max Starting/7000 Running Watts, 13 HP (420cc) Generator EPA III with GFCI Outlet Protection

 

[BerettaGuy]

I am doing the same thing. except I am starting from scratch. I have been doing a lot of research on You Tube. Step one to be completed soon, is to wire up a hook up to me service box and set up a second box with a interlock... I also have two and 1/2 Refrigerators a freezer. When I added up my surge watts I came upwith 6600. Running Watts 4950 (includes all the other circuits too) I am not a licensed electrician nor do I play one on the interweb. My next question standard generator or inverter. I ma leaning to inverter cause you can daisy chain them. What I don'[t know is if that incerases the wattage or not.

 

[NY Leatherneck]

Years ago I picked up one from these guys. At the time great prices and free shipping. Just be sure you have enough startup power/running power to cover your big items. Mine can power my whole house less the A.C. and the oven but don't need that in an emergency.

Portable Generators

 

[nfernaays]

Years ago I picked up one from these guys. At the time great prices and free shipping. Just be sure you have enough startup power/running power to cover your big items. Mine can power my whole house less the A.C. and the oven but don't need that in an emergency.

Portable Generators

Nice site, beats me checking Home depot and then going back to tractor supply, etc!

 

[BerettaGuy]

After watching h8urs of yt learning about solar hookups and the like, I found this gem. This guy doesn't spend fifteen minutes babbling about crapola, he goes right to the point about installling the hook up to the house here is a question, If I hook up two inverter types rated at lets say 3000/3500 does my power doule to 6000/7000?

 

[NY Leatherneck]

After watching h8urs of yt learning about solar hookups and the like, I found this gem. This guy doesn't spend fifteen minutes babbling about crapola, he goes right to the point about installling the hook up to the house here is a question, If I hook up two inverter types rated at lets say 3000/3500 does my power doule to 6000/7000?

Not a generator/electrician but you will be drawing max power out of both if you need 6000+ which is not good. Also how would you ensure that both are feeding equally?

 

[ADK]

I do not have a clue as to what you power needs are with what you posted. Do you require 120 volt or 240 volt system. You mention a water pump
and that could use either. You mention Communication also which could be anything from a CB radio to a Ham rig with a 1500 watt Amp. You need to come up with your total wattage needs first. The system you are looking at is only 120 volt and uses propane or NG. If you have a NG supply to your home do not depend on it when things go south. That means you need propane backup tanks on hand.

 

[Bananabandit]

Why is he sitting on the ground?

 

[dsdmmat]

I have a blackmax 7000 watt / 8000 surge generator. Paid 1k for it about 12 years ago. It runs the whole house minus the dryer

 

[BerettaGuy]

Why is he sitting on the ground?

because he can maybe?

 

[enigma]

Here is a question, If I hook up two inverter types rated at lets say 3000/3500 does my power double to 6000/7000?

Inverters need to be built for that purpose - they would have feedback circuits so they could sync with the opposing inverter. Rotary generators can be sync'd manually if you have frequency control (which is usually speed adjustment). You put a 240v lightbulb between the generators (120v from each), and tune the speed of one of the generators until the bulb goes out and stays out. That means the frequency of the output from each generator is in sync with the other generator. It's like putting two hot wires from the same phase of you breaker panel across the bulb. It doesn't light because the phases are the same and there's no neutral return. If you put the bulb across the phases in your panel it would light, the same way it does if your generators are out of sync.

If you want to have two inverter types to cover the load, you could just split them. 1/2 to one gen, 1/2 to the other. Unless you were looking for combined power for a pump or something...

 

[Eddie Gunks]

Buy used.

Craigslist.

I got an unused homelight 5k genny for $200.

I also got a craftsman 7500 electroc start for $400.

(I have two services to power. So two units)

I was just looking for one for my mom, i found several nearly new 5-7 k units with electric start for $5oo ish.

The ultimate would be a totally automatic propane 11k unit with auto switchover etc etc. i got a quote soup to nuts for $5500

I would love the 11k setup......but i love the additional $5000 more!

What is your price range?

 

[Calculon]

I had an electrician install an interlock a few years ago. Accomplishes a couple things:
1) prevents you from sending power back down the line by mistake. You have to shut off the mains to power your panel from the genny.
2) generator powers your panel allowing you to switch on only the breakers you need. You do not need to install a subpanel for key emergency circuits. You can alternate sending power to your fridge, pump, boiler/furnace, etc by flipping breakers on and off provided the genny has enough start up for your hungriest device.

 

[Acer-m14]

7000 watts .. ok , now we know who is running grow ops LOL ...

 

[Acer-m14]

my home is fed with 220 to the main , the main breaker is 50 amps .. at max draw would be 11,000 watts to pop it .. never have tripped the main ..
its very rare for the 1 freezer and frig and furnace, washer n dryer, hot water tank (3000 watts) to all kick on at the same time .. think about it .. ... just saying .. how much is the 7k gen .. are 2 4k's cheeper .. isolate the load ...

 

[fnfalguy]

I have a couple at the house. "Portable" one is a generac around 8k. Also, just to ensure our neighborhood never loses power again we put in a 15k nat gas with auto transfer switch. Since we dropped those $ we haven't lost power. Figures.

 

[nfernaays]

I do not have a clue as to what you power needs are with what you posted. Do you require 120 volt or 240 volt system. You mention a water pump
and that could use either. You mention Communication also which could be anything from a CB radio to a Ham rig with a 1500 watt Amp. You need to come up with your total wattage needs first. The system you are looking at is only 120 volt and uses propane or NG. If you have a NG supply to your home do not depend on it when things go south. That means you need propane backup tanks on hand.

The generator i list is both Gas and LP, and it is both 120 and 240...

 

[masterswimmer]

I have a couple at the house. "Portable" one is a generac around 8k. Also, just to ensure our neighborhood never loses power again we put in a 15k nat gas with auto transfer switch. Since we dropped those $ we haven't lost power. Figures.

Please buy a snowblower.

 

[speedkills27]

Iv chosen to go inverter (as soon as I get money together) a couple reasons for this
1. we've decided during power outage we only really need the furnace, the fridge, and a light or two
2. They're light, the ones Im looking at are around 50lbs give or take which makes them easily mobile for taking with us in the camper or bugging out
3. they're quiet, similar reasons as above, we can take it camping and also it wont draw as much attention over a prolonged outage as a beast 8000watt unit running in the backyard and my house lit up like a Christmas tree.
4. very fuel efficient, the Honda unit runs 8 hrs on 1 gal of gas

 

[ADK]

The generator i list is both Gas and LP, and it is both 120 and 240...

I checked the specifications link off your link and it showed 120 volt and NG and Propane. The manufacture shows 120 and 240 volt and Gasoline, Propane as you said. Perhaps TSC should get their stuff right.

 

[stokes]

I bought the same Champion unit in the OP on the recommendation of my friend who is an electrician and the guy that wired my hook up for the generator.Real simple hook up,in my present box,didnt need to add a box.Just shut the main breaker,start the gen and turn on the breaker coming in from the gen.I run 2 refridge,electric oven,well pump and all the normal lighting etc.Told me it was more than enough.I like the propane option,no need to worry about old gas,clogged carb jets.

 

[Deplorable Me]

Refrigerators and freezers. Keep in mind they do not operate continuously. If you leave them unopened you should be able to go 72 hours minimum with no loss of product w/no electricity. Throw a sleeping bag, cardboard and a blanket to further insulate the thermal mass and if the freezer is full you should be able to go a week without electric.

7.5kW is a lot of available power, you should be able to run two refrigerators on each 20 amp circuit continuously. If you trip breakers as other equipment turns on, you just duty cycle, load shed or unplug refrigerators that are cooled down. You could leave them unopened and unplugged overnight if needed. Just don't open them.

During the October surprise storm in Buffalo several years ago we ran 6 hours on/6 hours off. You burn that much less fuel. At night nobody knows you have a generator and you can get some sleep not worrying about fire-theft. The sump pump can fill to the brim and then you can fire up the generator.

For your communication gear look at the actual power required. In my house I can use an inverter and a 12v car battery when the power is off. Charge the battery when the generator is running. (Watch for hydrogen gas.)

I do appreciate full power but can really stretch the fuel if I'm not running the generator. I really hate gas lines in the middle of a power outage. People in panic mode behave badly.

My wood burner requires zero electric, some people have pellet stoves those could probably be run off an inverter too (fuel pellet auger). Fans and pumps tend to use a lot of electric if run 24/7.

We now have strategic LED lighting in the house, that really cut the electric load.

 

[Dantheman]

I bought a Winco 9000 Tri-fuel Generator off of Craigslist the year after Sandy. It was brand new in the crate, never used. The woman had it since the Millennium scare in the year 2000. Sat in the woman's garage through two long power outages while her husband was away. She sold it to me for $1000.

Runs everything in the house except the central air.

Dan

 

[Doc8404]

Buy used.

Craigslist.

I got an unused homelight 5k genny for $200.

I also got a craftsman 7500 electroc start for $400.

(I have two services to power. So two units)

I was just looking for one for my mom, i found several nearly new 5-7 k units with electric start for $5oo ish.

The ultimate would be a totally automatic propane 11k unit with auto switchover etc etc. i got a quote soup to nuts for $5500

I would love the 11k setup......but i love the additional $5000 more!

What is your price range?

Lowes does them for approximately $6k.
16kw full house transfer switch

 

[BerettaGuy]

I had an electrician install an interlock a few years ago. Accomplishes a couple things:
1) prevents you from sending power back down the line by mistake. You have to shut off the mains to power your panel from the genny.
2) generator powers your panel allowing you to switch on only the breakers you need. You do not need to install a subpanel for key emergency circuits. You can alternate sending power to your fridge, pump, boiler/furnace, etc by flipping breakers on and off provided the genny has enough start up for your hungriest device.

That is the way I am going to have to go due to space limitations.
For any possible future upgrade to whole house I want to wire from outside my garage to the breaker box and have it available for 50 amp. There is 12-2 wire there now but i think that is for 30 amps.

Does anybody know the gauge wire I should use, I think it is 2 ga,

50 amp plug to ____ ga wire to a 50 amp breaker in current box, covered by an interlock made for the specific box that I currently have.
This way I can use a smaller generator or a big momma generator.
It also allows the next owner of the house to upgrade to whole house automatic stand by if they want.
Any knowledgeable members see any flaws in this plan?

 

[Blimey]

After this march I bought a duromax xp4850EH. It's a mass produced chinese brand, but I got it from ebay for $299 shipped new (yes $299 shipped). I like this one in particular because it can run on propane, electric start, 240 V output. That means no worrying about a dirty carb and more to the point I can store propane indefinitely with no cycling necessary. Shelf life is infinity as far as I know unless it leaks out of a canister. Otherwise you need to cycle your gas supply, even if you use stabil.

I have a couple of powerful car inverters (both south of $100) as backup and I can vouch for the fact they are powerful enough to run a single fridge or deep freeze. I used them in march on my car idling and they saved me losing a ton of meat in the deep freeze. If generator doesn't fail, though, I won't need them, but they are not worth it really to sell at this point so they are ready to go as needed.

I may get an interlok one of these days because running wires throughout the house is a pain in the ass really and tapping right into the house means you can use whatever.

 

[Eddie Gunks]

After this march I bought a duromax xp4850EH. It's a mass produced chinese brand, but I got it from ebay for $299 shipped new (yes $299 shipped). I like this one in particular because it can run on propane, electric start, 240 V output.
.

Where? I am seeing them for $600.

Thx

 

[Eddie Gunks]

Lowes does them for approximately $6k.
16kw full house transfer switch

Yeah. My guy owns his business. I would not trust lowes people for anything except refrigerator installs. But that is just me.

Extra watts dont add up too fast. He told me the 11k was 5500 installed. The 9k unit was only $300 less. I bet the same thing happens hoing larger too.

 

[Blimey]

Where? I am seeing them for $600.

Thx

I see one for $480 now, but yes "factory authorized outlet", which is where I got mine from had them at $299. I am guessing the price is high again because harvey. I got mine in march after our local outage, but how many people in the US buy a generator in march? I am sure the price will come down again. At $600 I'd probably rather a brand I can see and feel from home depot or lowes, but mine at $299 I feel was an incredible buy. Comes with wheel kit, too!