What kind of generator?

Fae · #1 08/25/10, 01:34 PM

We need to buy a new generator to have in case of power failure especially during hurricane season. We bought one a few years ago that is called Powerback by DeVilbiss power air co. It is a piece of junk and was never any good. We need to have one to run the fridge, freezer and an AC if we have a hurricane that takes out the power. I figured some of you could tell me which brands are best and what size also. I had thought about a generac but don't see paying 4 or 5 thousand $ for something I only need once or twice a year. Where is the best place to buy them?

Txrider · #2 08/25/10, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fae

We need to buy a new generator to have in case of power failure especially during hurricane season. We bought one a few years ago that is called Powerback by DeVilbiss power air co. It is a piece of junk and was never any good. We need to have one to run the fridge, freezer and an AC if we have a hurricane that takes out the power. I figured some of you could tell me which brands are best and what size also. I had thought about a generac but don't see paying 4 or 5 thousand $ for something I only need once or twice a year. Where is the best place to buy them?

My next will likely be a PTO powered generator on a 3pt hitch to hook to my tractor...

Generac is a good brand, and you get what you pay for.

There is also a lot to be said for LPG fueled generators, as the fuel doesn't go bad when rarely used.

If you want cheap and cool old school.. Go with a Lister ST type.. old school proven technology used widely in the third world... simple, effective, and what I would buy if I didn't have a tractor and still may at some point. But then I love simple old school stuff built to be simple to rebuild and maintain..

Here is a thread about them... Lister diesel gensets?

Callieslamb · #3 08/25/10, 01:54 PM

do you want portable or whole-house type? We just bought a whole house Generac. DH is still working on getting it wired into the house circuits. We were very happy with the price and customer support.

Fae · #4 08/25/10, 02:11 PM

I think a portable is plenty for us and that is what the one we have now is. I just don't think we need the whole house.

Jolly · #5 08/25/10, 02:13 PM

Generac also makes a portable "home" line. I paid about $700 for mine.

**alleyyooper** · #6 08/25/10, 02:14 PM

We have a Porter Cable 7500 watt that runs the whole house (NON AC). I am sure some other company made it for Porter Cable. I've had it 8 years now, I bought it to supply powerto our cabin AT deer camp. It is portable as I wouldn't leave any thing pricy at the cabin. I also supply all the power to the honey house with it during extraction time. Just keep stabil in the gas tank with some type of drygas/carb cleaner since it is a plastic gas tank and will sweat moisture in side.
I bought a smaller 3500 watt to run the bee vac during removals where there is no power. It is a troy built but again I don't think they build their own. It would run a fridge, freezer TV all at once and a micro wave with the fridge and freezer offline. It is nice and lightto load inthe pickup.

If I had the money I would buy a whole house unit for Here at home big enough to run every thing and run it offnatural gas.
Ya pricy but resale value on the house rose a bunch, And you don't have to fuss with any thing. It turns the power on with in 15 seconds of an outage at my friends house.

Al

Old Vet · #7 08/25/10, 02:19 PM

I bout a Brigs and Striation one the stand by one and am pleased with it. Once a week it starts up and checked it self out and then shuts down. I bout one because of Ice storms but it also has come on for any power outage like a car that hit a telephone pole and you never know when that will happen. I spent $8 thousand dollars for it even buying the tank and gas. In 15 seconds it starts up and runs until the power comes on. It is the peace of mind when I am away because it is automatic and my wife or anybody else has to do nothing but wait until it comes on.

ronbre · #8 08/25/10, 02:48 PM

we bought a Gentron propane generator last year..but haven't had to use it yet

Allen W · #9 08/25/10, 09:34 PM

Fridge and freezer wouldn't take a real big one and could be ran part time to keep them cold. Air conditioner, with out knowing how big it is nobody can really give you an answer.

Here is a buyers guide from northern tool that might help answer some of your questions.http://www.northerntool.com/catalog/...es/generators/

WildCub · #10 08/25/10, 10:39 PM

If you are just running lights and a few other loads most will do fine. If you need to run a well pump or other large loads you should talk to a local dealer. Don't just go by the KW rating. Large pumps need a generator that can handle the start up currents they produce.

davel745 · #11 08/26/10, 02:50 AM

I suggest you go to Central Maine Diesel’s website and study the different types of generators available and talk to them. I have bought from them in the past and was satisfied. Here is a link http://www.centralmainediesel.com/

Best regards,

Dave

hotzcatz · #12 08/26/10, 02:59 AM

Honda. They are very quiet and very dependable. Ours is hooked up with a remote start and shutdown so it can be started and stopped without leaving the house. Much nicer during rainy season than having to go out to the generator shed. Ours is the backup for the solar power that runs the house, it gets used much more in the winter time when it's rainy all the time.

If we didn't have the portable Honda generator, we'd probably get one of those propane powered ones, but those are much more expensive than the little one we have now.

If you are running things which are sensitive to sine wave, such as some pellet stoves, you may want to get a pure sine or at least a modified step sine wave. We had one generator once which wouldn't run the washing machine or several of the power tools because the sine wave wasn't good enough. So far all the Honda generators I've met have not had any sine wave difficulties. I'm not sure if Honda makes the generator part as well as the motor part or not, though.

motdaugrnds · #13 08/26/10, 11:25 AM

We are considering the purchase of a generator too; so will be watching this thread. (We need one to take care of a couple of freezers, couple of window fans & a 79' deep water well pump too.)

texican · #14 08/26/10, 11:33 AM

If you get a portable one, make sure it doesn't have 'legs'. Read about enterprising thieves who'll crank up a lawnmower, pull it up next to the genny, turn the genny off, leave the mower running, and walk off with the genny.

I prefer multi-fuel gennies, especially if you already have propane/natural gas at home... no issues with fuel storage.

||Downhome|| · #15 08/26/10, 12:04 PM

you'll need a lot of capacity for the three appliances you mention, all are induction loads and all three starting up at the same time would be a big surge on your gen.

I would cut the AC from the list, you can get capacitor kits for the freezer and fridge that will help limit the surge on the generator. in a outage though I think I would use timers to run at different times.

if you regularly lose power I would also move the two to the basement if you have one, it would help to keep them cool.

you need to look at all the stuff your plan on running and figure out total watts used.
again anything with a motor is a induction load and requires more energy to start then to run, the fridge and freezer will be clicking on and off regularly.

if your appliance does not list the watt volts x amps gives watts.

once you have your total add 20% to it and the the continuous running watts you need not the sure watts the gen is rated.

I also agree on the dual fuel or tri fuel generators.

Gary in ohio · #16 08/27/10, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fae

We need to buy a new generator to have in case of power failure especially during hurricane season. We bought one a few years ago that is called Powerback by DeVilbiss power air co. It is a piece of junk and was never any good. We need to have one to run the fridge, freezer and an AC if we have a hurricane that takes out the power. I figured some of you could tell me which brands are best and what size also. I had thought about a generac but don't see paying 4 or 5 thousand $ for something I only need once or twice a year. Where is the best place to buy them?

How much power do you need? Thats the first step, without out you will not know what you need, How much power do the fridge, freezer and AC need. If its whole house AC and not just a window unit, Forget anything but the $5000 built in units. How many watts (or amps) do you need. Also keep in mind you dont have to have power to your fridge/freezer 24x7, just long enough to keep them cold. Also do you really need AC? If so thats going to cost you on the generator needs.

Gary in ohio · #17 08/27/10, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Txrider

My next will likely be a PTO powered generator on a 3pt hitch to hook to my tractor...

Unless you need a mobile power source I neve liked putting hours on my multi thousand dollar tractor to power my home.. Get a dedicated generator.

Fae · #18 08/27/10, 07:08 AM

Thank you all for the information. Not that I understand much of it but DH will. We have had to use one a couple times during hurricanes but I think we used fans instead of ac. I have central air and could live without it if necessary although I wouldn't like to. Our power is not bad to go out so usually there is no problem and I can deal with it for a day but just don't want to lose everything in my freezer if it is longer than that. I called DeVilbiss to see about a carburetor and they told me to call the maker of the engine. It is a tucumseh and I called them but need to provide more info which I will do today. If it is not to expensive my DH would like to fix the one we have which I am not sure is the best solution but we'll see. The longest we have been without power was 7 days and that was when hurricane fredrick hit us years ago. When Katrina hit we were only without power for 4 or 5 days. Anyway, thanks for the help and I will be doing something about a power source in the next few days. I just don't think our needs warrant the whole house generator so probably won't go there.

Pyrenees · #19 08/27/10, 07:32 AM

Well Craftsman certainly isn't considered a "top" brand, but I was given one by a family member and it has been trouble free and reliable. It's 4500 watts and runs the well-pump, refrigerator, two floor freezers, couple lights as needed, TV and computer (not all at once of course).

We live in the Rockies and average 5-7 days per years without power due to snow. Ours is 7 years old and came from Sears originally (I think).

**alleyyooper** · #20 08/27/10, 07:46 AM

Any type/size of gasoline powered gem. requires it be stored with stabil in the fuel if you store it with fuel in the tank. Any fuel stored for the gen in a can should also be treated. Gasoline can go bad in as little as a month with out being treated.

I won't even get into the arguement on runing the carb dry or not. That is your choice how you wish to do it, there are two camps on the issue.

Al