School me on portable generators

rabb11d

rabb11d

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2009
Location
Statesville,NC
I would like to pick up a portable generator in the coming weeks. I hope I can find a deal now that the market will be flooded after this storm passes. I don't know enough to make a educated purchase.

I want to run the following items.
Well pump
Gas stove
Tankless gas hot water heater
Refrigerator
Freezer
Lights
Couple of fans
Tv, satellite, internet
Just the Blower for HVAC

Might would shut everything off and run ac some, but not a big deal.

Would like to get one that is dual fuel, since I have a large propane tank.

So how many watts do I need?
I want to back feed my panel if that makes a difference on which generator.

I've been looking at some of the 9k peak 7.5k running of different brands.

School me!

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I can’t give a lot of advice on various brands, but I can give my experience with the Honda I bought. I went to Northern Tool and looked at the Northstar and Honda brands. I talked to a friend of mine who worked at the local Jim’s Honda dirt bike store. He told me that they also sold generators and asked me to give him a chance at the sale. So I went over there and he beat Northern by a couple hundred bucks. He told he that Honda corporate made him work on generators no matter what store sold them so he wanted to be the one to get the sale. So, if you buy a Yamaha or a Honda, check your local power sports dealer too.
 
I am new to generators too. What I've learned is running watts is important. I bought a Generac RS5500. It is set up to back feed thru my panel and will run all the important stuff. You'll want to get an idea of your wattage use. If your well bbn pump is 208 volt you need to take that into consideration. I found that my generator is rated for continuous use at 50% of load only. Something to remember when buying a generator, if you have to run it for a few days or a week. I'm a commercial HVAC/R tech so I wired it up myself. I just need to buy the main breaker interlock kit to keep it safe. Hope this helps.

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To be clear, my dog is more an authority than I am. My 0.0000002 cents:

If you live in suburbia, consider a inverter generator or multiple to reach wattage to get into the low decibels.

On the farm our 10k gen can be distinctly heard 70 acres away by the neighbors.
 
ckruzer said:
To be clear, my dog is more an authority than I am. My 0.0000002 cents:

If you live in suburbia, consider a inverter generator or multiple to reach wattage to get into the low decibels.

On the farm our 10k gen can be distinctly heard 70 acres away by the neighbors.
Click to expand...
Good point. Luckily I'm in the middle of nowhere. [emoji16]

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ckruzer said:
To be clear, my dog is more an authority than I am. My 0.0000002 cents:

If you live in suburbia, consider a inverter generator or multiple to reach wattage to get into the low decibels.

On the farm our 10k gen can be distinctly heard 70 acres away by the neighbors.
Click to expand...

I live in a neighborhood, and my 17k sounds like a reved up 4-wheeler, and IDGAF what my neighbors think :D
 
ckruzer said:
On the farm our 10k gen can be distinctly heard 70 acres away by the neighbors.
Click to expand...

This. Our next door neighbor has a 22kw. We can hear it running, but it's not loud. The folks across the street have a 30kw, we can't hear it at all. Both are pad mounted generacs. Ours is an onan commercial mobile 5500w. You can't hear it in the house.
 
I have done zero research on this and I'm sure Google could tell me.... but, can you parallel two identical portable generators? I remember reading about inverter type being parallelable but not about a regular ol generators.
 
awheelterd said:
I have done zero research on this and I'm sure Google could tell me.... but, can you parallel two identical portable generators? I remember reading about inverter type being parallelable but not about a regular ol generators.
Click to expand...

yeah. its a quite common thing. ive only ever seen them parallel wired to a 50amp outlet, so i have no idea how esle they can be wired. im sure there are other methods etc. i do know there are preterminated kits out there for popular gen brands that are receptacle ready, but i dont think those are related to tying into the box.
 
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jeepinmatt said:
AC power is a waveform. The generators have to be able to properly match the peaks and valleys electronically, so it's not as simple as just hookin' em up.
Click to expand...

Correct but once they paralleled magnetic resonance helps keeps them in parallel.
Most of inverter brands have parallel kits.

Inverter styles have "cleaner" wave forms (in theory if everything is operating properly) but worse transient response typically for a similar size. Making them less desirable for runng wells and hvac etc.
 
Yeah I thought I had read that the honda inverter one's paralleled better than others. I think I might just pick up another generator and just split my loads rather than try to parallel them. Not really a big deal, just a little more work to lay out.
 
Split loads. Haaaa! :D


I've been eyeballing PTO generators. The 15kw Winco is looking like a pretty good deal. My end game is to get one after my shop is built...whenever that may be....and backfeed from the shop to the house. That way I can leave the tractor running back there and I plan on having a large reserve of fuel.

Everything I've read suggests the people that have them burn a lot less fuel in the tractor than their previous propane powered generators. Not to mention it being easier to get your hands on in a pinch.

I think the 15kw is like 2000ish. Not bad!
 
Croatan_Kid said:
Split loads. Haaaa! :D


I've been eyeballing PTO generators. The 15kw Winco is looking like a pretty good deal. My end game is to get one after my shop is built...whenever that may be....and backfeed from the shop to the house. That way I can leave the tractor running back there and I plan on having a large reserve of fuel.

Everything I've read suggests the people that have them burn a lot less fuel in the tractor than their previous propane powered generators. Not to mention it being easier to get your hands on in a pinch.

I think the 15kw is like 2000ish. Not bad!
Click to expand...
My grandpa bought a pto driven 50kw generator at an auction about 20 years ago for $400. Hes using it right now, it can run everything just like if the regular power was on. It has been $400 well spent.
 
Good lord....he must have a big ass tractor! I think most say you need at least 2hp per Kw.

I think I've either got 36 or 38 pto hp, so I think 15/16 Kw would be a good match. I definitely wouldn't mind finding a nice used one like that though!
 
Croatan_Kid said:
Good lord....he must have a big ass tractor! I think most say you need at least 2hp per Kw.

I think I've either got 36 or 38 pto hp, so I think 15/16 Kw would be a good match. I definitely wouldn't mind finding a nice used one like that though!
Click to expand...
Few 100+hp ones to pick from.
 
Our generator has been running on at shut down. Probably 15-25 seconds. Keeps getting worse.

We got power back and shut down the gen. Went to start it to run it dry. Wouldn’t start.

Checked fuel and spark, both good.

Any suggestions?
 
It's getting too hot. Could be wrong plug, could be too of fuel.

What kind is it?
 
My uncle just (Monday, before the storm!) had a 22Kw Generac NG/Propane unit installed. There was some deal about an extra 5 year warranty if you bought before the end of August. I think he said it was 8400 or so. It's been trucking since last Thursday. Not sure how much the gas bill will be....but it doesn't really matter when you have AC in the middle of a hurricane, now does it? :D It's also pretty damn quiet.
 
It'll probably all be a wash in the end...I'm not sure how much NG costs, to be honest.
 
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