I am looking at purchasing a small home portable generator to power items such as electric heaters/freezers and refrigerators. We currently have a DeVilbiss 7000 watt gas generator we purchased in 2000 (Y2K). We've hardly ever used it and probably because of that we keep having issues with it so I'm in the market for a new one. We have a local reputable Husqvarna dealer who sells DR generators. I looked at a 6500 watt one yesterday that sells for $900.
I've also read good reviews about Harbor Freight Predator generators. My wife dislikes the noise our current generator makes - it is super noisy! We also discussed possibly purchasing a solar powered home generator such as a Titan. Issues with solar power are limited power output, high price (Titan is $3000) and if no sun you're screwed. Again I'm not wanting to purchase something that powers numerous items - just appliances and something that is fairly quiet.
I've searched this forum and did find some info however would appreciate any and all recommendations.
I think the cheaper generators are pretty much the same. I have several and then I have a bigger diesel generator that’s capable of running everything.
One of the biggest considerations I think is to buy a smaller generator that is “dual fuel“ that can run on gasoline or propane. The reason that significant is that propane is clean, you can hook up those bottles, run the generator and then shut it down and not worry about clogging up the carburetor.You can flip a switch to run on gasoline but, after that, you’re running a little while on propane and it leaves it clean when you shut it down.
Earlier this week, my portable 7 year old 9000 watt got some exercise due to tropical storm Isaias. They’re ALL Chinese for the majority.
For 900$, you should be able to get a larger portable 8500-9000 watt/30amp.
Gasoline, electric start, low oil shutoff and has been dependable. And yes, its not quiet. Its far enough from the kitchen family room where the noise is less obnoxious. The only quiet portables That I’ve heard are the Hondas, but they usually less output and 2X the price. (Get the wife some head phones, its cheaper.. ). Down side to portables is wheel it out/in and make sure you’ve got 4-6 5 gallon cans filled, and basically babysitting it. Each time I have to use it, i re visit doing the whole house automatic Generac LP setup. But those start at about 10k-12k for my house, a long way from $900.
I did not know much about the hybrid dual fuel gas/propane generators. I just reviewed some information about the Duromax 5000 watt hybrid generator. I really like the idea I can run it on gas plus propane. It appears it would run most any ordinary appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, electric heaters etc. It says it will run off gas grill tanks of propane. More research needed however sounds like a good deal.
Jim, they are great. One propane bottle runs the air conditioner in my camper for about eight or 10 hours along with the refrigerator and TV. When it runs out of propane, you just hook up another bottle and press the start button.
Dual fuel is nice to have- it allows for options. However, propane is probably the least efficient fuel one can use.
A 5-8k generator will burn 5 gallons in 24 hours at about 80% load. The same generator at the same load will consume 15+ (3 standard grill bottles) in that time.
One thing that I've found is that I get more use out of my little 2.7k Honda (that I got used, Honda is way over priced new) than I do out of my bigger 5k. The reason is that I'm NOT trying to run the whole house, all the time, like normal. My first priority is the freezers/ refrigerators- there's literally thousands of dollars that can spoil. The little Honda runs my 2 freezers and refrigerator, at a fraction of the fuel consumption of running the 5k. There even enough left for a few lights or tv....
Dual fuel is nice to have- it allows for options. However, propane is probably the least efficient fuel one can use.
A 5-8k generator will burn 5 gallons in 24 hours at about 80% load. The same generator at the same load will consume 15+ (3 standard grill bottles) in that time.
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Good observation about the smaller Honda generator. I'm thinking now if I just want to keep the fridge/freezer and some electric heaters running I don't need an 8000 watt gen maybe a 5000 watt will be fine.
What I'll do during a hurricane power outage is use the honda about 6-8 hours a day, when I'm not at the house. Ill use the 5k for 2-4 hours a day, when I'm home, and want more working- fans, coffee pot, convection oven, lights, tv, computer, etc....
It gives the small generator a break, but manages fuel consumption well.
BTUs equal energy content. More energy equals more power produced. In the vapor state propane has more BTUs than natural gas. For a gallon of liquid the BTUs (from lower to higher) are in this order... propane, gasoline and then diesel fuel. The main advantage to me of propane is that it stores better. The advantage of natural gas is usually unlimited supply. Both of these gasses are no comparison to gasoline or diesel fuel when it comes to hours of runtime per gallon. The downside to these last two is fuel degradation during long term storage.
Yes Sir, I have a Honda EU3000i for essential things in case of extended power outage. Super quiet and so easy to pull start grandma wouldn’t have any problem. I run it 10 minutes every month, change the oil and gas every year, and only use stabilized non-ethanol gasoline. I did install Honda’s wheel kit which should have come with it IMO. Don’t forget to keep a few spare parts like spark plug, filters, etc... they might be difficult to find during a crisis.
Quick reminder about generators, I’ve had 2 friends have issues with the CO detectors going off in their homes. Extremely important to move away from the home.
I may give PRG a try. I've used Stabil for 30 years and never had an engine that would not run on stored fuel. Now a days I buy non ethnol if I plan to store it for any length.
I get E free for storage as well. I add ~1/3oz PRI-G per 5 gallon can. The manufacturers ratio is 1oz/16 gallons. I use it in my 2 stroke mix as well. Once a year, I "refresh" all of my stored gas (and diesel).
All of my gas engines (generators, mower, (2 stroke) chainsaws, trimmers, and blowers- are 3 pull starters, regardless of how long they sit... up to 6 months. The mower, with an electric start, is about a 2 second start on its worst day.
The only issue I've ever had was not touching the generator for 7 years- no need- and forgetting to shut off the fuel supply and drain the carb. I'd have been better off putting molasses in that carburetor..... but for season, no worries.
Touche`.
The bulk of my posting is done via phone, and I don't habitually proof my posts. I'm the King of Typos..... despite this, what I post reads well, for the most part.
But I am feeling pretty good about the 13 KW PTO generator that I got for my tractor. 13 KW will run everything in the house at about 1.1 gallons per hour of off road Diesel.
The main thing that makes gasoline vulnerable to water is ethanol. Leave out the ethanol and gasoline is much better off. Non-ethanol gasoline does have to be blended to a higher octane to meet spec, since the ethanol does give the gasoline an octane boost. Gasoline intended to receive ethanol is intentionally blended below rated octane. Either way you still end up at 87, 89, or 93. This whole ethanol thing came from the government, so that tells you all you need to know.
Its worth noting that octane does NOT equal "power" of efficiency. Octane prevents pre detonation under compression- what used to be called "engine knock" back it the 80s and before.
Modern cars have variable valve timing- the timing advances as much as the fuel quality will allow, which produces better power and efficiency. Ethanol attracts water, and has fewer BTUs per unit of measure. It reduces both power and efficiency- but its "clean". Both my vehicles show about 10% mpg improvement with E free gas. They also show marginal (but not financially viable) gains with high octane premium vs regular....
As it applies to small engines, without VVT, the biggest gain from E free is the stability... but that can be achieved for about $30 per 500 gallons with PRI-G.....
We had lots of issues with water condensation in our diesel fuel in tracked vehicles. Every time we drew the vehicles from the track park we had a few go down. Always having to deal with clogged filters.
Thanks for all the comments. In my ongoing generator research I ran across a 3500 watt dual fuel inverter generator manufactured by Champion. It seems like this would run my freezer and refrigerator at the same time. Plus features are it's dual fuel capability, compact size and being an inverter type it is much quieter than standard generator. Would appreciate any thoughts on this model or similar ones.
The champion generators work well. I have the 2200 watt version, starts easily and is pretty quiet. The 2200 will run My gas furnace and a refrigerator with a little bit left over for lights. I believe that many of those low cost gas generators are made in China and are relatively similar. I hear good things about most of them.
I've had a portable generator for years and it's gotten me through a few tight spots; one of which was being without power for 9 days after "Hurricane Elvis" here in Memphis back in 2003. It works very well for keeping the frozen food in a solid state plus running a few lights and fans but it won't run a whole lot more than that.
We're moving into a new and much larger home, and one of the first things I want to do is get one of those big 10kW generators that kick on automatically when the power fails and can run for extended periods off natural gas or a big buried LPG tank.
If anyone has experience with a Generac, etc. I'd love to hear about it.
If you have central air - make sure you call the AC Company and get the unit switched over to a soft start unit - my next door neighbor has one of them - and everytime his AC Unit tried to turn on it would kill the generator - the HVAC guys came out and tinkered with the AC unit - and presto no more issues
Be aware info from a buddy who has a local propane business that 1000gallon propane tank running your whole house generator like nothing is wrong will run empty after 5or 6 days unless you treat your house running on the generator like its running on a generator. ie cut the non essentials off when not in use. not sure what propane is a gallon in your area but even 2/gallon means a 2k hit when the power comes back on after a major event
and second the honda inverters i have a 2000i and love it basically the fan makes more noise than the generator. want to pick up a 3000i if i find a good used one
After some research....I went with a generator that my wife and I could carry...a Honda EU2000i....it is capable of running the refrigerator/freezer....the natural gas furnace....the big screen tv...a few lights....and our laptops....if I unplug the fridge....we can use the microwave.....all with the Honda running so quiet...it can not be heard from the front of the house...or the neighbors....and it has run for ELEVEN hours on the one gallon internal tank.....I have added a remote three gal marine tank....which I can top off...without stopping the Honda....It has paid for itself many times over.....
Everyone says - only run essential systems off the generator. What’s essential? We had the recent storm that knocked out power, at night it was in mid 80s and humid as hell and pushed into 90s next day. Is central air essential? I have 2 refrigerators and a freezer, 2 sump pumps (one running off a battery that’s only good for a couple days), water well, electric water heater, the septic pump and surface water pump. All of these are essential to me. Then you may wanna do some laundry; neighbors say they’ve had outages in this area that lasted weeks. Looking at the 20K watt LP Generac and hope that will be enough.
Personally, I don't consider a/c "essential". You will not die without it for a week. My freezers/ refrigerator are "essential"- theres $5k stored in them. Hot tap water (particularly during hurricane season) is not only non essential, its not necessarily desirable. I have enough clothes to last a few weeks at least.....if yiu have LPG, 2hy do uou have electric hot water...?
The key is a smaller generator, and rotating appliances as needed. Run the actual, no nonsense essentials, as needed- and other appliances as its feasible. My freezers don't need power 24/7- 8 hours a day is adequate.
Using an LPG 20k whole home generator, and living like normal is about a $2k+ per week proposition. And when your tank runs dry, you're done; if the power grid is down from storm damage, roads are lile not in top shape, and delivery trucks aren't out and about....
NG isn't much better. Both are horribly inefficient for generating electricity.
I recently had an issue where an 18 wheeler got caught up on some lines and tore out the power and communications lines. The telephone pole in my back yard snapped at its base, and all the wires attached to it kept it from smashing my garage....
So all this happens - i run to Home depot who only had some huge very expensive dewalt generator in stock, like over $900.
I run out of there and drive to harbor freight, and I find a 6500 watt generator, and i buy some accessories, $600 out the door.
Bought motor oil on the way home - filled it up with oil and gas - and it ran for 11 hours on about 3 gallons of gas. It was running 2 refrigerators and a large chest freezer.
It wasnt too noisy running in the back yard with the doors closed.
I should have hooked up a window ac unit or 2 - as it was crazy hot in the house, but I have a huge 240v window unit in the front of the house and no 240v extension cords. Also it is very old - i have no idea how many watts it pulls - I could have hooked up some smaller window units, but they are all up on the second floor and running extension cords up to the second floor from the back yard seemed like a less than great idea.
This is only the 2nd time in 20 years my power has been out for more than a couple of hours, so hard to justify putting a transfer switch or a permanently mounted Natural Gas generator....
ANYWAY - the point is - don't sell the harbor freight generators short - there are quite a few reviews online - and the predator motors they use are actually pretty good motors...
JAG
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