|
Survival and Preparations Long and short term survival and 'prepping'. |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Generator selection - dual fuel - SEE CHART
I would like a backup generator for my 4300 sq. ft. home. The capacity of the generators below will allow me to run most of my home during an outage (I will shut down pool and spa pumps and only run one of my two central AC units). It will run with an interlock switch; not a standby backup.
I would like dual fuel for flexibility. It is attractive for me to be able to store several full propane tanks in lieu of managing and rotating stored gasoline. That and gasoline may not be available from the local stations in a large blackout. However, the flexibility of using gasoline is still attractive for various reasons. I anticipate that this generator will be used fewer than 10x per year and hopefully never for more than a day or so. Any thoughts, feedback, suggestions regarding the four compared below? Any alternates in a similar price range that are preferable? Thank you in advance. SEE POST 23 FOR UPDATE
__________________
Expert firearms attorney: https://www.rwslaw.com/team/adam-j-richards/ Check out https://www.firearmsunknown.com/. Support a good calgunner local to San Diego. Last edited by ohsmily; 09-19-2019 at 8:38 PM.. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Running the AC would be a luxury and would be used to keep the house at a habitable temperature (below 80 or 82 degrees) in the event of a summer outage. I live outside of Sacramento in the foothills and it can get rather hot. Thank you for the feedback.
__________________
Expert firearms attorney: https://www.rwslaw.com/team/adam-j-richards/ Check out https://www.firearmsunknown.com/. Support a good calgunner local to San Diego. Last edited by ohsmily; 07-09-2019 at 9:42 PM.. |
#4
|
||||
|
||||
There are really good reasons why Honda generators of comparable wattage cost twice as much. Something you might want to research and consider.
__________________
Benefactor Life Member, National Rifle Association Life Member, California Rifle and Pistol Association |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
you need to check and see if your A/C units are three phase or single phase 220/240. first.
then look at the generator output. that Firman lists 6 gallons per hour. check the MFG website.
__________________
Been gone too long. It's been 15 to 20 years since i had to shelf my guns. Those early years sucked. I really miss the good old Pomona Gun Shows. I'm Back. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Keep in mind that the wattage listed on those will be max when using gasoline. The output will be less when running propane. Running watt's on my dual fuel is 7500 gasoline, and 6750 LPG. Not a huge difference but enough to matter depending on what you're trying to run. My generator's will go to necessity item's, frige, freezer and well.
|
#8
|
||||
|
||||
Reefer, fans, water and comms are my priority items to keep going during an outage. Running AC and my pool pump will never make it to that short list. The more you load your genny the more fuel you use up.
My power goes out in the winter time on a regular basis. I use a Yamaha with an easy button starter. I keep a 12V deep cycle battery trickle charging as a backup in case genny's batt gags.
__________________
"Find out just what the people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them and these will continue until they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress." -- Frederick Douglass -- “I didn’t know I was a slave until I found out I couldn’t do the things I wanted.” – Frederick Douglass -- |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
A 100 gallon tank comes in around 420 pounds and is hardly transportable once filled on site by a propane truck. You might be able to transport one to town for filling but the propane seller will demand the tank be set on the ground before they will fill it. Good luck with that. I mention this so you don't think in your calculation that you are going to buy from Home Depot what you may mistakenly be calling a 100 gallon tank which is actually a 100 pound tank that holds 24 gallons. |
#10
|
||||
|
||||
I'm on my phone, so maybe I missed it. ALL of those are gonna be loud. I dont see any db ratings. Suggest an enclosed?
__________________
Quote:
|
#11
|
|||
|
|||
You did miss it. They are listed at between 72-74dB. Noise is not a big concern, anyway, where I am located.
__________________
Expert firearms attorney: https://www.rwslaw.com/team/adam-j-richards/ Check out https://www.firearmsunknown.com/. Support a good calgunner local to San Diego. Last edited by ohsmily; 07-10-2019 at 12:58 PM.. |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Is there an easy way to tell visibly on the AC equipment without using a voltmeter?
__________________
Expert firearms attorney: https://www.rwslaw.com/team/adam-j-richards/ Check out https://www.firearmsunknown.com/. Support a good calgunner local to San Diego. Last edited by ohsmily; 07-10-2019 at 1:00 PM.. |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
1 acre. Some larger properties in the area.
__________________
Expert firearms attorney: https://www.rwslaw.com/team/adam-j-richards/ Check out https://www.firearmsunknown.com/. Support a good calgunner local to San Diego. |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
It should say single phase or three phase.
__________________
Been gone too long. It's been 15 to 20 years since i had to shelf my guns. Those early years sucked. I really miss the good old Pomona Gun Shows. I'm Back. |
#16
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Since you are buying for an emergency. Buy once. Cry once.
__________________
^^ Said by some lunatic on the internet |
#17
|
|||
|
|||
I looked at the motors that drive the fans on the outside units. They are both single phase. Is there something else to look at or is that the answer?
__________________
Expert firearms attorney: https://www.rwslaw.com/team/adam-j-richards/ Check out https://www.firearmsunknown.com/. Support a good calgunner local to San Diego. |
#18
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
I tried looking up a couple of those and did not see the specs. Maybe the mfg websites might have more info. Also check your pool pump. Should be 220v also. I know you said you would just turn them off. But I have seen people use the pool pump to run a fire hose. That's another story.
__________________
Been gone too long. It's been 15 to 20 years since i had to shelf my guns. Those early years sucked. I really miss the good old Pomona Gun Shows. I'm Back. |
#19
|
||||
|
||||
I purchased the Champion 7500 watt duel fuel from tractor supply. I like being able to test run it on propane and store and not worry about the carburetor varnishing up. If the SHTF, I have plenty of gasoline in my four vehicles and fuel cans, plus 5 20# propane tanks to keep the fridge and freezer going for awhile.
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...electric-start |
#20
|
|||
|
|||
I have a champion propane generator I got on sale at HD. It does well - I charge the battery (also has a pull start) and fire it up once or twice a year. I have it primarily for my well pump.
I have a propane oven and hot water heater. The generator can run a freezer and a small a/c when have in a casita. In addition to that, I have a battery pack charged up that will open my garage, run a light and charge my cell phones. I like these tanks. Propane guy will fill up when they get low. Store outside in the shade. They are at the height of the generator and are easy to move around. Friend has the 100 lb tank and it’s inconvenient to get filled up and move around. FlameKing YSN-301 Propane Tank-30 Pound Refillable Steel Cylinder with Type 1 Overflow Protection Device Valve-DOT and TC Compliant, 30 lb, White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003UHVVV2..._WORjDb5HR15T7 https://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/poweroutage2013.html You can get gallon size jugs, fill with water and leave in the freezer. |
#22
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
https://www.costco.com/Firman-7500W-...100417697.html I bought the following propane tanks: 1 30lb tank, 2 40lb tanks, and 1 100lb tank. My plan is to never use gasoline unless a true emergency or very extended power outage crops up and i have no other options. The propane burns cleanly in the motor and I won't have to worry about gumming things up with old gasoline and infrequent use. The propane i now have on hand will last through any power outage I have experienced thus far (probably last me more than a week with sparing use to run the central AC periodically if summer time and the heater (NG powered) during the winter, plus fridges, freezers periodically to keep them cold. Obviously, it won't be sufficient for a true SHTF long term scenario...but that isn't the purpose of this backup generator.
__________________
Expert firearms attorney: https://www.rwslaw.com/team/adam-j-richards/ Check out https://www.firearmsunknown.com/. Support a good calgunner local to San Diego. |
#23
|
|||
|
|||
If you really want to run your AC be sure to put a meter on your AC power legs to determine how many amps you are pulling on start up. If you don't have a clamp meter you can get one at Harbor Freight for $15.
Also Skip the small LP tanks and buy a big tank (100-500 Gal) and have gas delivered. I payed 1.69/gal to fill my tanks and there is no sales tax. |
#24
|
||||
|
||||
Requires an adapter and probably a longer hose. Mine is only long enough for the 20# tanks, or I need to dig a hole to set the taller tanks in.
|
#26
|
|||
|
|||
3 Phase in a house. Common man that is stupid.
|
#27
|
|||
|
|||
Of course they are. No one has 3 phase in their house unless you have some crazy stuff going on.
|
#28
|
|||
|
|||
If noise is a concern, look elsewhere. I was looking for a generator for our 30' trailer and picked up one similar to the ones you listed. I believe it was listed around 69db. It was incredibly loud. I took it back and ponied up for a Honda inverter generator. They are expensive, but buy once, cry once.
|
#29
|
|||
|
|||
Need it to run a lathe and mill and welder.
It's not stupid.
__________________
Been gone too long. It's been 15 to 20 years since i had to shelf my guns. Those early years sucked. I really miss the good old Pomona Gun Shows. I'm Back. |
#30
|
||||
|
||||
My friend, had 400 Amps 3ph at their home...
__________________
Quote:
|
#31
|
||||
|
||||
Do you have a truck?
Consider a saddle tank- 20 gallon factory tank and 30 gallons or so extra in a truck The truck rotates the fuel You have fuel for the generator
__________________
Rule 1- ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED Rule 2 -NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO DESTROY (including your hands and legs) Rule 3 -KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET Rule 4 -BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET AND WHAT IS BEYOND IT (thanks to Jeff Cooper) |
#32
|
|||
|
|||
Pge will not hook up 3 phase to a house. Maybe a barn or a shop. I just went through this with PGE. Had to have a separate service put it. Additionally no one would install a 3 phase ac system in a house unless it is a huge house. Like crazy huge. 3 phase is not even available to most homes.
|
#33
|
||||
|
||||
Check Groupon
4000 Watt dual fuel was $330 IIRC Fun thing about generators. I bought a Generac back in the 90's to keep my reef tank alive during a blackout. Over the course of 22 years I used it exactly twice. It was a gas generator and with the time it took to get it out of the shed, started and hooked up to the cords, I ran it for about 10 minutes before the power came back., So I am not sure about such an investment if you are on a reasonably reliable grid. Remember, once the grid goes down, you'll have a hard time replacing your generator fuel once you've used your stash.
__________________
NRA Benefactor Member |
#34
|
|||
|
|||
I bought a Yamaha knock off for $399 from authorized equipment sale just North of the 10 freeway in Ontario had it about a year and a half drink it once a month let it run for an hour it gets it done
|
#35
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
__________________
Quote:
|
#36
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Lol - that’s been my experience over the last 10 years. I’ve used my battery bank for power outages that last more than 60 mins to open my garage door opener and gate. Also good for charging cell phones or running a light. |
#37
|
||||
|
||||
Have you considered a 500 gallon propane tank, the kind people use when they don't have NG service?
__________________
Mojave Lever Crew Member "It is time for us to do what we have been doing and that time is every day. Every day it is time for us to agree that there are things and tools that are available to us to slow this thing down." - Kamala "Heels Up" Harris Slava Ukraini (Слава Україні) |
#40
|
|||
|
|||
And then they stiff you on the cost of propane since you can't shop around with other suppliers.
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|