Anyone here using home generators for emergencies

[Grapesoda]

I'd like to get one and I'd like to run it on propane and I'd like to have an inverter. Any thought so on that.

Any experiences or recommendations? thanks in advance

[DBS.US]

You don't need an inverter if you have a generator, unless your charging batters?

[The Porn Nerd]

I have a pretty big Generac generator. My mom and sister had a lot of medical equipment like chair lifts and such. So we needed it if the power went out. It is something like 18000 or 24000 btu...not really sure and it's too dark out now to go look. But it covers about half the house.

Goes on every Wednesday morning for ten minutes to make sure it's functioning. I get it serviced every six months (around $150). The cost for the thing was somewhere around 14-16K if I recall. It's about ten years old now. It gets used about 2-3 times a year. Longest it was on was 3 days. I needed to build a foundation for it because it is so heavy.

During blackouts I would go out back and hear it and only one other house up the street had one going. I bet the neighbors hated us. LOL

[manilaagent]

Need one here at my house in the Philippines the are frequent blackouts ranging from 1 hour to 4 days .

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by DBS.US

You don't need an inverter if you have a generator, unless your charging batters?

My understanding is an inverter stops power dropouts and insistencies from the generator motor

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by manilaagent

Need one here at my house in the Philippines the are frequent blackouts ranging from 1 hour to 4 days .

What do you use?

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by The Porn Nerd

I have a pretty big Generac generator. My mom and sister had a lot of medical equipment like chair lifts and such. So we needed it if the power went out. It is something like 18000 or 24000 btu...not really sure and it's too dark out now to go look. But it covers about half the house.

Goes on every Wednesday morning for ten minutes to make sure it's functioning. I get it serviced every six months (around $150). The cost for the thing was somewhere around 14-16K if I recall. It's about ten years old now. It gets used about 2-3 times a year. Longest it was on was 3 days. I needed to build a foundation for it because it is so heavy.

During blackouts I would go out back and hear it and only one other house up the street had one going. I bet the neighbors hated us. LOL

Fuel???? I was thinking about 3500w. I'm not intending on running everything

[Scrapper]

You are most certainly on the right track with propane. The ONLY problem with propane is the tank will blow its seal. It's not if but when. So don't skimp on the tank as a good tank will last years. I run dual tanks and can run propane in my home for other appliances/heaters as a backup. When a tank is empty, you can inspect the seal/replace it and always have a backup. Learned that the hard way. Also, propane shelf life is the longest compared to other generator fuels for those, not in the know.

[Scrapper]

You are most certainly on the right track with propane. The ONLY problem with propane is the tank will blow its seal. It's not if but when. So don't skimp on the tank as a good tank will last years. I run dual tanks and can run propane in my home for other appliances/heaters as a backup. When a tank is empty, you can inspect the seal/replace it and always have a backup. Learn this the hard way. Also, propane shelf life is the longest compared to other generator fuels for those, not in the know.

[The Porn Nerd]

Originally Posted by Grapesoda

Fuel???? I was thinking about 3500w. I'm not intending on running everything

It's not propane I think. It's tied to the power lines in the ground or something. (Sorry not a big technical guy on these things) but I know they had to hook it up. Propane is probably for much smaller generators.

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by Scrapper

You are most certainly on the right track with propane. The ONLY problem with propane is the tank will blow its seal. It's not if but when. So don't skimp on the tank as a good tank will last years. I run dual tanks and can run propane in my home for other appliances/heaters as a backup. When a tank is empty, you can inspect the seal/replace it and always have a backup. Learn this the hard way. Also, propane shelf life is the longest compared to other generator fuels for those, not in the know.

Is all my outside cookware is propane. I just kind of wanted to Kate stay consistent cause I'll always have propane around. Yes I would like 2 tanks 2 small ones. Question do you have a pressure gauge on your tank so you know how much is in it?

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by The Porn Nerd

It's not propane I think. It's tied to the power lines in the ground or something. (Sorry not a big technical guy on these things) but I know they had to hook it up. Propane is probably for much smaller generators.

Do you might want to check on that because you're telling me you're running your backup electric generator on electric power.

Maybe natural gas

[sarettah]

Originally Posted by Grapesoda

Do you might want to check on that because you're telling me you're running your backup electric generator on electric power.

Maybe natural gas

It would be hooked up to the power lines in order to detect when power goes down. The Generac whole home generators usually run off of natural gas.

.

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by sarettah

I would be hooked up to the power lines in order to detect when power goes down. The Generac whole home generators usually run off of natural gas.

.

Makes sense

[The Porn Nerd]

Originally Posted by Grapesoda

Do you might want to check on that because you're telling me you're running your backup electric generator on electric power.

Maybe natural gas

Actually I have a giant windmill in my backyard...

Natural gas yes.

[lock]

I am playing with solar at moment and keep changing my mind with wiring options charge controllers bought 2 100ah lithium and 5 x 250 panels i was using 5 x 20amp controllers now 100amp. 1kw inverter. Found a large stainless box to house it all. I am still getting bits and pieces to finish it will expand more batteries over time.

[manilaagent]

Originally Posted by Grapesoda

What do you use?

Use wood for cooking , boil water etc , stuck here in PH due to covid , cant wait to get back to Australia when ever that is?

[Rochard]

We have solar with a battery backup. Our power hasn't gone out since we got it.

I have friends of mine who live about thirty miles north of me where it snows and they got hit bad last week. They've had no power since then and don't expect power to return for another two - four weeks which is insane. They have a generator and a wood stove so they are getting by. Their kid is my kid's friend so crashed here a few nights.

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by lock

I am playing with solar at moment and keep changing my mind with wiring options charge controllers bought 2 100ah lithium and 5 x 250 panels i was using 5 x 20amp controllers now 100amp. 1kw inverter. Found a large stainless box to house it all. I am still getting bits and pieces to finish it will expand more batteries over time.

You can lease industrial panels to charger batteries

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by manilaagent

Use wood for cooking , boil water etc , stuck here in PH due to covid , cant wait to get back to Australia when ever that is?

Ever onward right?

[brassmonkey]

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