Small generator/inverter questions
- Thread starter FLA45fan
- Start date
fnfalguy
.308 Win
I love our eu2000. Enough power to run a frig to keep stuff cold and sips gas. Unbelievably quiet. Never tried to run AC with it so I cannot answer that. Have a 10k gasoline and 14k nat gas genny for that.
Bcs guy
.40 S&W
I have a Briggs that is an inverter type. I believe it is 1600 watts. Fridge probably, the major draw is going to be on compressor start up. AC, I'm not sure. You have to look at the current draw of your appliance that you want to run. Quick googling tells me that a medium window AC unit is about 900 watts, and fridges are about 725 watts.
BDinPutnam
.475 A&M Magnum
...asking for a friend...
Is there an indoor-safe equivalent?
Is there an indoor-safe equivalent?
Got a 5500 that's about 10+ years old and never been fired up. Bought it down in FL after a few hurricanes and a new house. Thinking about the small ones for quieter ops, fuel efficiency, electronics capabilities, and lighter weight as I "age." My wife should also be able to start it and be able to move it. We also have portable ac units that roll around 8000 btu and a couple of larger ones btus escapes me). All for the move back to FL.
Ummm, fumes?
I've heard that some can run on propane but . . . Fumes? Carbon dioxide or monoxide, or whatever it is (can never remember)?
BDinPutnam
.475 A&M Magnum
I wrote that all wrong. 
I have an apartment dwelling friend who is looking for a solution to run de minimus power should it go out for an extended period of time. But she lives in a high rise, no balcony. Basically fridge and cell phone charger. Not in my wheelhouse. Didn't mean to hijack at all, just wondering if anyone's dealt with that issue.
I have an apartment dwelling friend who is looking for a solution to run de minimus power should it go out for an extended period of time. But she lives in a high rise, no balcony. Basically fridge and cell phone charger. Not in my wheelhouse. Didn't mean to hijack at all, just wondering if anyone's dealt with that issue.
BDinPutnam
.475 A&M Magnum
Better than me.
I told her to move.
I told her to move.
Toecutter
.308 Win
I've used a Honda inverter genny. Borrowed it for a few days. It worked fine, very quiet and would run a fridge. It used more gas then advertised but not that bad .
Acer-m14
.950 JDJ
if the appliance tag tells you watts .. there you go just add them up ..
if it just says voltage and amps ... Volts X Amps = watts
then just add a few more watts for start up draw ( peak ) ..
PS .. i'm in a trailer park .. my main breaker is only 50 amps ..
not all appliances run at the same time .. its a give and take .
washer and dryer , NG furnace , window ac 5000btu , lights frige ..
gas stove ..
so house is fed 220v via a 50A breaker ... so to fully run on a genny at the min 11000 watts
but remember that 220 is split into 120 for most items in the home .. normal home the dryer may need 220 .. mine is 120 .. same with everything .. nothing on 220 .. i could probley run a 4500 genny and power the whole house ..
if it just says voltage and amps ... Volts X Amps = watts
then just add a few more watts for start up draw ( peak ) ..
PS .. i'm in a trailer park .. my main breaker is only 50 amps ..
not all appliances run at the same time .. its a give and take .
washer and dryer , NG furnace , window ac 5000btu , lights frige ..
gas stove ..
so house is fed 220v via a 50A breaker ... so to fully run on a genny at the min 11000 watts
but remember that 220 is split into 120 for most items in the home .. normal home the dryer may need 220 .. mine is 120 .. same with everything .. nothing on 220 .. i could probley run a 4500 genny and power the whole house ..
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masterswimmer
.450/400 Nitro Ex
When the genny is running just be diligent about monitoring your appliance usage and breaker settings. ie: when fridge compressor is running and actively cooling, shut down other large draw circuits. Conversely, after the fridge compressor shuts off and you don't open the fridge doors, shut the fridge circuit and open other circuits you might need. When you open the fridge door shut other circuits and open the fridge circuit to recool the fridge.
That's just one example of actively utilizing your service panel.
Found the other a.c. unit - 10000 btu, 1100 watts, 9.5 Amps. This might be ok for what I am thinking. I see where Home Depot sells the Ryobi (2300/1800 watt) for $700. Buy two with a parallel/coupler thing for $1200 for extra power. This looks promising, although I am trying to get away with spending less not more. This will have to come out of the general fund, not my socked away gun/fun fund.
Curmudgeon
.308 Win
8k Honda tri-fuel currently running on natural gas with a manual transfer. Runs everything in the house just fine. Gets a bit bogged down if I try to run the hot tub or pool at the same time as the rest of the house.
Curmudgeon
.308 Win
On topic... I would say the EU 2000 would run a fridge or AC unit separately. you could look up voltage draws on each and do some calculations.
This is what I am thinking for our house we just bought in FL. I'm sure I'll be bringing the old but never used one back down but I think the smaller one would get more use and actually be easier with a little forethought, especially with a transfer switch.
Curmudgeon
.308 Win
That would be a great smart phone app if I wasn't so paranoid.
Celt
.338 Win Mag
i have a few of the honda 2200i generators at work. we use them for some heavy duty tools. it should run a fridge, some lights and a tv IMO.. But do your math to make sure.
Funny you mention that. The Ryobi has an app via Bluetooth that monitors power consumption, fuel level and right ntime remaining as well as being able to shut it off remotely.
Just looked at the fridge here, a 28 cuft, 8.5 amp. Should be pushing 1100 watts if what Acer says holds, plus the start up. Running fridge or ac . . . Better than nothing!
Bcs guy
.40 S&W
So, I actually just watched a video for the Predator 3500 from harbor freight. It was actually quieter than the Honda 2000 even with a 1400W load.
Just went and found it.
as for the person looking for something inside. A thought would be a good bank of deep cell batteries, and an inverter. Also could throw in a solar panel to help recover the batteries. Also a battery charger would be needed once power is back on to bring the batteries back up.
Just went and found it.
as for the person looking for something inside. A thought would be a good bank of deep cell batteries, and an inverter. Also could throw in a solar panel to help recover the batteries. Also a battery charger would be needed once power is back on to bring the batteries back up.
Acer-m14
.950 JDJ
bank of batteries in side and a jenny outside and a battery charger hooked to the bank also
.. remember to ventilate the hydrogen gas
Bcs guy
.40 S&W
bank of batteries in side and a jenny outside and a battery charger hooked to the bank also
i forgot about that. I guess you could use some sealed batteries, until there is a failure and they rupture.
Doc8404
.450/400 Nitro Ex
99cummins
.308 Win
I have a champion inverter/generator. 1700 running watts/2000 surge. $400 at tractor supply. Probably a bit louder than the Honda but it’s been good. Use it around the farm for power. Throw it on the atv or tractor.
Champion Power Equipment 2000W Ultralight Portable Inverter Generator at Tractor Supply Co.
Champion Power Equipment 2000W Ultralight Portable Inverter Generator at Tractor Supply Co.
phatfarmerbob
.223 Rem
You guys don’t need one.. wife and I picked this up there will never be another power outage again! 70 hours on a fill up and purrs real quit at low RPM. Used with 1120 hours my research says good to 10k hours before rebuild. ( we do have party’s in the back field and this will light it up nicely)
Bulldog51
.40 S&W
Some simple solutions to the apartment question.
An anker battery pack can recharge a phone 4-5 times. Could keep a phone powered for a few days if you limit use.
Thermal mass (lots of food or water jugs) in the refrigerator will help keep it cold and keeping the door shut is important. plan to eat the stuff in the freezer as it thaws. You can also keep a frozen jug of water in the feeezer and move it to the refrigerator.
The inverter and a battery wouldn’t last long trying to run a refrigerator. Maybe 2-3 hours before you kill a marine battery. Two 6v deep cycles could double that. That might get you by for a few extra days but your probably over $300-$500 in that setup to save how much in food?
If you are home, you can hook an inverter up to you car and run extension cord into the house. Not convenient but cheap back up power.
An anker battery pack can recharge a phone 4-5 times. Could keep a phone powered for a few days if you limit use.
Thermal mass (lots of food or water jugs) in the refrigerator will help keep it cold and keeping the door shut is important. plan to eat the stuff in the freezer as it thaws. You can also keep a frozen jug of water in the feeezer and move it to the refrigerator.
The inverter and a battery wouldn’t last long trying to run a refrigerator. Maybe 2-3 hours before you kill a marine battery. Two 6v deep cycles could double that. That might get you by for a few extra days but your probably over $300-$500 in that setup to save how much in food?
If you are home, you can hook an inverter up to you car and run extension cord into the house. Not convenient but cheap back up power.
Bulldog51
.40 S&W
Not sure how well these little generators will work with a transfer switch. They are 120v and will only work with the single outlet 20a transfer switches. The larger multi circuit transfer switches need the 5kw gennys with 240v. I would think most people are just running extension cords to the appliance they want to run. The transfer switch would be nice for hardwired appliances like a furnace or the refrigerator if you cant pull it out to get to the plug. What were you thinking of setting up?