What size emergency generator
I've been thinking about buying an emergency electric generator. I don't pull much electricity, and I wouldn't try to run the AC unit on it if I were in a power outage, just something that would keep the fridge and freezer going, run a fan and a light or two. What size should I consider? 7000 watt? More? Less? Who has a good idea?
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5500 watt is plenty if your not running your a/c. 0 -
Spend the money and get a Honda. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by watrulookinat
5500 watt is plenty if your not running your a/c.
Found a lightly used Troybuilt 5500 watt for $500. I'm thinking I might go for it.0 -
quote:Originally posted by watrulookinat
5500 watt is plenty if your not running your a/c.
5,500 -7,500 should do ya.Enough to run your water heater(alone) once a day, and run a small window-shaker at night.Also, in a pinch, a neighbor could plug-in and keep a fridge cold, or watch a little TV.
I bought a 5,500(7,200 PEAK) 3 years ago, and only had to use it once, so far.I made-up an 8Gauge "feeder-cord" and i unplug my dryer, turn off main breaker, and plug it in where the dryer plugs in.The entire house works, just like the power is still on.
If U want/need details on how to "back-feed" your panel.(SAFELY) Shoot me an email, or phone # and i'll try to explain it to you.0 -
I've got a 5000/6000 peak? Coleman generator and it runs my fridge, T.V., couple of lights, and most important, my two sump-pumps. Could probably hook more into it but that's all I need when the weather turns foul. 0 -
Oh...Their a bit more costly, but a gas/diesel welder, is best.The engine will kik-down to idle or hi idle, depending on Amp draw.
My gen. just HAMMERS-AWAY, the entire time, weather it's got a 40watt bulb hooked to it, or my water heater..[V] Still, Wayyyyy better'n nothin!![^]0 -
Engine type is important.
Get as quiet an engine as possible.
Auto oil shut off is good.
You want something that will run at least 6 hours preferably 8 or more.
An idle or auto load adjuster thing is good as well.
Buy a transfer switch and have an electrician install.
I have not used a Troybilt. Whose engine?
I have Honda, Briggs, Tecumseh and Onan generators. All have worked well.
Good luck.0 -
Mine is a 6500. Works great. Wired right into the fuse box with a off/on switch. 0 -
5550 watts, 8550 surge, 10HP briggs electric start motor. I think I can get it for $400. 10 Hours run time at 50% load, 6 gallon tank. 0 -
Sounds like a good deal.
Might be loud to run though.
Sort of eerie how quiet it is when there is no power.0 -
Do you have a well? Some wells have booster pumps and house sprinkler systems and need more power. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by rustyh
Sounds like a good deal.
Might be loud to run though.
Sort of eerie how quiet it is when there is no power.
Modify the exaust if it's too loud. I ran mine from a 3/4 street ell screwed into the block and water pipe up to about 5'and fabbed a MC muffler on the end. [8D]
If you decide on a permanent location bolt that sucker down or you may wake up and find it gone! Happened to a neighbor in the blackout after Wilma he thought it had ran out of gas about 3AM and waited till it was light to refill it.
I get a little over 12 hrs on a 6500 10 hp briggs 5 gal tank with fridge,puter,a fan,tv,and a couple of lamps on it. (the fridge will kick it down for a second when it cycles)
Allen0 -
fishkiller
quote:If U want/need details on how to "back-feed" your panel.(SAFELY) Shoot me an email, or phone # and i'll try to explain it to you.
post it here I would like to know to.
will 5500 run a furnace and a elec.stove? not at the same time of course.0 -
I use a Dayton 4,000 watt. I try not to use a lot of water when I'm on the generator because the pump pulls a good deal at startup, but I've never had a problem. 0 -
I've got a military surplus 10KW, Onan 4cylinder Diesel. Not the quietest but I can run everything in the house. Dave 0 -
volts x amps=wattage. electric motors surge is 3 times the wattage. 0 -
5500 watt generac - never had an issue even though some people like to bad mouth them. Under $500 delivered. Auto kickdown/shutoff. Runs for 11 hours on a tank. Also have a transfer switch. Everything in my house accept A/C and dryer runs at the same time with no issues. Gas heat, stove and water though.
Do it the right way and get a transfer switch.
BTW: They are ALL VERY loud. I do not run mine after 10pm and I also run it in my shed. I installed the transfer switch tap there. The transfer switch was $450 btw.
http://www.electricgeneratorstore.com/0 -
quote:Originally posted by moonshine
fishkiller
quote:If U want/need details on how to "back-feed" your panel.(SAFELY) Shoot me an email, or phone # and i'll try to explain it to you.
post it here I would like to know to.
will 5500 run a furnace and a elec.stove? not at the same time of course.
NO: divide 240volts into 5500watts and that gives you 23amps(22.92 to be exact) I'm sure your furnace draws more then that. It may run one or two burners on the stove.0 -
Dheffley
This is a pretty good link from Northern Tool, its an article with a list of how many watts home applicances need for start up as well as running. It will give you a pretty good idea on what size generator you really need.
http://www.northerntool.com/catalog/buyersguides/generators/0 -
2 generators
5500 watt generac
1700 watt coleman
The coleman is quiet and I used it last time power was out for 10 hours. It will power some lights, TV, Puter. The big one is so loud that I only use it when necessary to bring the freezer down to temp, A/C etc.0 -
GET A HONDA OR DIESEL. [:)]
went through 3 5500 Briggs in the last hurricane (there junk)[xx(]0 -
heffley, do you have a well? 0 -
I've got a 5500 watt Troybilt and it does the job for me.No AC but I do have a 3/4 hp well pump and it runs everything.Gets about 10 hours from a 5 or 6 gallon tank.If you can get one for 400.00 I would buy it. 0 -
A 1000 watt will not kick over a fridge or a freezer, however, they will run a TV, DVD player, a fan, a light bulb and charge a cell phone, all at the same time. They will also run for 8 hours on a gallon of gas.
We put a small 110 window unit in a window in the living room so that if we loose power during the summer months we can move the furniture around and "camp out" in the living room. The window unit will get that room nice and cool, when the sun goes down, in short order.
We have a 7500 generac that we use to keep the fridge and freezer cool during the day and a 6500 watt attachment for a DR Field and Brush Mower that we use to keep the well primed.
The thing that I like about the attachment for the DR is that the DR is self propelled and can be moved eaisily to wherever you need power.
I would recommend having a small 1000 watt and another generator of, at least, 5500 watts.
My $0.02.
DSM0 -
I have a Coleman 1850 (1500W continuous)
I ran it for 11 days in the first 04 storm and 3 more in the second.
It ran the fridge my PC and three amp stereo at the same time no problem and at night it ran a small window AC for my bedroom.
The thing is during such an event fuel is a consideration and while less convenient than the bigger mentioned above I could run it longer, quieter and cheaper and if fuel was a bigger problem I would be running it while bigger ones ran out. However, the Honda is certainly quieter and even more efficient but 2.5 times the cost.
What can you get by on running? That determines it. The smaller the unit the less fuel or longer the fuel runs.
Wulfmann0 -
Like US said keep some gas around, I have 30 gal tank in the shed.
we use a old 2,500 watt, can run the gas furnce motor and a light or 2. If needed I unhook the furnce and run the freezer and fridge.
Rick0 -
Can one of you EEs give an idea? I have a very large house, 3800 sf, with dual HVAV and HW heaters plus 220 well pump.
However the kids are grown and gone. In an outage I can do without HVAC and HW heater, can heat water on gas stove. I have fan blown buck stove that can heat entire first floor (upstairs can be shut off)
I'll need 2 fridges, 220 well pump, min lighting (mostly fluorescent)
TV, blower for buck stove, What power generator do I need? How do I isolate those appliances I don't want to run (HVAC and HW heaters?)0 -
quote:Originally posted by allen griggs
heffley, do you have a well?
Nope. City water, gas hot water heater, gas furnace, gas stove, gas clothes dryer. Don't need a lot of juice!0 -
Guardian
Nuff said0 -
quote:5550 watts, 8550 surge, 10HP briggs electric start motor. I think I can get it for $400. 10 Hours run time at 50% load, 6 gallon tank. Go for it!! 0
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