gas generator help -- irma -- i'm making quick decision

C

CTaylor

Active member
Hi,
I'm about to purchase very very soon (by morning Tuesday) a WEN 5620i 2000 watt max gen, 1600 running watts. My reef tank is dead. Too long no power, and will be possibly many weeks more without it. I need this for next time, but need this now for power so I can still work at hoe and power for my still alive seahorses.

I already totaled the power I would need to run my re-set up 65 gallon reef (now dead) and my 30 gallons seahorse tank (min power needed for it), and my computer + cable modem. Comes to 1300 watts if I need to also use a chiller (likely). I may use it to recharge my cel phone. But that is not necessary I can do that on my car charger.

I really want to order this now, but hopefully someone chimes in and possibly tells me this makes sense (at lest for the most part!). I can't see why it wouldn't. It's clean power (inverter) and I will be using less power at my max demand less than it's rated for when 'running'.

Thanks!
 
Unless you are buying a high end generator, you want to get one rated double of what you need. If there is a surge, say when a higher power device is turned on, the generator may sputter causing output voltage fluctuation. Make sure you have a place outside your house where you can run the generator.
 
thanks for that!.. the max on it is 2000
and what if I put the power coming out on surge suppressors? can I then run 1200 watts? id be using 1000-1200 watts.

thanks
 
I have a eu2000 made by Honda it runs my tank very good.the plus with the eu2000 is if needed you can buy a second eu and with a cord provided you can link the two so now it will provide 4000w I live Alaska and use it all the time well proven generator .
 
good point neilth1 also :)
I just ordered it.. it's free return, from walmart direct, not a side retailer. I needed to get it now with the little but good info I was able to scrape up! :)
i also will but plugging it into one apc suppressor per line out (2) from the generator. I hope that will suffice.
 
CTaylor - You will probably be fine. If things were prefect and you had time, I would suggest that you get a Honda or a Yamaha. But, I don't think this is a mistake at all. The one concern would be the chiller. Those pull some juice when they start up. I'd try to make sure you have as little as possible running when you turn that on. Just keep an eye on it.

Very sorry to hear about the rest of your tank. My best to you to get everything up and running again soon.
 
mcgyvr said:
Amazons got it covered..

Now getting it actually delivered is a different story..
Click to expand...

I actually meant finding one within a useful timeframe. After the Amazon 2-3 days (or more) it'll mostly be too late. Even with a generator, I'd imagine gas is hard to find as well.
 
I've had the very same generator on order from amazon since September 5th. Delivery to Bradenton is "delayed". Luckily I have neighbor with power that's letting me run a power cord from their house. Still might need the generator since Florida Power and Light says it could be ten more days without power. The Wen generator is a knockoff of the Yamaha, many parts are interchangeable and it gets good reviews.
 
I think that clone/knockoff has other rebadged name. the harbor freight predator 2000 I think is the same. So you may want to try a local harbor freight, and use your 20% off coupon. Costco sells one also that is probably the same one. Even says yamaha powered.

Note that Yamaha is not the same as Honda, in case people think they are getting a honda generator for half price.
 
I'd get what you can and just strip down the tanks to the bare essentials. Return pumps, skimmer, and lights. You can cut half of your lights off if that is possible with your setup

I'm going through it now too. All of my stuff still looks perfect but I have a large generator that I plug in to the house. You are right on the gas though. I buy 75 gal when hurricane season really kicks before the crazy gas rush starts. Whatever I don't need after hurricane season goes in the cars. You wouldn't need near that much gas for the generator you are looking at. Mine goes through almost 20g a day but it runs the AC which is the greatest thing ever.
 
walmart has delivery by this friday. << I may need it as my power is not on yet. the gas cans were even harder to find. Lowes by Thursday on 2 day delivery. I won't need just bare bones. Just light turned down to 70 % and one pump of my two tunze for wave, water circ. Everything else would go as normal including the Ca reactor, my chiller, if used is only 1/10 hp. Fans on my SH tank right now have it at 81 degrees. Cheapo double AA operated :) . Plus my computer things related to workable is less than 1200 watts. But this is now for the future. When I put up my tank, in slightly larger and rimless form. a size just enough that I can acutually fit my sump under :) . I cant replace my ocelarris that became a pair in my tank after 5 years of having them.. and the happy mix of fish I had, incl the bristle tail file that did his job of eating all aptaisa and in 5 months never touched anything else but actual fish food. And the pair of damsels that just started mating.. And my perfect acro tables... etc... At least I can say I did it. Anyhow that was way off subject.. BUT the reason I'm still getting the gen, so I can lessen chance of this happening again :)
 
I have a MULTI Fuel Generator . i run it on Natural gas but it came with a converter for propane/ gasoline. I keep it in the garage but i can plug it in to run the whole house. It has kOhler engine .

i think for portable Propane might be easier to source then gasoline during a weather event such as this...

Good Luck with your tank sorry about the loss ...
 
Power just came back on 9/18/17! Ran my 160 gallon tank on the the Wen inverter generator for the last seven of the days the power was out. Very quiet, sips gas, and easy to start. Easily ran 9 hours while I was work on one tank of gas.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
2000watts is awfully small no? we just went out and bought a troy bilt 7000watt for the 180 gallon and the rest of the house.. fridge, lights, electronics and chargers
 
Hi
watts needed
lights 150, not on full power, kessil 360x2
return pump: 100
protein skimmer: 100 (or less)
power head: 30 (tunze stream -- usually 2, but would do 1)
chiller (if needed -- i've been able to keep my seahorse tank at 80-81 with a fan -- battery operated) 1/10 HP 75 w + 70 w pump + 0 fan = 145
CA reactor: not even needed, but: 40 for circulation pump, 30? for return pump, 30? for solenoid = 100
return pump for Phosphate remover and carbon = 50 or less
light and pump to refuge = 60
=====>> 735

Computer and peripheral (cable modem and router) = max 300 w

Sea horses -- NOT NEEDEd. the were totally fine 8 days no power with live rock, lots of caulerpa and fan.

=====
total 1035 ... So I'd add another 200 just in case = 1235 watts. I don't see where people are needing more gen power. for this purpose. And i'm not even being too conservative in not using some power needed items for the tank.

***Scott, what did you run on your WEN?
I just got power back.. not even home yet. and just got WEN delivered lol.. for NEXT TIME.
My new 108 tank and stand being delivered Sunday :) ... replacing the 65 . the above wattege will run this
 
Erica - which multi-input generator are you using?

I would expect natural gas to be interrupted under the same adverse conditions as electrical distribution? Have you seen much benefit to the gas input?
 
CTaylor said:
Hi
watts needed
lights 150, not on full power, kessil 360x2
return pump: 100
protein skimmer: 100 (or less)
power head: 30 (tunze stream -- usually 2, but would do 1)
chiller (if needed -- i've been able to keep my seahorse tank at 80-81 with a fan -- battery operated) 1/10 HP 75 w + 70 w pump + 0 fan = 145
CA reactor: not even needed, but: 40 for circulation pump, 30? for return pump, 30? for solenoid = 100
return pump for Phosphate remover and carbon = 50 or less
light and pump to refuge = 60
=====>> 735

Computer and peripheral (cable modem and router) = max 300 w

Sea horses -- NOT NEEDEd. the were totally fine 8 days no power with live rock, lots of caulerpa and fan.

=====
total 1035 ... So I'd add another 200 just in case = 1235 watts. I don't see where people are needing more gen power. for this purpose. And i'm not even being too conservative in not using some power needed items for the tank.

***Scott, what did you run on your WEN?
I just got power back.. not even home yet. and just got WEN delivered lol.. for NEXT TIME.
My new 108 tank and stand being delivered Sunday :) ... replacing the 65 . the above wattege will run this
Click to expand...



1200 g.p.h return pump, RW 20 power head, 3 Chinese black box lights.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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