Originally Posted By: JimPghPA
Originally Posted By: rjundi
I am in the market also for a 5000-8000 watt generator. Are Honda's significantly quieter than other models? Also besides Chinese models any know of propane powered units?
I get two - three days per year of power outages. They make my wife absolutely crazy.
The Honda Inverter large units are quiet, drink less gas, and cost WAY more.
You probably could get a conversion kit to run it off of propane, or natural gas. Some Honda models have kits available, and there generic retro fit kits available by other manufacturers.
Also, there are several ways to connect the power to your house. If the persons in charge are all diligent enough to pay attention to the amount of wattage load, then a whole house transfer switch could be used that switches the main before the fuse box.
If there is a chance that someone might apply too much load because they would not keep track of total load, then a transfer switch that only transfers a half dozen or so breaker circuits would be the way to go. Does the house have items that draw large amount of power, such as whole house AC, or a couple of small window AC units, electric stove, electric dryer, electric water heater, very old freezer or very old fridge, (and even electric whole house heat, that would be a major amount of power)?
Some of these systems are automatic, and some are manual.
If you go with the whole house main you should also add a indicator (light and or noise maker) that lets you know when the main come back up. This should be on a switch to turn it off.
When you are not home does your wife have the mechanical aptitude to start a generator and activate a transfer switch?
Does she have the muscle to pull the start rope, or should the generator have an electric start? It is best to keep a generator in some kind of shelter like a garage or cellar. Is the pathway from where the generator will be stored level enough with no stairs so your wife could wheel the generator out?
An additional advantage to the automatic systems is if everyone is away from home it will still come on and supply power for your refrigerator and freezer. Automatic systems do not require you to go outside in bad weather to start or shut them down, but be sure to keep track of the run time and service it when required. A hobs meter is a really good idea. Some even have two hobs meters, one you can reset when you change the oil, and one for total run time.
These are all things you have to take into account when deciding if you want an automatic generator, or manual.
Originally Posted By: rjundi
I am in the market also for a 5000-8000 watt generator. Are Honda's significantly quieter than other models? Also besides Chinese models any know of propane powered units?
I get two - three days per year of power outages. They make my wife absolutely crazy.
The Honda Inverter large units are quiet, drink less gas, and cost WAY more.
You probably could get a conversion kit to run it off of propane, or natural gas. Some Honda models have kits available, and there generic retro fit kits available by other manufacturers.
Also, there are several ways to connect the power to your house. If the persons in charge are all diligent enough to pay attention to the amount of wattage load, then a whole house transfer switch could be used that switches the main before the fuse box.
If there is a chance that someone might apply too much load because they would not keep track of total load, then a transfer switch that only transfers a half dozen or so breaker circuits would be the way to go. Does the house have items that draw large amount of power, such as whole house AC, or a couple of small window AC units, electric stove, electric dryer, electric water heater, very old freezer or very old fridge, (and even electric whole house heat, that would be a major amount of power)?
Some of these systems are automatic, and some are manual.
If you go with the whole house main you should also add a indicator (light and or noise maker) that lets you know when the main come back up. This should be on a switch to turn it off.
When you are not home does your wife have the mechanical aptitude to start a generator and activate a transfer switch?
Does she have the muscle to pull the start rope, or should the generator have an electric start? It is best to keep a generator in some kind of shelter like a garage or cellar. Is the pathway from where the generator will be stored level enough with no stairs so your wife could wheel the generator out?
An additional advantage to the automatic systems is if everyone is away from home it will still come on and supply power for your refrigerator and freezer. Automatic systems do not require you to go outside in bad weather to start or shut them down, but be sure to keep track of the run time and service it when required. A hobs meter is a really good idea. Some even have two hobs meters, one you can reset when you change the oil, and one for total run time.
These are all things you have to take into account when deciding if you want an automatic generator, or manual.
