Alright, I know Greg posted a generator thread, but I didn't want to hijack his, and mine is more directed toward home backup. I don't really want to make this purchase, because I'm cheap, and I feel like it's something I'm rarely going to have to use. However, if I NEED it and I HAVE it, I will be thankful. We loose power before most people in this area, but even still, major long term power outages don't seem to occur more than once or twice a year. I have one upright freezer, and one chest freezer full of venison, beef, and moose that I don't want to risk losing (not to mention my in home frig/freezer contents. I would like to be able to power a few lights, as well as my well pump and my Ductless mini-split. It appears that I would fit the bill for around a 6000-8000W/8000-10000W Surge category. I wouldn't really mind if it's electric start, but it sure would be nice. I plan to have an electrician install a transfer switch so I can power from the pane (I'm not going to do the wiring as it's a VERY dangerous situation if anything is out of place). I like the reviews and prices of Generac's, but I know they're noisy. Honda's seem to have the market cornered on noise levels, but in the end, since this will be in my driveway with the garage door shut, it will only bother the neighbors:D Anyways, I'm open to suggestions of brands/models you would suggest.
I have thought about getting a backup house generator but, at least for me, it would just be a whole bunch of money spent on something used maybe a week or two out of the whole year. Yes, it would be more convenient than getting the two portables up to the house and running extension cords (we have multiple 10-12 gauge) but I don't really mind that much. As I stated in the other thread, I use the portables a good bit all through the year so that is cost effective to me. Even when we lose electricity I don't plug in the freezers right away. I will wait a few hours just because they don't get opened and they don't lose "freeze" all that fast, especially if they have a lot of frozen stuff in them. Mostly I just plug in the wood stove blower (winter) , the refrigerator and a lamp for the first few hours. After that then I start getting other stuff plugged in. We plan to be in this house for the next 20 years and I still don't see a house generator as cost effective.
Maybe that's why I haven't gotten many responses...poor word choice on my part.:D Let me rephrase that. I'm looking for recommendations on a larger portable generator to hook into a transfer switch. I'm not talking about the LP or NG whole house auto backup systems. Just a larger portable generator (in the 6500-8000W range). Bruce, what do you have brand wise?
I have a briggs and stratton 5500 storm responder. It has a surge of 8250. I had first bought a cheap chinese model that was junk, i believe it was a NTE. I had my house wired by an electrician so I can utilize the breakers and decide what to run. I bought the generator after the hurricane last year when my chinese model crapped out and we were without power.I got lucky because there was not a generator for sale anywhere in the state but I just happened to see an unopened return in the aisle at Lowes and just grabbed it and paid and left. Eventually I will likely buy a generator that automatically kicks on ehen power goes out and runs off natural gas, as we lose power alot in my rural area.
My dad had this one and it never failed to start after sitting for long periods. I borrowed it a few times and it is a nice unit. http://powerequipment.honda.com/generators/models/em6500
We have built two houses with backup capabilities in the last year and just so you know, the electrician charged us $900 to wire it. Little fyi
Take a look at this thread awhile back of a transfer switch set-up I installed. http://forums.bowhunting.com/showth...d-up-installing-the-generator-transfer-switch Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
As in the other post, our big genny is a 5500, and we have two Yamaha 2400 gennys. The big one is on wheels so it rolls around okay. However, if it's needed to run stuff, we will just run a long extension cord. No transfer switch installed here but I had one in the other house. We do have a disconnect for our furnace and a plug that will go to a generator. I have five freezers and two refrigerators. As Bruce said, a freezer will be fine for awhile, especially if you don't open it. Our long power outages tend to happen in the winter so keeping things cold usually isn't a problem. (I do immediately eat all the ice cream tho... you know, just to be on the safe side. hahahaaha!) Don't rule out the yamaha generators. They're also very quiet and high quality.
I have been studying generators for a year. You have all the points covered. Go forward before you lose contents of your freezer. Only have to lose one freezer of game and it will cover the marginal costs of spending a little more for the best protection you can afford. Don't go cheap. What you are protecting/saving is hard to replace from the grocery store!
Thanks for the replies everyone. Here's a basic breakdown of the major appliances/usage we would want to be able to power (of course some would have to come online independently of others do to their surge wattage. Most of the items are exact based on their nameplates, but some don't have them (old upright freezer for instance), so I estimated high: Well Pump - ~1900W/3000W Surge (Assuming 85% efficiency) Ductless Heat Pump and Both Indoor Evaporators - ~2900W (5kw startup) Electric Water Heater - 4500W...would need to be brought online with most everything else off until heated, then kicked off) TV- 295W Cable Box - 120W Two Kitchen Can Lights - 130W One Incandescent Lamp @ one time in bedroom or family room - 60W Upright Frig/Freezer (~840W/2000W Surge) - This one is an estimate as it no longer has a nameplate...don't ask Upright Freezer - 800W/2000W Surge -Also estimate as it's OLD Chest Freezer - 575W/1500W Surge That about covers it. All of my major surge devices would have to be brought online separately Both the chest freezer and upright freezer are on the same circuit, so I would bring them on first. The well pump would then come on (wife has to shower). Water heater would be turned on just long enough to heat water for a shower, then shut off. I would not need to kick the ductless system on in the winter (we have a gas fireplace and a woodstove to do heating), but in the summer, we would want cooling given how miserable we are when we try to sleep with no air. TV, cable, and lights (only picked a few to be on a one time) would be a necessity as well...I know I'm pathetic. So, yeah, at a min. assuming the freezers are on one circuit, and meat preservation is a priority, there's ~1400W guaranteed fulltime, with surges from the well pump and/or water heater, I certainly would want something in the 6500W+ range.
