Re: Re: Want to buy a generator
- From: Jethro <Wilson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 03 Aug 2007 11:59:14 GMT
On Fri, 03 Aug 2007 04:21:09 -0700, Frank <frank.logullo@xxxxxxx>
wrote:
On Aug 3, 6:31 am, hobbes <sacstinkyti...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Aug 3, 5:57 am, Jethro <Wil...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I plan to buy a generator to use in emergency situations (outages etc)
for my house, or at least for some of the appliances etc therein.
I see great price differences for same wattages. I'm thinking 8K -
9K, but that may be overkill. At a minimum, I want to be able to run
two reefers, one freezer, one TV, one computer, a few lamps.
I could use some opinions as to what I should be concerned about and
should not. Like what features are a must and what can be ignored.
Anything I should avoid and why?
Thanks
Jethro
Hi Jethro,
You have three refigeration units that you want to be powererd. These
refigeration units I think will be you greatest power draw. The other
items have relatively lower power requirements
Issues:
1) Refigeration units have compressors and large electric motors to
drive them. These motors have significant starting current. Make sure
you get a generator which will start your refrigeration units.
Typically starting currents can be between 4 to 8 times normal running
currents. Depending on the generator there is a certain amount of
surge current that is available for a short amount of time, usually
just a few A/C cycles, fractions of a second. But this may be
sufficient to start your refigeration units.
2) Fuel storage. Gasoline powered generator sets use about a gallon
of fuel an hour for a 7.5 kw unit. Gasoline can only be kept for about
a year with the addition of a fuel stabilizer like Stabil. Propane is
a better fuel in that in can be stored almost indefinately and you can
store alot of it. I have a 400 gallon tank. Gasoline store is usuallyu
restricted to 20 gallons because of fire codes.
3) Do you live in a cold climate? I would definately add you heating
furnace blower to the list of items. And if you can your air handler
units. Note Central Air conditioning requires lots of power. Some
people therefore do not use it in a power black out and just have a
small window A/C to cool one room in case of a power outage.
4) Do you have well water? Well pump is a must have I found. Note
these have large starting currrents.
4b) Do you have any sump pumps? Put these on
4c) Do you have any sewage ejector pumps? Put these on
5) Depending on your house 9kw may not be over kill. I have a 20 kw
gen set.
The way I see it the three genset catagories break down as follows:
a) cheap, gasoline powered up to 7.5 kw, portable. Prices $US 700 -
$US 2400. And perhaps $US 1000 to $US 2000 for transfer switch
instalation.
b) mid price, propane fueled, 3,600 rpm, not portable. Lawnmore engine
based, air cooled. $US 2500-$3500 for the gen set puls maybe $US 3,000
for instalation.
c) delux price, propane fueled, 1,800 rpm. Car or truck motor based,
liquid cooled. $US 10,000 and up for the unit, with $US 6,000 for
instalation. Note these units are heavy and require a concrete pad and
some sort of heavy lift for instalation, e.g. a small Catapillar,
Hydrulic Excavator or crane
From what I see of your post. I think what you may like is the mid
price catagory and pwerhaps go up to 12 kw. the price difference from
9kw to 12 kw is relavtively small. There is a big jump in cost if you
go north of 12 kw and need something larger because of the instalation
costs and gen set costs. These 12 kw units can be installed without
heavy lift, and without the need for a concrete pad. A gravel bed will
do. They are propane powered and will auto start on power fail. I
think for this route expect to pay perhaps $US 6,000 to $US 10,000 all
in.
best, Mike.
Good advice. On my 7,350 starting watts, 5,500 running, I can run
refrigerator, 2 freezers, well, furnace and few lights and TV. Well
and furnace are a must for me and freezers or refrigerators don't have
to be constantly plugged in as most will maintain adequate cold for
several hours. Only complaint I have about my cheap, Home Depot unit
is noise but when power fails here, whole neighborhood gets noisey.
Frank
Thanks all.
Your responses were very thoughtful and helpful. I learned some
things. I appreciate it.
One thing, I do have a submersible well pump, and am wondering how
best to change the wiring so as to have it pick up power from a
generator?
Also - I have propane heat (double-wide), I wonder if the propane
part would even run during an outage. I might do better with a space
heater?
Finally - my neighbor runs his every month he says because his manual
says to do so. What do you think of that? BTW - his 9KW gen uses
about a gallon of gasoline per hour, and will run 9 hours total on a
tankful.
Thanks again
Jethro
.
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