Cheap NEW Generators on Ebay

R

rob.holbrook

New member
So,

when we lost power this weekend, I thought for sure I was going to be putting batteries in a air pump and stirring with a spoon.

A friend of mine let me borrow their generator and said he got it off of the internet for like 125. Once I had power I was looking around and found them on ebay for 125 dollars with shipping.

it is a 1200 watt wildfire generator that was able to power my MH lights , return pump along with my fridge and of course TV.

sooo if anyone wants to know anything else about them let me know. They come from up around cleveland and are here within 48 hours after order.

Hobby Experience: 2 years
 
FYI, 1200 watts is a very small generator. You should not exceed 80% of the rated capacity on any generator which means if you have an average sized refrigerator (500 watts) and a couple of 250w lights for a total of 1000w you are already at the max limit without the pump or TV.

It may run those other devices but you risk burning up your generator, pump or other devices by running them that way.

There is a chart on THIS SITE that shows the guy's fridge runs at 2.5amps which is 300w. It also shows "start up" power needed to get the compressor going which is 20amps (2400 watts)

If you start your generator, plug in the fridge and let it start up, then start plugging in other devices the fridge cycles on and off so after a few hours when it has cooled off and then warmed to a point that it needs to kick on again it will load up your generator beyond capacity.

Just trying to help before anyone buys an under rated generator. I would suggest 3,000 watts as a minimum starting point. I have seen generic ones at Aldi for $149 that are 3000w so it is only a matter of $50 more to get something that will run your items safely.

A single 15 amp outlet in your house has the capacity to run about 1500 watts safely. You can imagine running a cord from your home outlet and splitting it to run your fridge, MH lights, return pump and TV. You may or may not have a breaker trip (which means it was overloaded). The generator will last longer if it is not pushed to its max every time too.

My suggestion to those with smaller generators would be to run things on a rotating schedule. Use the generator to cool down the fridge for 2 hours. Then switch to your lights for 2 or 3 hours. Then watch TV for a while and relax knowing that your food and fish are fine :)

If it is colder and you need to run a heater to keep fish and corals alive consider adding a smaller (100 watt or so) heater to your display and use powerheads (20 watts each) to circulate water instead of running a return pump that may eat up 100- 300 watts itself.

Hope that helps.
-- Kevin
 
Well, I am glad that you were able to tell people what to do, I was simply just telling those who need them and want a cheap alternative.

I understand that you know it all. I dont want to step on your feet just letting people know about this solution. This same company also sells a higher model generators for jut a little bit more.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13383372#post13383372 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rob.holbrook
Well, I am glad that you were able to tell people what to do, I was simply just telling those who need them and want a cheap alternative.

I understand that you know it all. I dont want to step on your feet just letting people know about this solution. This same company also sells a higher model generators for jut a little bit more.
Click to expand...

Hi again and thanks for your very sincere reply. Maybe when you read my reply there was something lost in the meaning of what I typed. I will help you see the intent of my post since you seemed to have jumped to a conclusion here that I was attacking what you posted.

You said "Well, I am glad that you were able to tell people what to do, I was simply just telling those who need them and want a cheap alternative. "
I never TOLD anyone what to do. I DID however RECOMMEND that if they spend the money on a generator that they don't put their equipment, their new generator and their families' lives at risk by overloading them and buy one that is rated closer to being safe for their needs. You think that is rude of me?

It may be a "cheap alternative" to you but if you have any length of time in this hobby you will know that a "cheap alternative" will ALMOST ALWAYS turn into an EXPENSIVE MISTAKE later. If you have to pay with burned out pumps (see porky's post in CORA forums) or burned out generators that's one thing but if you are talking about lives that could be lost by someone not knowing any better and trying to save $50 overloading a generator then I would rather let my rudeness be known to all.

You also said "I understand that you know it all. I dont want to step on your feet just letting people know about this solution. This same company also sells a higher model generators for jut a little bit more. "

Do you understand that I know it all? I wish you would talk to my wife and 3 kids to let them know. I have been trying for 18 years to get them to understand this concept and it only took one very informative, caring post on my part for you to grasp that. Thank you for the compliment and if there is anything else that you ever need help with feel free to post here because now you know that I will know the answer. I "know it ALL" :thumbsup:

I am assuming that you might have read my post and substituted where I said "Just trying to help before anyone buys an under rated generator. I would suggest 3,000 watts as a minimum starting point. I have seen generic ones at Aldi for $149 that are 3000w so it is only a matter of $50 more to get something that will run your items safely." with something like "don't listen to this idiot he doesn't know as much as I do." Now anyone that knows me should be able to tell you that I have OPINIONS that I express and never try to TELL anyone that my way is the right way.

When you read "My suggestion to those with smaller generators would be to run things on a rotating schedule. Use the generator to cool down the fridge for 2 hours. Then switch to your lights for 2 or 3 hours. Then watch TV for a while and relax knowing that your food and fish are fine " maybe you thought I said "YOU MUST BUY A BIGGER GENERATOR BECAUSE I SAID SO" but I didn't. I did however SUGGEST a safer way to operate things for anyone that already has a smaller generator (like yourself) and I hope you take that suggestion but we all live in a free country and you will do what you desire.

When you read "If it is colder and you need to run a heater to keep fish and corals alive consider adding a smaller (100 watt or so) heater to your display" maybe you didn't notice the word CONSIDER. It is there for anyone in the situation to THINK ABOUT DOING. I was not TELLING anyone what to do. I was purely out to help you and anyone that might read your slightly uninformed post know that there are options to just plugging in all your stuff and crossing your fingers.

If you want to run your MH lights, plasma TV and fridge off the 1200watt generator then go for it. Just so you know, a small hair dryer is usually rated at 1200 watts. It doesn't take much to use up a small generator's capacity and put yourself and others at risk.

Once again I will close with the same statement at the end of my post as I did last time... HOPE THAT HELPS!!!!!

:) -- Kevin
 
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Either way, I dont care about your opinion nor did I ask for it. So next time keep it to yourself.

I WAS SIMPLY TELLING PEOPLE THAT THERE WAS A OPTION OUT THERE. I did not ask for anyones advice or input.


I would think that the person using this device would know not to overload it. It was fully able to run my fridge and my t-5 lights as well as my return pumps. There was still room on it to run a few lamps in my house.

If you do not have power and there is no other options I would chooose to use a generator and use less lights. Then to sit back and watch your fish die.

Sometimes the cheapest options are the best because not everyone has a huge disposable income. I do know in reefing you need money to do things right but, for 125 bucks you can keep your return pumps on and your heaters as well as a few t-5 lights. Sounds like a good idea to me.

Hope you have a good

Thanks

Mods please close this thread as the president of C-Sea is a know it all.

Rob
 
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Thank you itZme for your input. I have learned a lot from reading your comments. This is going to help me out when I purchase my generator soon! Not to sure whats wrong with rob but i appreciate your input.
 
Way out of Line Rob...Way out of Line. Do yourself a favor and read what he said. This is a discussion forum made for discussion and peoples opinions.

Please don't come here and bash C-sea president like that!
 
Once again, I didnt ask for input from anyone. I was just telling people what I did. What is wrong with me is when people act like complete know it alls. That is what irritated me.

I simply was putting this out there, if you dont like the idea dont just on my case regarding it. This worked for me, I understand that everyone else out here has the money to go buy that huge generator, so if that is what you want then do it.

ONCE AGIAN MODS CLOSE THIS THREAD.
 
Forums= Input from everyone. Not a hard concept to grasb. Why in such a bad mood Rob, I've never seen you act like this?

You tossed out a heads up on a deal, he tossed out a heads up on what it can run...WIN WIN is how I see that
 
For sure out of line!!!!

I dont think anyone doesn't like your idea just sayin for 50 more bucks you can get a much more capable generator.

Take a chill pill man.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13383661#post13383661 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rob.holbrook
Either way, I dont care about your opinion nor did I ask for it. So next time keep it to yourself.

I WAS SIMPLY TELLING PEOPLE THAT THERE WAS A OPTION OUT THERE. I did not ask for anyones advice or input.


I would think that the person using this device would know not to overload it. It was fully able to run my fridge and my t-5 lights as well as my return pumps. There was still room on it to run a few lamps in my house.

If you do not have power and there is no other options I would chooose to use a generator and use less lights. Then to sit back and watch your fish die.

Sometimes the cheapest options are the best because not everyone has a huge disposable income. I do know in reefing you need money to do things right but, for 125 bucks you can keep your return pumps on and your heaters as well as a few t-5 lights. Sounds like a good idea to me.

Hope you have a good

Thanks

Mods please close this thread as the president of C-Sea is a know it all.

Rob
Click to expand...

Now come on... can't we all just get along? In these forums you don't have to ask for opinions. They will just come to you :)

In your original post you stated that you were able to run your MH lights. That was the thing that caught my attention. If you run a couple of normal output T5s then that would only be 108 watts and well within the limits of your small generator. According to Ohio Edison the fridge will stay cold for "up to 24 hours". So my suggestion was to only run the fridge when necessary. Maybe plug it in for a couple hours and then not have it plugged in for 4 to 6 hours. Seems like a simple and reasonable solution doesn't it?

You not asking for anyone's advice and recommending that people get a 1200 watt generator off ebay to run their fridge, MH lights, TV and some other lamps is another reason I posted hoping to save someone from making the same mistake and possibly costing them int he long run whether it be livestock, equipment or family members that they lose it is still avoidable by buying something rated for your needs.

On a side note, my generator (which is so old I think Edison used it on a few experiments) is currently at someone else's house that was out of power and needed to keep livestock alive. I called and volunteered to let them use it. That's what we do for each other on here. We are friends looking out for other friends.

I welcome you to come to a C-SEA meeting to see just how friendly we really are and you might not find it necessary to attack others or call them names on the forums.

-- Kevin
 
I am glad you want me to come up to your meeting but I live no where near cleveland. Nor would I want to because I dont really like people who enjoy tearing up all ideas and possiblities that are out there.

When you dont have power, anything is better than not using one.
 
Anyone else want to say that I am out of line

WHO CARES. Why not contribute instead of saying he is out of like.

This is why I dont come to your meetings.
 
Take a step back man, read the posts.
You tried to toss out help, so did he. Whats the real story here? Do you just not like Kevin? That would be easier to understand then you not wanting people to post there opinions on the generator.

I just don't see what your beef with posting info is?
 
my beef is him bashing what I said with a aldi generator, Good luck finding one of those here. I am sure half of Ohio has went looking for this. I know for a fact you can get these because I bought one. It worked.

I have no beef with anyone just someone jumpin my case.
 
This is got to rank up on the top of my funniest posts to read. I dont know what happened to you Rob but wow man you are wayyyyyyyyyyyyy off line. Not once did Kevin say you idea sucked or was wrong, he just simply was letting others know of some potential hazards. I am thankful he did so someone might just think before making a costly mistake. As of Kevin knowing it all. I dont think so. He missed my Birthday again!!!!! You'd think he would have known. I am glad the mods left this thread open so others could let you know what a knucklehead you are being as it IS a FORUM!!!!!!!!!
 
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