Generators - what to look for?

[Ireloadtoo]

Sounds like you’re doing all the right things. Take care of your equipment and when you need it, it will take care of you. I also logged all my generator activity which came in handy after I built an off-grid house. I was able to review my logs and see that living off-grid, I used the generator less than when I lived on-grid thanks to PG&E!

Fully agreed. You mentioned "living off-grid" roughly two years ago ive set up a simple solar power system that I run my garage freezer for several hours a day during the cold season and longer during summer season. Eventually will upgrade for much larger generating capacity and storage. I don't become too dependent on my generator to power my kitchen fridge or my garage freezer.

[Misterclick]

For shorter power outages I used a Jackery battery "solar generator". Yes, I have a large gas one that I use to power the well and house but for evenings when I like things quiet the Jackery powers my satellite, TV/Electronics and lights. Also, makes the coffee in the morning! With that said, we can usually get by 2 days with just the Jackery after that the well holding tank is empty and I have to bust out the dual fuel generator. Something for you to consider, good for shorter outages and more portable than a fuel generator.

[IronsightsRifleman]

For shorter power outages I used a Jackery battery "solar generator". Yes, I have a large gas one that I use to power the well and house but for evenings when I like things quiet the Jackery powers my satellite, TV/Electronics and lights. Also, makes the coffee in the morning! With that said, we can usually get by 2 days with just the Jackery after that the well holding tank is empty and I have to bust out the dual fuel generator. Something for you to consider, good for shorter outages and more portable than a fuel generator.

Yeah I just bought a small Jackery bayyery to run the router and cell phone extender. I may buy one or two more. Seems like they will be a good compliment to the generator.

I also bought a Coleman dual fuel lantern and a couple of kerosene lamps for emergency lighting.

[user120312]

I found a Gooloo or Nocco jump pack works great for essential electronics (I have the Gooloo GT4000S) as well as for its primary mission of vehicle starting.

I have a Jackery Explorer 1000+ with extra battery for essential inverter loads.

Both systems have proven to hold their power reserve well over many months of idle time. Backing those up are six lead acid batteries charged by solar in various vehicles by discrete solar panel/charger arrangements. Why? Redundancy. Things fail. Stuff happens. Life is imperfect.

The rest of the solar/battery system is of my own design. Some days I fall back into the 'get a damn genhead for the tractor' old habits but force myself off that track. Every time I start that Kubota diesel I hear the impact on the quiet of the forest. Heck I don't even like running the chain saw anymore except when absolutely necessary.

Reading the thread I'm reminded of 1984 when I was building a soundproof room off the detached garage at my first house for the Lincoln Weldanpower 225 that was my first welder generator. Learned new sound resistent construction techniques and how to effectively silence both the intake/fan and exhaust of the generator to run it in an urban neighborhood. I kinda chuckle at the big truck muffler I bought from JC Whitney to quiet it. Back then there was no internet, just catalogs. Why I didn't go a few blocks down the street to the muffler shop I don't know.

Did a lot of welding with that unit but I don't think it ever saw a power blackout. Portended future events pretty well. One can see what it grew into at far right below, a diesel powered unit. I bought that in 1994. The other stuff is welders and a plasma cutter. Shop stuff.

Welders.jpg

[socal m1 shooter]

Yeah I just bought a small Jackery bayyery to run the router and cell phone extender. I may buy one or two more. Seems like they will be a good compliment to the generator.

I also bought a Coleman dual fuel lantern and a couple of kerosene lamps for emergency lighting.

Not to hijack the thread, but ain't it more better to buy a UPS of some kind? Been using them for 25 years or so. Can you replace the battery in one of those Jakery thing-a-majigs? Generally, uninterruptible power supplies have replaceable batteries.

[IronsightsRifleman]

Not to hijack the thread, but ain't it more better to buy a UPS of some kind? Been using them for 25 years or so. Can you replace the battery in one of those Jakery thing-a-majigs? Generally, uninterruptible power supplies have replaceable batteries.

Three problems with most UPSs I've seen.
1. They turn on when the power goes out. if the power goes out when I leave for work in the morning, I don't want to drain the battery until I need it.
2. Most UPS use lead avoid batteries that only last a couple of years. The lithium batteries in the newer power stations are supposed to last for 10.
3. The new power stations have much higher energy storage. UPS is good for an hour or two, the power station should go for 5~8 hours.

All the above depends on the specific make and model and technology, of course. I'm generalizing from the many units I've researched online lately.

[user120312]

My Jackery functions as a UPS if set to that mode. Can't remember the milliseconds transfer but it works pretty well in tests. I combine it with a Tripp-Lite 1200 watt power conditioner. I would surmise most solar generators/inverters have similar features.

I only have one desktop computer, an old iMac LCD series, and I don't use it for anything important. It's on its own Tripp-Lite conditioner. Everything else is on batteries so it's easy to switch them over to the Gooloo or Jackery when the power goes out or when doing training exercises.

I used UPS systems back in the day when I had routers, wi-fi powered antennas and office computers and fax machines and answering machines in the shop office. They gave the generators time to get up and running. Thankfully, those days are in the past.

My recommendation is redundancy. Stuff happens. Life is imperfect.

[OlderThanDirt]

The BLUETTI Apex 300 has 240V output and is highly expandable. While not free, it makes for a great whole house backup if you have an electric dryer or transfer switch.

[baih777]

Costco has a dual fuel on sake right now. I have one of these and run it on propane. I have picked up extra propane tanks on Craigslist and had them refilled. If you want to store gas also. You need to rotate the fuel each year. I add fuel stabilizer Sta-Bil methanol to keep the fuel from going bad. Also look at Solar power station. I have Jackery. To keep the fridge running i recommend at least 3000Watt . Jackery has them on sale right now with solar panels. The 3000 will run fridge overnight plus a couple of hours. then recharge. least mainteinance

[Duck Killer]

Costco has a dual fuel on sake right now. I have one of these and run it on propane. I have picked up extra propane tanks on Craigslist and had them refilled. If you want to store gas also. You need to rotate the fuel each year. I add fuel stabilizer Sta-Bil methanol to keep the fuel from going bad. Also look at Solar power station. I have Jackery. To keep the fridge running i recommend at least 3000Watt . Jackery has them on sale right now with solar panels. The 3000 will run fridge overnight plus a couple of hours. then recharge. least mainteinance

Gas doesn’t go bad that fast.

[user120312]

Probably already mentioned - if deciding on a gasoline powered genset, if it is carbureted (not fuel injected), I recommend to shut off the gas and run it out of fuel when shutting down after use or exercising. I've noticed, with other engine powered equipment, this helps maintain carb health if stored and running pump gas with ethanol in it, whether treated or not.

I'm currently running gas in my engines out of one of the vintage cars sitting around that hasn't seen a gas station for nearly seven years. It likely has earlier, less ethanol fuel but still it's nothing like the clear gas I buy locally. It gets treated with marine Stabil and I run the engines out of fuel when done. One can hear the difference and feel it in the equipment power when running that old gas but I'm committed to not wasting anything if possible.

However, in a genset, I'd suggest, just like running top quality ammunition in one's weapons, top quality, fresh, fuel. Why? Critical application. Reliability is paramount.

[Duck Killer]

Probably already mentioned - if deciding on a gasoline powered genset, if it is carbureted (not fuel injected), I recommend to shut off the gas and run it out of fuel when shutting down after use or exercising. I've noticed, with other engine powered equipment, this helps maintain carb health if stored and running pump gas with ethanol in it, whether treated or not.

I'm currently running gas in my engines out of one of the vintage cars sitting around that hasn't seen a gas station for nearly seven years. It likely has earlier, less ethanol fuel but still it's nothing like the clear gas I buy locally. It gets treated with marine Stabil and I run the engines out of fuel when done. One can hear the difference and feel it in the equipment power when running that old gas but I'm committed to not wasting anything if possible.

However, in a genset, I'd suggest, just like running top quality ammunition in one's weapons, top quality, fresh, fuel. Why? Critical application. Reliability is paramount.

I run mine out of fuel or at least once a month. I prefer running them once a month. By running them once a month you are making sure they work. Sometimes mice/rats eat things, wires get knocked loose and who knows what else. Things you don’t know until you need it.