This for a backup backup generator.
IMO the champion is perfectly worthy for that purpose.
To me: This comes off as your money catching on fire in your wallet.
Can buying and playing with generators be considered a hobby?
Choosing a Generator
- Thread starter SupremePossum
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Can buying and playing with generators be considered a hobby?
It you can afford it, and it brings you joy, sure why not!Can buying and playing with generators be considered a hobby?
If others know how many you have, you will have sudden friends in bad weather. Kind of like getting friends when you buy a pickup truck.
PRI-G fuel stabilizer. My bottle 2yr. old bottle says keeps gas for 5+ years.
I just rotate it with no stabilizer, with sealed gas cans I've tested 2 years with no issue
In reality they never get older than 6-7 months, I just put them in my truck
As long as you are honest about your intentions , I guess so .Can buying and playing with generators be considered a hobby?
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James Condon, on youtube has the same addiction.Can buying and playing with generators be considered a hobby?
Your name wouldn't happen to be James Condon, would it?Can buying and playing with generators be considered a hobby?
EDIT: Looks like someone beat me to it!
I love his videos, he really knows troubleshooting
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I use his videos for the times I wake at 2 AM, for some reason I can pass right out after watching one.
My Briggs 6250w is capable of running my whole house, including the AC and well pump simultaneously when hooked up via 240v. But it’s LOUD and the dehumidifier and microwave don’t like running off it.
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My main concern of things that may not like "dirty" power is the refrigerator. It's definitely a minimum need to keep working - and many have the new energy efficient compressors - and other more sensitive electronics than the old days.
Are you sure the others on your list are not made in China?
Why not try to find a duplicate to your Champion, and then you can stock some common spare parts - ie carb, coils, etc.
Why not try to find a duplicate to your Champion, and then you can stock some common spare parts - ie carb, coils, etc.
Have you tried bonding the ground?
FWIW, my ~2017’ish French door Whirlpool does just fine on it. The 1980’s(?) deep freezer couldn’t care less.
I say they don’t like it, they just make the LED bulbs flicker while the generator stabilizes, which happens kind of often as the dehumidifier cycles the compressor on and off. They run just fine otherwise
Our power goes out a lot. We have multiple 5-10 minute outages per week. And the occasional 10 hour outage.
I bought a very used, rough shape Powermate PM0125500 / 5500w Generator after our power went out for 15+ hours during a 95 degree heatwave. Was very thankful that the little HF Stormcat Tailgator could run a window unit.
The Powermate never started reliably. After a few years and of me having to run home to start the generator for my WFH fiancé I decided to get a 9000/7250 Predator generator with electric start. Of course since buying that, we haven't had any major power outages.
What has worked well for me during the small power outages is having anything important on a commercial 1500VA UPS. Can pick them up cheap with bad batteries and rebuild for $200. They provide power filtering for if/when I have to run on generator and give enough run time that I don't have to pull it out every time the power flickers.
So now I have 2 "big boy" generators, the mini generator which doesn't work well any more and everything is on APCs.
I plan on keeping the Powermate around because it's not worth anything in it's condition. But it's good for camping trips or a loaner. With my mom now living a mile up the road and subject to the same power outages , it's nice to have.
I kept my spare sump pump around when we moved into our new house (no sump pump needed). It's been loaned out more times than I can count!
You want a back up for your backup generator?
The main reason your lights would go out is the failure of your backup generator to start or it breaking down......not a sudden shortage of natural gas to fuel it.
To cover yourself if the generator fails to start or breaks down, I would propose a battery backup, such as a Tesla Powerwall. One stores about 20 KWh and would instantaneously deliver electricity while you try to get your generator functioning again. I have a bank of 2 Powerwalls, and when utility power goes out, the load transfers to the batteries almost instantaneously. Lights don't even flicker.
Your concern reminds me of my mother, who was fearful of open water, and therefore, fearful of travel on boats and ships. I think she had seen too many Titanic movies. She used to say that she wouldn't go on any form of ocean travel until the lifeboats had their own lifeboats.
The main reason your lights would go out is the failure of your backup generator to start or it breaking down......not a sudden shortage of natural gas to fuel it.
To cover yourself if the generator fails to start or breaks down, I would propose a battery backup, such as a Tesla Powerwall. One stores about 20 KWh and would instantaneously deliver electricity while you try to get your generator functioning again. I have a bank of 2 Powerwalls, and when utility power goes out, the load transfers to the batteries almost instantaneously. Lights don't even flicker.
Your concern reminds me of my mother, who was fearful of open water, and therefore, fearful of travel on boats and ships. I think she had seen too many Titanic movies. She used to say that she wouldn't go on any form of ocean travel until the lifeboats had their own lifeboats.
It seems to me that you need to have a conversation with your power company.
That being said, liquid propane is your best storage option by far. Diesel is better than gasoline. Diesel might last two years if you add alcicides.
Gasoline is the worst possible option. It is higly volatile and explosive. E0 will probably last for two years. I say this from experience as opposed to idle speculation. The suggestion of a battery backup system as your primary followed by generators as your secondary sounds like really good advice.
You want a back up for your backup generator?
The main reason your lights would go out is the failure of your backup generator to start or it breaking down......not a sudden shortage of natural gas to fuel it.
To cover yourself if the generator fails to start or breaks down, I would propose a battery backup, such as a Tesla Powerwall. One stores about 20 KWh and would instantaneously deliver electricity while you try to get your generator functioning again. I have a bank of 2 Powerwalls, and when utility power goes out, the load transfers to the batteries almost instantaneously. Lights don't even flicker.
Your concern reminds me of my mother, who was fearful of open water, and therefore, fearful of travel on boats and ships. I think she had seen too many Titanic movies. She used to say that she wouldn't go on any form of ocean travel until the lifeboats had their own lifeboats.
2 is 1, and 1 is none! I have already proved to myself that a backup to the backup is good for changing oil, etc.
No idea why you say not a sudden loss of NG, its very possible. A tree root rips up the line, the regulator fails, massive infrastructure failure, anything could happen. I am planning for as many possible situations
Sadly the PowerWall's or any battery don't really make a lot of financial sense. A single PowerWall is 13.5kwh, and the prices are through the roof, and they have no generator support. I have 17kw of solar on the roof, with Enphase Microinverters. Enphase has batteries that will tie into the system, and do support generator input, but the cost is crazy. I'd have to spend over $60,000 to make it a full day without generator
I'd love batteries, though!
How much do you need a generator? I mean at some point you get in a car and drive to o some place where they have electricity and stay in a motel.
Small supply of parts for main generator.
Battery bank & Inverter?
.
Storing enough gasoline for any serious running of a generator is a PIA.
500 gal tank of propane? It's the only fuel with zero issues for long term fuel storage.
I live in DE and the electric CO-OP has spent serious money on grid resiliency. I have two heat pumps with electric booster colis. Would need a serious generator to run them.
I bought a 10 KW dual fuel generator. Not sure what I might do with it. But if it's a serious outage I will put wife & dog in pickup and drive.
Small supply of parts for main generator.
Battery bank & Inverter?
.
Storing enough gasoline for any serious running of a generator is a PIA.
500 gal tank of propane? It's the only fuel with zero issues for long term fuel storage.
I live in DE and the electric CO-OP has spent serious money on grid resiliency. I have two heat pumps with electric booster colis. Would need a serious generator to run them.
I bought a 10 KW dual fuel generator. Not sure what I might do with it. But if it's a serious outage I will put wife & dog in pickup and drive.
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