Generators

[Bushmaster]

Digging up bones with this old thread.

We are looking at generator inverters to be able to run a few things in case of a power outage. Specifically computers and the refrigerator. Somewhere in the 3500w range. The gold standard seems to be the Honda but we have a Westinghouse budget. Sam's has them and they have a 30 day return policy. Let us know you're not a robot - Sam's Club
Amazon has it $50 cheaper but we can't return it.

@bradgator2 did you ever buy one? What do you think?

@Seedy

Son is an electrician and they install 2-3 a week
. Would recommend buying something in the 8-10kw range. It will run the whole house minus ac, hot water heater, and other 2 gang appliances.

Generac is what they install in his range. 20kw and up seems that Cummins is the preferred brand. My generac ran about 800.

 

[CDGator]

Power went out this morning. @Seedy comes running downstairs yelling “this is not a drill!”

He got to use the new generator. The Internet was down too though so it was a bigger issue. I think there must’ve been a major car accident. It closed down the Sam’s Club and a lot of red lights on major roads.

 

[CDGator]

Womp womp, the Westinghouse generator we got for almost $1000 has been leaking gas. Returning it and going to decide what to get next. Whole house generator would be the first choice but not for $10,000+. Honda would be the second choice but it's hard to spend that much on something we would need so infrequently. On the other hand, you seem to get what you pay for so....

 

[Concrete Helmet]

Womp womp, the Westinghouse generator we got for almost $1000 has been leaking gas. Returning it and going to decide what to get next. Whole house generator would be the first choice but not for $10,000+. Honda would be the second choice but it's hard to spend that much on something we would need so infrequently. On the other hand, you seem to get what you pay for so....

The Honda is better on gas and a lot quieter than most other portables. I have a Troy Bilt for the other side of my house since the standby powers one panel and we have 2 going into the house. I am not usually sensitive to loud engines but after listening to the SOB for 1.5 days I would have spent the extra on a Honda if the Troy Bilt hadn't been free, not to mention it ATE gas while not powering that many items, fridge, deep freeze, fish tank pump and a few misc, items such as the coffee maker.

 

[AlexDaGator]

@Seedy

Alex.

 

[Bushmaster]

I have a 8kw generac. Honda is excellent as well. Had an electrician wire up the plug for whole house (except 2 prong stuff). Works well.

 

[CDGator]

UPDATE: we bought this iGen4500 generator through Sam's and the last week of the return policy we found out it leaked gas from the fuel filter onto the electronics. Wasn't a good start but it was a good generator and we had a lemon. Returned it to Sam's for $1000, found it for $700+ at Lowes. Also added the extended warranty for $100 this time. Our power has been out since Friday and it could be down several more days to a week. This generator is too loud for a typical neighborhood but perfect for our area. We have our kitchen refrigerator, free standing freezer, a few lights, occasional hot plate, coffee maker, microwave, whole-home-wifi (internet tethered through cell), etc connected when needed. We have everything we need. It says it's at 25% output. Pleased with the generator so far and the remote on/off. Whole-house generator would be preferred but $10,000+ is a bit much. A few homes around us have them and enough family members have power that we can take showers.

 

[Concrete Helmet]

Our power has been out since Friday and it could be down several more days to a week.

How is your fuel usage/ supply? Are you shutting it down at night? I figured out after our last Hurricane that my wholehouse gen would have about 5.5-6 days worth of run time, conservatively, with the propane tank at 80%. As I mentioned earlier in this thread we also use a TroyBilt portable for some other stuff but I was shocked how much gas it was eating up before the power came back on. Hope the power comes back on soon for you.

 

[CDGator]

How is your fuel usage/ supply? Are you shutting it down at night? I figured out after our last Hurricane that my wholehouse gen would have about 5.5-6 days worth of run time, conservatively, with the propane tank at 80%. As I mentioned earlier in this thread we also use a TroyBilt portable for some other stuff but I was shocked how much gas it was eating up before the power came back on. Hope the power comes back on soon for you.

@Seedy just makes it work.
I’ll let him reply.

 

[Concrete Helmet]

@Seedy just makes it work.
I’ll let him reply.

That's the same look I get when I tell my wife where things are and how to do things during a storm.....She says, why are you telling me? I always tell her what if I fall and hit my head? Or more likely pass out drunk?

 

[CDGator]

I’d say 5 gallons of gas for 3 days so far. Turn it off over night. Minimal load but we run everything we want. Even the vacuum cleaner.

 

[Concrete Helmet]

I’d say 5 gallons of gas for 3 days so far. Turn it off over night. Minimal load but we run everything we want. Even the vacuum cleaner.

5 gallons a day is outstanding for the things you have hooked up......make sure you tell your other half where the gas cans are and how to start the thing....in case you hit your head or pass out drunk.

 

[grengadgy]

we run everything we want. Even the vacuum cleaner.

Oh, give Seedy a few days off.......

 

[CDGator]

Oh, give Seedy a few days off.......

Seedy is so happy to be back at work today (from home). Running off cell service.

 

[CDGator]

Tomorrow will be day 5 without electricity although the electric said it was on tonight. The neighbor’s tree took out a line that is still on the ground. Bigger problems than that one line though. Sounds like it might be Wednesday.

Here’s @Seedy ‘s video - 3 trees down in 16 seconds! He saw this from the upstairs and I video’d it downstairs. The winds were weird so we both knew something was about to happen.




This is a little longer and shows how crazy the winds were. The three trees fall at the end.

 

[CDGator]

Six trees down total. We got everything cleaned up off the driveway and leaving some logs for the neighbors to pick up. Working on the backyard now.


Our driveway is underneath this mess

 

[grengadgy]

How many of those trees were dead and what kind were they? They sure didn't seem to have very good root system.

 

[CDGator]

How many of those trees were dead and what kind were they? They sure didn't seem to have very good root system.

Honey locust tree - can be used for fence posts. Those trees were between 60-75’ tall and probably 50+ years old. They’ve been struck by lightening and had issues. Some had rotten spots so definitely not healthy. All of our oaks and maples were fine.


This historic burr oak was over 300 years old. The developer built a community around it. I commented recently that it was the most perfect tree. It sadly came down in the storm.

 

[gator1946]

Woa CD. Sorry about that. You ought to come to Florida. There are no whimpy trees in Florida. I'll trade ya. I hate Florida, it's flat and what happened to winter.

 

[CDGator]

Woa CD. Sorry about that. You ought to come to Florida. There are no whimpy trees in Florida. I'll trade ya. I hate Florida, it's flat and what happened to winter.

Electricity finally came back on at 6:45pm and the house is already up to 63 degrees. It feels so warm again, like Florida!