What kind of generator do you have?

I told my wife that as soon as the holiday spending spree is over I want to buy a generator. I have notthought about what power output I needbut as long as I can run the coal stove, refrigerator and a few lamps Id be happy. Cost of course would be a major determining factor. So what I really want are your opinions on portable generators(brands,engine type, output?) Any info as always is appreciated.My company sells alot of whole house permanent install type generators but they dont like hooking anyone up with a deal. talk more later....Jim

I built mine using a Chinese ChangFa single cylinder water (hopper) cooled diesel and a Markon 3200 watt generator head. Engine runs at about 1850rpm and the generator is 3600rpm. I bought the generator as a factory overstock direct from the company for like $220 (and it's a high quality unit - not Chinese junk), and the engine was $600 (and actually pretty decent for Chinese). I had to make up a custom exhaust and intake system to quiet it down. The intake was a lousy oil bath air cleaner, now it's a Solberg filter/silencer designed for air compressors with a wire reinforced polyester element. Muffler was just a small, loud Foster's beercan sized thing, and now it's a barrel sized NAPA car muffler. The drive pulleys are all Browning industrial 6 rib belt (L or M size, I forget which) and I had to custom make the flywheel adaptor to mount the pulley/bushing assembly to the engine.

It's still pretty loud, being a diesel, but all I have to do is keep the water hopper topped off every 2 or 3 hours and check the fuel. I ran it about 11 hours not too long ago for a power outage and it kept the fridge, freezer, lights, etc. on and burned about a gallon of fuel, maybe 1-1/2 gallon. Only thing it can't do is start my current hog of a well pump.

I would get natural gas or propane powered generator if you don't need the portability.

I have read a lot of recommendations for Generac brand of generator "heads". (not sure that is the right word) Engine could be almost any reliable brand and could be gasoline, diesel or propane, etc.

If you have any Amish near you, they usually are a good source of info.

First select an engine based on the kind of fuel you normally would have, diesel (home heating oil), natural gas (re-jetted propane), propane or gasoline. There nothing worst than having a power outage, having the generator but not having good or sufficient fuel. The point is to use a fuel you have another use for and don't let it go stale. Noise is a consideration. 1800 RPM generators are less noisy. Generators designed for motor homes are the quietest. I've got a 15 KW whole house 1800 RPM 4-cyl diesel that I run on home heating oil. Bought cheap when the Y2K century change crisis never materialized. Many businesses ordered generators but never installed them. When there wasn't a problem they were returned, causing a glut of new but used generators.

Mine came with an automatic transfer switch that I've not installed. It would cost more than I'm willing to pay in materials and permits to do so. I just back feed my generator into the distribution panel via a removable 100 amp circuit breaker when needed. You need to be cautious but it's a safe method. My diesel has an one kilowatt electric block heater, intended to warm the coolant for instant start. I power it only when severe weather is predicted. Otherwise I depend on the manual start glow plugs.

Generac is what I have, its 7,000 watts with electric start Briggs V twin. I think its 16 HP. I have it on a cart and run the house off it easily. If need be, I can cart it off to save the day somewhere else. It can power up the MIG welder too.

I thought the Amish avoided things that were powered?

coaledsweat wrote:I thought the Amish avoided things that were powered?

They avoid electric powered things. I know of a Amish woodworking cabinet shop that has a diesel engine driven air compressor and diesel engine driven hydraulic pump. All the stationary woodworking tools are air or hydraulic motor powered. The diesel engines have air powered starters to avoid electric starter motors.

Greyhound wrote:I have read a lot of recommendations for Generac brand of generator "heads". (not sure that is the right word) Engine could be almost any reliable brand and could be gasoline, diesel or propane, etc.

If you have any Amish near you, they usually are a good source of info.

I have a 5,000 watt Generac. It is a Lowe's brand is is total junk. It has a Tecumseh engine and that is the main issue. I am now looking for one with at least a Briggs engine or possibly a Honda engine.

porter cable 5 kw........does a nice job keepin the fridges and the lights and the stokers goin

Is there such a thing as a low priced ( under $1,000) natural gas powered generator? We lose power very infrequently & don't need alot of power since we heat with coal...just some lights, freezer, fridge etc. I don't want to have to store alot of extra gasoline & my house has natural gas.

Harbor Freight Model 3708 (5.5KW) that I use for my 220V tire warmers at the track and a Coleman 2250 I bought 20 years ago for running the freezer and a couple of lights in Florida during Hurricanes. Luckily I am on Rte 106 and the main power for Carbondale comes right by my house, we rarely lose power and then not more than a few hours. I would invest in a natural gas powered unit with an Auto Xfer Switch if our power was not so reliable here *knock on wood*.

I use the 3708 to feed the essential loads (through a back fed breaker in the garage after opening the main, don't do this at home kids! ) when we have outages that last more than an hour, otherwise I just enjoy the return to simpler times! The 2250 gets pressed into service if I am working somewhere and don't have power.

Devil5052 wrote:Is there such a thing as a low priced ( under $1,000)

Here is a 1KW Yamaha ultra quiet unit for under $1,000. They are pricy when considering the per KW costs but if you do a search on the internet you should be able to find something to meet your needs.

http://www.yamaha-propane-natural-gas-g ... 1000is.htm

I was all set to get a gas powered generator until I dug deeper. They use lots of gas which you must keep on hand. If the power goes out it's a good chance that the pumps at the filling stations may be out too. A natural gas or propane generator seems to make the most sense even if they are more expensive.

Matthaus wrote:

Devil5052 wrote:Is there such a thing as a low priced ( under $1,000)

Here is a 1KW Yamaha ultra quiet unit for under $1,000. They are pricy when considering the per KW costs but if you do a search on the internet you should be able to find something to meet your needs.

http://www.yamaha-propane-natural-gas-g ... 1000is.htm

Thanks......I like the idea of running off a propane tank since I always have 2 for the grill & wouldnt need a plumber to hook it up.. That Yamaha is a bit small though....loooking for somehting in the 5000kw range

Devil5052 wrote:[.. Yamaha is a bit small though....looking for something in the 5000kw range..

Try this one, I was looking at these before I figured out i really don't need a whole house unit. I don't think you will find a tri-fuel unit for less than $1,500 for 5KW or more.

http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com ... 377c9dc773