Portable Home Generator Questions

After last month's ice storm in North Carolina, I have decided to invest in a portable generator. After some research at various sites, I am certain that around 8 kw will fit my needs. However, I still have **many** very basic questions about generator types, fuel storage, fuel consumption, power cabling to the transfer switch, etc.

I know there are a lot of questions, and hopefully folks will comment or advise on the ones about which they have knowledge or experience.

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In terms of efficiency and fuel use, which generator type is best..... gas, diesel, or propane ?

Has anyone here used a tri-fuel generator, such as the one made by Northern Industrial Tools ?

How can one safely and properly store 150 gallons of gas ? I figure this is the maximum amount that i would need in any severe storm. I am aware of the use of Stabil, and I would also "rotate" the gas at least once a year.

Has anyone here used a propane generator ? If so, how well did you like it ? What model have you used ? If you have not used one, do you know of one on the market right now, in the 8 KW range ? (I find that all the propane ones I find are much larger generators, up to 12-15 kw or higher).

In terms of fuel usage, is a gallon of propane about the same as a gallon of gas ?

I need 6 120 volt circuits, and two 240 circuits. The 240 circuits are needed for hot water, and water pump. Will this mean that I will need 3 distinct power cables run from my generator to the transfer switch in the house ? Are these pre-manufactured cables in given lengths, or will my electrician custom make cables ??

If I use a propane tank, it may well be 50 feet lower in elevation than my generator, and up to 100 feet away. Will the propane travel an uphill run like this ?

What is your favorite generator in the 7-8 KW range ?

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Well, that should be enough questions for now !!

Thank you in advance for any comment or advice !!

James

Reply to
James
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As far as the transfer switch and cord, the units generally come with twist lok outlets up to 50 amps. You can buy these pre built, or built to whatever length you like. You typically run one cord from the generator to a manual transfer switch

Reply to
RBM

RBM, thank you for the good comments !! I am looking for a portable generator, as the is the price class that I am in. I will have a transfer switch installed by a qualified electrician, but it will not be automatically engaged. If we lost power, I will start the generator and flip the transfer switch.

As to the power cord, I am confused......... on the units I have seen, they have one or more 120 volt outlets, and most have one or two 240 volt outlets..... I would not need cords for each of these outlets ??

Very good comments/comparisons of gas, diesel, and propane.

Thanks again !!

James

Reply to
James

On Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:22:27 -0500, "James" wrote Re Portable Home Generator Questions:

Diesel.

No experience with that.

I store 30 gals in an old chicken coop located 350' from my house. I live in a rural area with no applicable building codes for such storage. I use six 5-gal gas cans which I rotate: 1 can about every six months. I use Stabilt and rotate the gas into my truck. During a prolonged outage I use about 5-gals per day to run the freezer, fridge, some basic lights, and the natural gas forced air heating system. My generator is a 5Kw unit that is too small to power much more than that.

As I recall, a kg of propane has slightly more energy content than a kg of gasoline.

The propane will travel as a vapor so it will travel up the 50' elevation.

Reply to
Caesar Romano

On the larger portable units they'll typically have multiple outlets. Some standard 120 volt 20 amp, some 120/240 volt 30 amp, and in your case you'd want one that has a 120/240 volt 50 amp. You would buy a transfer switch that would be fed through a 50 amp 4 wire cord, providing both 120 volt and

240 volts to the switch. There is no need to use any additional cords.

Another thing to note: portable units typically have fairly small fuel tanks, often holding less fuel than you'd need to go through the night. Check the fuel consumption at full load and at half load, then do a calculation to determine if it's big enough for your needs. You can always use a fuel tank, not attached to the unit, but it becomes less portable, and potentially more dangerous.

Reply to
RBM

If you have Propane or Ng get a Tri fuel unit, gas goes bad and filling it and storage is a pain. a 3600 rpm gas unit of Honda motor quality is worth maybe 2-4000 hours, cheap motors you get much less life, the cheapest around 300 hours. How you load it will determine alot of its life. 10 days running full will wear out some units, the biggest life increase is low rpm 1800 and lower but those are alot more money commercial units.

Reply to
ransley

-snip-

No- propane is heavier than air, so it puddles like [invisible] water.

Jim

Reply to
Jim Elbrecht

No, in a semi-pernanent installation you will have something like this next to your main breaker panel

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you only need one big 240VAC cord to make this work. sized for the total load that will be on the generator.

nate

Reply to
N8N

The transfer switch that Nate links to is probably the cheapest, easiest method of connecting a generator to your electric service, and won't take an electrician more than an hour to connect. Note: the one shown has a thirty amp twist lok

Reply to
RBM

When you have a transfer switch installed, you run one cable to the generator. It will usually have 4 wires in it and they will all go into the

240 volt plug. The older unit will have a 3 wire plug. Two of the wires will be to the hot wires, one to the neutral, and the other one if used will be a chassies ground. The power will be split as needed at the box at the house.

Diesel will probably be the best. It lasts for many years unlike gas. Also you will probably want to run the generator for short periods of time every couple of weeks or so. Gas tends to wash the oil from the piston rings and get into the crankcase oil during the short run periods.

Reply to
Ralph Mowery

Except that it is under pressure in the tank, so that it will run up hill.

Reply to
Jim Rusling

Guess I'm having a senior moment. I saw vapor and was thinking the OP was worried about leakage. I stand corrected- but I would check on piping propane 100 feet.

Jim

Reply to
Jim Elbrecht

I have an inexpensive PowerBoss from HD with running watts of 5500 and starting 7350. Transfer box, as others point out, requires only one 240 plug and will power my furnace, well, refrigerator, 2 small freezers and some left over for some TV and lights. Big items like AC, electric stove and hot water heater were left off circuit. Unit is noisy but less than half price of a Honda but in the 4 years I've had it, it's probably been run less than 50 hours. I store the unit full with two 5 gal cans of standby gas. You don't need to run the generator full time, like when you are out of the house or asleep. Living in a state like Florida where gas stations may be out too, then you need to store a lot of gas but not here in Delaware. Guess it depends on where you are in NC.

If we had gas, a gas generator would probably be preferred as it would be cleaner and maybe get by with less frequent start-up intervals.

Reply to
Frank

Here is a site with excellent comparisons of different fuels:

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Reply to
DT

After last month's ice storm in North Carolina, I have decided to invest in a portable generator.

CY: You, and at least a few others.

After some research at various sites, I am certain that around 8 kw will fit my needs.

CY: How'd you get that number?

In terms of efficiency and fuel use, which generator type is best..... gas, diesel, or propane ?

CY: Diesel and propane are more efficient, and the fuel stores longer. They are more expensive to purchase.

Has anyone here used a tri-fuel generator, such as the one made by Northern Industrial Tools ?

CY: No.

How can one safely and properly store 150 gallons of gas ? I figure this is the maximum amount that i would need in any severe storm. I am aware of the use of Stabil, and I would also "rotate" the gas at least once a year.

CY: You'd want to check wtih the local building codes people. If there are no such people, please consider a diesel generator, and a 275 gal tank of home heating oil. It's essentially the same as diesel, but it's a different color. Since you're not using it for motor fuel, no worries.

Has anyone here used a propane generator ? If so, how well did you like it ? What model have you used ? If you have not used one, do you know of one on the market right now, in the 8 KW range ? (I find that all the propane ones I find are much larger generators, up to 12-15 kw or higher).

CY: Larger isn't necessarily a bad thing. If a generator runs at part load, there is less wear.

In terms of fuel usage, is a gallon of propane about the same as a gallon of gas ?

CY: Gal of propane is less, I think. During a power cut, you want to run as little as possible, so your power cut electric needs are different than your grid power needs.

I need 6 120 volt circuits, and two 240 circuits. The

240 circuits are needed for hot water, and water pump. Will this mean that I will need 3 distinct power cables run from my generator to the transfer switch in the house ? Are these pre-manufactured cables in given lengths, or will my electrician custom make cables ??

CY: Should need one cable, and a good electrician will do all of that.

If I use a propane tank, it may well be 50 feet lower in elevation than my generator, and up to 100 feet away. Will the propane travel an uphill run like this ?

CY: Propane, also called LPG, is a compressed gas. Released to the air, it flows down hill. In the tube from the tank to the generator, it will EASILY flow uphill.

What is your favorite generator in the 7-8 KW range ?

CY: No preference.

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Well, that should be enough questions for now !!

CY: Naah, there's plenty more questions.

Thank you in advance for any comment or advice !!

James

Reply to
Stormin Mormon

For portable, you're likely limited to gasoline.

One cord will handle 120 and 240 volts, both. Your electrician can do this.

Reply to
Stormin Mormon

If water is heavier than air, why do second floors of houses have showers and toilets?

Reply to
Stormin Mormon

Can't say as I've ever heard that.

Reply to
Stormin Mormon

Of course, during a power cut, you try to use as little electric as possible. Partly to save fuel, partly cause you don't want to stand out like a lighthouse in a harbor. And all the moths, I mean, neighbors, will magically fly over and ask to come in and watch TV.

Natural gas or propane might also be quieter than gasoline.

Whatever your choice, chain it securely when it is running. Generators are a very high theft item. If possible, don't leave it out past dark.

Reply to
Stormin Mormon

Thanks again to all/ good site Dennis/ good comments CY.

James

Reply to
James

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