generators

[Jabrams]

Hi All, curous if anyone has thought of are is using a generator currently for emergency situations.
prices

 

[Saaack]

I have a 6 HP / 3750 watt portable generator I keep in the garage. Have used once when power was out for 8 hours during a storm.

 

[brian3]

I just have a extra car battery , cheap inverter and air pumps. They last a few days with a charged battery. For heat I have a gas fireplace nearby.

 

[jgsensor]

I have been thinking about one, just need to find more time to do a little research on different brands. Aquatic Eco-Systems has some good prices on them, but don't know anything about the brand.

 

[poppin_fresh]

I have a 5KW generator...just in case. Living in the semi-sticks leaves me with out power sometimes. Yes I want my tank to survive, but I also want to survive (and take a hot shower in the morning). Besides if it came down to it, my 5 Chromis would probably make a good snack...mmmmm....chromis.

 

[reefrubble]

I have a 15KW I think that is wise,I live in Florida on the Gulf.

 

[Carman34L]

12hp 8kw generator hard wired to tank and refigerators in the house.

 

[AZDesertRat]

I bought a Champion 3500 running watts 4450 peak watts the day after Thanksgiving at Checker/Shucks/Kragen Auto for $238. Its a 6.5 HP Honda clone, works great and is pretty darn quiet. Pep Boys had their 3500 peak watts 3000 watts running Power Pro on sale so Checker beat it by 5%.

 

[mildew]

Just purchased a Troy Bilt, 5550 watt from Lowes for a little over $700 with tax. I hope never to need to use it. Our power flickers on and off several times a week but fortunately it doesn't stay off for more than a few seconds. But, I am in an area subject to ice storms and strong winds. In 1998, the power was off for a full week but that was long before the SW tank. This is an expensive hobby and I look at the generator expense as one-time tank insurance. I also have car insurance, home owners insurance, life insurance and health insurance. Those premiums come to a lot more than $700 and have to be paid annually.

 

[jeffbrig]

Coleman w/13hp Honda, 7000/8750 watt, $1k

I also live in FL, and survived 6 days with no power last year.

 

[reefrubble]

Jeff, you have one beautiful set up there my friend. Ted

 

[turbodiesel01]

4500 k portable
would love to have an automatic switchover

 

[Therbligs]

5KW with 6250 surge. Only used it once (Knock on wood) when the NE grid went down in the summer (running tank, 2 frigs, some lights and 7000btu ac ). The only issue is having enough fuel to feed it for extended period of time.

 

[jeffbrig]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6573481#post6573481 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefrubble
Jeff, you have one beautiful set up there my friend. Ted

Thanks Ted! (are you talking about the tank or the generator? )

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6574000#post6574000 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Therbligs
The only issue is having enough fuel to feed it for extended period of time.

Tell me about it! I burn almost 10g/day in my generator. After seeing how firsthand how hard it is to buy gas in/after a disaster, I now have 9 gas cans, so I can store as much as 45 GALLONS.

 

[wife no likey]

I got a retired hospital 3.5 kw natural gas generator with an ancient automatic transfer switch off of ebay for $700 shipped.

It is a real nice setup actually, as it is 1800 rpm and provides very nice power. Minimal flourescent light flicker and a UPS can charge off of it.

I wired it to run the fridge, circulating pump for the boiler, tv and stuff, some lights, and the essentials for the tank.

 

[jasonstr8up]

I live in south FL so it's a must. I used it for ten days for huricane Willma. It saved my tank.

 

[Entropy]

I think you have to buy your generator based off your needs. I would get the minimum to run what you need, so you can get a fuel efficient model. Running the entire house is nice, but in an emergency I think you can manage with just the essentials.

Of course the most important part is to actually maintain your generator so it works when you need it. Having it sitting in a box with no fuel when the need comes is not going to help much.

 

[Therbligs]

Tell me about it! I burn almost 10g/day in my generator. After seeing how firsthand how hard it is to buy gas in/after a disaster, I now have 9 gas cans, so I can store as much as 45 GALLONS.

That's not bad for 13hp unit. My gen is about 15gal/day @50% according to the manufacturer, but have not run it long enough to validate. I was thinking of running it 1 hour on 1 hour off to extend the total time before I was SOL.

 

[reefrubble]

Jeff, I was talking about your tank set up. Ted

 

[jeffbrig]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6574554#post6574554 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Therbligs
That's not bad for 13hp unit. My gen is about 15gal/day @50% according to the manufacturer, but have not run it long enough to validate. I was thinking of running it 1 hour on 1 hour off to extend the total time before I was SOL.

I agree. I probably ran the generator ~20 hours each day, and the average load was probably well under 50% when you consider we ran it through the night with everything but the tank pumps turned off.

I've used two different Honda-powered generators, and both delivered better-than-expected fuel economy. I think this one is rated for 10hrs runtime on a tank (7-8g?) at 50% load. But I never put more than 2 5gal cans in the tank over a 24hr period.