Geezus man.. now I have major genset envy.... <thumbs up!>
Generator for home during power outages
- Thread starter ERDFW
- Start date
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Interesting you mention that, while running a HAM radio antenna yesterday I discovered mine was cracked exiting the foundation.... never thought to check that. <head slap>
I got a Ryobi inverter 2300 watt gen at Home Despot's 'broken' isle for $250. Started first pull, have used it to power the tire warmers on my bike for track days for a couple of years. I had one of those nasty Chicom non-invertes I got of CL for $100 was good when the CA grid crashed during a winter storm in 2015.
For purposful use (like track days where I'm trying to enjoy myself) I prefer the quieter inverter for sure, but when the S-hite the breeze generator...it was all hands one deck and noise be damned.. .I got food to save.
So my advise would be to get 1of each.Oh.. and keep your eye out. I got a Subraru/Coleman 2000w for free, it was sitting on the curb when my neighbors moved out. $10 in spray paint, a good cleaning and a new $5 fuel filter and it too, started first pull.
I guess what I'm saying is with no urgency, a careful eye can get some generators cheap (or, free!). They really do come in handy. I've found the 2300w is just barely capable of handling the startup on our fridge, so my suggestion is if you plan to use it for disasters... test it first to make sure it will get the job done.
Good advice.
jordanmills
TGT Addict
Why do you say that?
Just FYI, an "inverter" is different than an "inverter generator". Just saying.
Just had my compressor hard start kit installed…funny because they’re also called soft start kits.
Having a hard time finding an electrician who will hookup a transfer switch. But if I’ve got a house to rewire, they’re available for that.
Futhermuckers.
Anyone got an electrician reco for this? I’m near Arlington.
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Having a hard time finding an electrician who will hookup a transfer switch. But if I’ve got a house to rewire, they’re available for that.
Futhermuckers.
Anyone got an electrician reco for this? I’m near Arlington.
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thescoutranch
TN Transplant - We love living in TX
Something to consider when exercising your generators.
In the RV world they recommend when you exercise your generator, you do it with a load on the generator (1/4 - 1/2 of it’s rating), and not run it unloaded.
For us, we will normally power the air conditioner or heat pump up when we exercise it.
For the house you could just plug in the shop vac and run it while you exercise in your generator.
In the RV world they recommend when you exercise your generator, you do it with a load on the generator (1/4 - 1/2 of it’s rating), and not run it unloaded.
For us, we will normally power the air conditioner or heat pump up when we exercise it.
For the house you could just plug in the shop vac and run it while you exercise in your generator.
jordanmills
TGT Addict
I have never seen anything like either of those, and I keep an eye out for deals. I bought a decent inverter-generator new a couple of months ago, but never seen anything decent used or marked down.I got a Ryobi inverter 2300 watt gen at Home Despot's 'broken' isle for $250. Started first pull, have used it to power the tire warmers on my bike for track days for a couple of years. I had one of those nasty Chicom non-invertes I got of CL for $100 was good when the CA grid crashed during a winter storm in 2015.
For purposful use (like track days where I'm trying to enjoy myself) I prefer the quieter inverter for sure, but when the S-hite the breeze generator...it was all hands one deck and noise be damned.. .I got food to save.
So my advise would be to get 1of each.
I guess what I'm saying is with no urgency, a careful eye can get some generators cheap (or, free!). They really do come in handy. I've found the 2300w is just barely capable of handling the startup on our fridge, so my suggestion is if you plan to use it for disasters... test it first to make sure it will get the job done.
jordanmills
TGT Addict
I have a 7 KW generator. Got it for $1200. 7000-9000 is right at the top end for affordable inverter-generators. They're not that much more expensive than non-inverter generators, but the output is a LOT cleaner.
Axxe55
Retiretgtshit stirrer
You would think any competent electrician could hook up a transfer switch.
Axxe55
Retiretgtshit stirrer
If possible, I'd start looking at some other electrical contractors. Maybe they are too busy and need a break from all the work!
If you really wanted to exercise a loaded generator, use a Mr. Coffee. That will definitely change the tune on your unloaded generator.
After the freeze and being out of power for 3.5 days, I ordered a 12,000W generator. I wired it up with 8awg via dryer plug into the panel, got a natural gas conversion kit, ran 1/2" gas pipe to it, and built a cover so it can run in bad weather. It will run off gas, propane, and natural gas. If I need to use it, it will power the entire house, A/C and large appliances seemlessly, and not need attention until the street lights come on and it's time to turn it off.
I made a YouTube video going over the setup here.
I made a YouTube video going over the setup here.
Ok-I’m breaking mine in right now. Fittest 8 hours to burn out the China in the motor. I’ll hook up the shop vac now. Thanks for the advice. Can’t really figure out why it makes a difference load or not- but it sure can’t hurt.
When I exercise the Kubota, I just hook it up to the transfer switch first, then power the ten emergency circuits for about an hour or so. It gives my wife and me practice in the proper procedure to use and, as you've pointed out--the genset needs a load.
True dat. We needed a new breaker panel and the manual transfer switch, and I was NOT gonna pull any permits. Turns out, we also replaced the meter box too, as one of the lugs busted. But because my brother is an electrician (visiting from Illinois), it's like I was performing the work myself; therefore, no permit was needed. The work was done RIGHT and better than I could have had a hired electrician do. I'm convinced of that.
May as well vacuum the grass while it's running.
Your neighbors will get a laugh, may even end up on YouTube....
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