Ok, thanks for your reply. I did not give much more detail. But here it is. Power failures are not vary common around here. So I am not looking into spending gobs of money in preparation. Because of that, I am viewing the backup power as a temporary measure, not live like we normally would. So this is what I like to lease power, lights, refrigerator and 2 freezers, few electronics like phones, and internet if we have it, well pump. I have a gas insert for a fire place, so that can serve as backup heat, gas cooktop and gas dryer. I have a hybrid water heater, so if I were to let the heat pump portion run only, it wouldn't be near as big of a load, but we could improvise without it. Now, I did buy a Ford F-150 PowerBoost that I would use too, but lets face it, primary, I bought it to have a set of wheels, not as a backup power source. The other thing is I figured 240 volt, 30 amps maxes out at 7200 watts, so I don't see need to buy a generator over 8000 watts. Being my 5500 watt, only has a 240 volt, 20 Amp, this only allots me 4800 watts. I also do not see a need to have an inverter generator, do to their cost.
What brand generators are good?
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I have a Rigid brand 8000W that I bought from Home Depot. Has a 14 hp Subaru engine that has never failed to start the first pull except when I forget to turn it on. I always thoroughly drain the fuel and oil the cylinder before I put it away. I back feed through a 240V circuit in the shed. It runs everything I need. Sump pumps, water pump, refrigerator, chest freezer, boiler.
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My WGen9500 has a 12k surge - but I run propane and that drops it to 8500 watts and 11k surge …
I have no interest in running gasoline but could …
(carbs gum up, all that) …
We run two fridges and an 8000 btu AC with it easily - with lights etc …
My Briggs Storm Responder never fails me, and starts on the first pull. Proper maintenance required for occasional use.
we have a 6500 Honda open frame 240 volt and a 3800 WEN inverter 120 volt. The WEN can run everything except the well pump, water heater and central air conditioning. So during a power failure a few times a year (none storm related) the WEN does great until we need water. Honda is open frame think noisey and more thirsty. The WEN is quiet and sips fuel all night for heat and refrigerators.
It's best to measure each of your loads. I used a Kill-A-Watt meter to measure my furnace, fridge, freezer, sump pump, TV, microwave, and everything else in the house. I created a list of everything and their power needs, then I decided what I want to run during a temporary power outage. I then installed a small 6 circuit sub panel that connects to a generator power inlet plug on the exterior of my house. These six circuits are the "essentials".
I can run comfortably on my little Honda EU2000i inverter generator. I power my fridge, freezer, furnace and sump pump. I also have the family room and bathroom circuits connected so I can watch TV, use internet and have light when I shower. I have city water and sewer, so no need for a well pump and a gas water heater. I have an electric stove, but I use my propane camping stove to heat meals.
This little generator can also run either a microwave, clothes washer or clothes dryer (only one at a time) if needed. I just need to plan ahead and disconnect other loads first. My typical power outages rarely last longer than a day or two, so I'm ok with the smaller generator.
I also have a Honda 2200 watt regular style generator. This can run the washer and dryer without skipping a beat. The open frame construction style generators can handle startup surge better than the little inverter style generators can.
I used to have a larger 5500 watt generator, but it was super loud, a gas hog, and difficult to pull start in the warm (and almost impossible in the cold). I'm much happier with my smaller generator setup I have today. Five gallons of gas can easily last a week.
I can run comfortably on my little Honda EU2000i inverter generator. I power my fridge, freezer, furnace and sump pump. I also have the family room and bathroom circuits connected so I can watch TV, use internet and have light when I shower. I have city water and sewer, so no need for a well pump and a gas water heater. I have an electric stove, but I use my propane camping stove to heat meals.
This little generator can also run either a microwave, clothes washer or clothes dryer (only one at a time) if needed. I just need to plan ahead and disconnect other loads first. My typical power outages rarely last longer than a day or two, so I'm ok with the smaller generator.
I also have a Honda 2200 watt regular style generator. This can run the washer and dryer without skipping a beat. The open frame construction style generators can handle startup surge better than the little inverter style generators can.
I used to have a larger 5500 watt generator, but it was super loud, a gas hog, and difficult to pull start in the warm (and almost impossible in the cold). I'm much happier with my smaller generator setup I have today. Five gallons of gas can easily last a week.
It sounds to me like you have a generator that will, will proper connections and load management, run much of what you might need. And do so reliably.
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Not even a window AC unit?
If you turned everything big off in your house, your 20 amp 240v plug should be enough. Somewhat green acres-ish though.
(The freezers may have to run until they turn off so they can be unplugged for a while.)
The generator plug on your house should be fused with a 20 amp 2 pole breaker so nothing will burn down.
(The freezers may have to run until they turn off so they can be unplugged for a while.)
The generator plug on your house should be fused with a 20 amp 2 pole breaker so nothing will burn down.
Michigan doesn't usually get unbearably hot in the summer. I do have some fans and a small window unit I could use if it gets hot.
Like I said, I rarely lose power, so my plan is to ride it out for a day or so.
I got a text from the power company at 8:00 AM this morning - my power was being shut off and would be back on around 1:00PM.
I jumped in the shower and before my hair was wet the lights went out.
I pulled my generator out of its box (after drying off and wrapping myself in a towel) flipped the breaker box interlock, plugged in the power cord - started on second pull and the lights came back on.
This is one of 3 different generator I have - smallest but it is always "ready to go" .
https://a-ipower.com/products/sua2000i-2000-watt-portable-inverter-generator-gasoline-powered.
IMHO you need two generators - because anything can break down, and having one small unit at the ready is worth the $299 I paid ($325 with tax). I would say one small fuel efficient model and a larger one that will run whatever your most critical item is - heater, well pump, whatever.
This small unit will run my refrigerator, coffee maker, lights computer - just not all at once.
I need to check and see if it will run my HVAC blower (natural gas heat) - it runs my garage door opener so I am hoping yes.
BTW Check out Wen generators - yes they are from China - but check their web site - sometimes they have really good deals.
https://wenproducts.com/collections/inverter-generators
I jumped in the shower and before my hair was wet the lights went out.
I pulled my generator out of its box (after drying off and wrapping myself in a towel) flipped the breaker box interlock, plugged in the power cord - started on second pull and the lights came back on.
This is one of 3 different generator I have - smallest but it is always "ready to go" .
https://a-ipower.com/products/sua2000i-2000-watt-portable-inverter-generator-gasoline-powered.
IMHO you need two generators - because anything can break down, and having one small unit at the ready is worth the $299 I paid ($325 with tax). I would say one small fuel efficient model and a larger one that will run whatever your most critical item is - heater, well pump, whatever.
This small unit will run my refrigerator, coffee maker, lights computer - just not all at once.
I need to check and see if it will run my HVAC blower (natural gas heat) - it runs my garage door opener so I am hoping yes.
BTW Check out Wen generators - yes they are from China - but check their web site - sometimes they have really good deals.
https://wenproducts.com/collections/inverter-generators
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.At our place in NH we have a fixed propane fueled 14Kw Kohler.
But for extended outages we shut it down at night and use a Honda EU2000i to run the heater fan and any lights.
But for extended outages we shut it down at night and use a Honda EU2000i to run the heater fan and any lights.
We just use a Yamaha 3000W inverter, so it does 2 plugs pretty well, and I think last time we were running the fridge and freezer along with the internet and a couple laptops. No 220V for the well, but we've got a pond and propane cook stove, to boil water, an lots of buckets to flush toilets. Last power outage for a couple days we only used water in the pressure tank for drinking, and we had filled up a 20L jug and some 2l bottles out of the recycling, as the ice storm started before the power went out.
But we have no "must run" all the time electrical loads, like a sump pump or forced air furnace, so running the fridge and freezer a couple times a day for a couple hours doesn't use much gas.
If you have a sump pump that needs to run 24/7 in the spring, probably a couple 2000W honda inverter generators would be a good plan.
But we have no "must run" all the time electrical loads, like a sump pump or forced air furnace, so running the fridge and freezer a couple times a day for a couple hours doesn't use much gas.
If you have a sump pump that needs to run 24/7 in the spring, probably a couple 2000W honda inverter generators would be a good plan.
This is a good idea. ~3-5 gallons of propane per hour adds up quick.
I've had Duromax 10k duo fuel and a Westinghouse 12kpro. both ran without issues and started when called upon. I broke both in with full synthetic oil as the Duromax didn't have an oil filter. I can say the spark plugs looked CLEAN only having run LP in the Duromax genny. I sold both when I got a standby genny and haven't looked back. If you've got the transfer switch (hookup) professionally installed, all you need is to be able to cycle whatever breakers you want to run at the breaker box - no need for extension cords, etc.
It depends on how the genny was taken care of. Check the oil and see how it starts from cold when you go check it out. I know I had people beating down my door when I put them up for sale given how I broke them in (thanks, BITOG users for the break in tips!).
It depends on how the genny was taken care of. Check the oil and see how it starts from cold when you go check it out. I know I had people beating down my door when I put them up for sale given how I broke them in (thanks, BITOG users for the break in tips!).
This is the unit. We talked to a lot of Generac and Kohler owners and the Kohler owners were happier.
We located the unit on the far side of the garage so don’t even hear it. We have two 100 gallon tanks. In the last 10 years the longest outage was 18 hours. Usually 3-4.
https://www.kohlerhomeenergy.rehlko.com/products/home+generators/14rca
My Honda EU2000i inverter generator barely comes off idle when my forced air natural gas furnace kicks on. I got a new efficient furnace a few years ago and it is amazing. It has a variable speed motor that has a soft ramp up to speed. My old furnace would dim the lights and stress the little generator to the max when the fan kicked on!
I've found that with my new furnace, newer fridge, newer TV and LED lights throughout the house, my power needs are less than half of what they were just 10 years ago. That's why I sold my large generator.
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