What level of generator do I need?

[FlyingTexan]

Been in a power crisis in Texas with both my fishing home and my Houston home out of power. Finally got it back at the bay home. But even a few days here in 100 deg heat trying to sleep was horrible. I’d like to get a portable generator to have for these situations that can either power the central AC and house or at a minimum power the largest window unit I can get my hands on to keep things livable. Also be able to run a fridge and charge a few devices.

What power do you need for for a 3,5ton central unit or a 20000 BTU window unit?

 

[SupremePossum]

Whats your budget? I'm in southwest Houston and my power is still out, rocking my Generac RG027. Currently at 110 hours this run

Wouldn't have anything else. Quiet, liquid cooled, 1800RPM, endless headroom

 

[benjamming]

Do you have a soft start on the HVAC unit? That’s good in any case but especially helps with a generator.

 

[FlyingTexan]

Timbergrove but was hoping to have something portable I could plug in where needed

 

[BrendanC]

Timbergrove but was hoping to have something portable I could plug in where needed

you aren’t going to get anything portable to run the air conditioner for long term outages. grandparens also have a 20kw generac liquid cooled model. it fired up monday morning at 0600 and ran until wednesday at 1700. 5 ton central AC, every exterior light for security and 8 people inside. my parents have one on the way now. if it were me, i would be looking for a 20kw diesel generator and have it wired up as a whole home with an auto transfer switch. get a 100 gallon tank under it. i’m sure the nat. gas bill will be insane.

 

[nickaluch]

I ran a large window AC, fridge, a few lights, cable TV with a champion 3500 watt no issues. I had a much bigger one but sold it feeding that monster gasoline became a full time job especially when gas was hard to come by

 

[Mechanician]

If I lived in Texas - with that power grid - I would spend the money on one of those big back up units as suggested above.

 

[Cruisin'n5thgear]

I was able to get my 8k (10k surge) gen to power my AC unit on a small 2000 sq foot house. Generac makes a large portable that might work for you. https://thecraftsupply.com/product/...Qo30pQSYP4lsD9a9F9AxhUFlDSaXfJ-xoCOn8QAvD_BwE

But can't match a true permanent install of a whole-house generator. Can tell you from personal experience that a 10k watt generator is barely portable as is. Not like you're going to throw it in the truck and go camping.

 

[Bud]

I have a 12500 peak watt Westinghouse portable at my house in Katy. Have a 50 amp cable running to my transfer switch. It runs everything but my central air, but I have two ac's in my two main bedrooms.

 

[Rand]

i’m sure the nat. gas bill will be insane.

Per BTU 1000mcf natural gas = 1million
diesel 137k/gal

My bill 3.38/mcf diesel 3.67

also dont have to worry about old diesel etc.


a 20kw generator at 1/4 load uses runs about 6.5 hours on 1000mcf aprox 5 hours at half load.

Diesel version about .9 to 1gal per hour at half load (20kw gen) =10kw load

 

[riff1006]

My Firman 9400/7600 Tri-Fuel runs my Internet/servers/tv/fridge/freezer/smaller fridge/4 ton AC on gasoline, and I assume propane. I've not tested in natural gas yet, but I will soon. Newer ACs are easier to start according to a local A/C and heating company. My power tried real hard to shut off, but every time it did it came right back on.

I think it helps us that we're within a few blocks of a big hospital.

 

[SupremePossum]

i’m sure the nat. gas bill will be insane.

I had a 24 hour outage a few months ago, my bill was exactly $12 more expensive. So $12 per 24 hour for my loads, which is totally reasonable

Generator is a Generac RG027. 1800RPM, Liquid cooled, 2.4L Mitsubishi I4 Engine

 

[SupremePossum]

Current-ish Houston NG prices with a RG027 running on NG at 1/4 load, which is MUCH higher than my average

 

[jtwrace]

DuroMax 13000HXT with Micro Air Soft Start and you'll have plenty of power.

 

[FlyingTexan]

DuroMax 13000HXT with Micro Air Soft Start and you'll have plenty of power.

Hey that looks good. Could feed off my natural gas line but I could move it as needed. I have a bay home that lost power for a few days and my mother in El Campo lost her power too so didn't have anywhere to go. I can't put three full time generators in so being able to wheel one to different locations is a big plus. That's a good find.

 

[The_Jeff]

Make sure a dual fuel generator makes the same power on natural gas vs gasoline, they are usually derated about 20%.

You may (legally) need to have the gas company hook up to the "portable" generator, making it not portable. Your power needs (wants) imply "luggable" at best. You'd want a way to chain it down and protect it from weather where the gas guy can pipe to it.

If you're using gasoline, you're going to burn through a LOT keeping the central air on. Buying gas in a town with no electricity is as fun as a toothache. A couple window units will be way less of a load, and will at least cut the indoor humidity a measurable amount while blowing on your bed to keep it better for sleeping. You also have the advantage of not wrecking your central air with questionable power during questionable weather conditions... and having a backup plan in case the central air goes down for not-storm reasons.

 

[SupremePossum]

You may need to have the gas company hook up to the "portable" generator, making it not portable.

Confused, why would you not just use a quick connect?

 

[burbguy82]

Been in a power crisis in Texas with both my fishing home and my Houston home out of power. Finally got it back at the bay home. But even a few days here in 100 deg heat trying to sleep was horrible. I’d like to get a portable generator to have for these situations that can either power the central AC and house or at a minimum power the largest window unit I can get my hands on to keep things livable. Also be able to run a fridge and charge a few devices.

What power do you need for for a 3,5ton central unit or a 20000 BTU window unit?

Amps X volts=watts

wattage is what you are after, whatever it comes to, add 20%.

I have a 10000 starting watt portable generator that runs my ac and other things just fine.

 

[KJSmith]

I've been here 26yrs.
I have lost power for 14 full days in that time.

9 of them were for Ike.
Ike was in Sept. 2008.
We had 2 weeks of near perfect weather after the storm. No issues.

This time was 4 days.
First 2 days were fine.
3rd day wasn't.
4 day power was on by 6pm.

I may be cheap, but I can't justify the cost.

 

[clinebarger]

If I lived in Texas - with that power grid - I would spend the money on one of those big back up units as suggested above.

I'm on the "Texas" grid & haven't lost power in 3 years, Bought 2 Generators after the last extended outage....Still in their boxes.

Don't believe what's happening in south Texas is a grid problem?