Portable Home Generator Questions

James · 2010-01-22T20:22:27+00:00

After last month's ice storm in North Carolina, I have decided to invest ina portable generator. After some research at various sites, I am certainthat around 8 kw will fit my needs. However, I still have **many** verybasic 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 oradvise on the ones about which they have knowledge or experience.-------------------------------------------In terms of efficiency and fuel use, which generator type is best.....gas, diesel, orpropane ?Has anyone here used a tri-fuel generator, such as the one made by NorthernIndustrial Tools ?How can one safely and properly store 150 gallons of gas ? I figure this isthe maximumamount that i would need in any severe storm. I am aware of the use ofStabil, and I wouldalso "rotate" the gas at least once a year.Has anyone here used a propane generator ? If so, how well did you like it? Whatmodel have you used ? If you have not used one, do you know of one on themarketright now, in the 8 KW range ? (I find that all the propane ones I findare much largergenerators, up to 12-15 kw or higher).In terms of fuel usage, is a gallon of propane about the same as a gallon ofgas ?I need 6 120 volt circuits, and two 240 circuits. The 240 circuitsare needed forhot water, and water pump. Will this mean that I will need 3 distinctpower cables runfrom my generator to the transfer switch in the house ? Are thesepre-manufacturedcables 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 mygenerator, andup to 100 feet away. Will the propane travel an uphill run like this ?What is your favorite generator in the 7-8 KW range ?-------------------------Well, that should be enough questions for now !!Thank you in advance for any comment or advice !!James

T

The Daring Dufas 16 years ago

Whenever there is some sort of disaster, entrepreneurs will load up trucks with all sorts of supplies to sell in the affected area but that was in the past. Now capitalists are charged with the crime of price gouging and often have their property confiscated by government types with guns. I thought it would be interesting to open a warehouse down in Florida well in advance of hurricane season and advertise things like batteries, generators, chain saws, etc at three times the going rate. No one would buy any until there was a disaster and when government types showed up to accuse you of price gouging, you can point out that your prices have been the same for months, what's the problem?

TDD

Vote

T

The Daring Dufas 16 years ago

A fellow from Alaska got involved with a post about using similar fuels for heating and diesel engines along with jet fuel and kerosene for cross purposes. He said they brought fuel in by barge and didn't screw around with having too many categories of fuels. I wish one of our Alaskan friends would speak up and tell us all what will work.

TDD

Vote

S

Stormin Mormon 16 years ago

You must be Mormons? Or survivalists? My confidence in humanity is restored.

Vote

S

Stormin Mormon 16 years ago

As to abrasion. I'd be tempted to put PVC or Pex over the propane line, for improved shielding. It's a bit of a pain to trace propane or other gas leaks. Seeing as how it's working for you, that's good.

Put the tank closer for the delivery guy is very considerate. Especailly when you call for fill in the winter snow season.

Vote

F

Frank 16 years ago

Guy I know was bragging that he got a practically new generator at half price when he bought at HD as a return after a big outage.

Another point, made by guys at HD, is that in high demand periods, generators are made with a variety of motors and generating units. If you find a cheap unit with a Honda motor and a Generac power supply, you're finding a bargain. A Honda dealer had told me to look for the Generac part which is what came with my B&D PowerBoss.

After perusing thread, I started up my 4 year old unit yesterday as it had not been run in 3 months and it started on second pull of rope.

Vote

P

PeterD 16 years ago

Exposed, yes, burried no. Frost heaving can fracture the line if not properly installed. Frost can move the ground 2 to 4 inches in some cases, but not a consistant move, someplaces it moves less than an inch, other places much more. Frost is nasty that way!

Vote

H

hallerb 16 years ago

The bush doctrine WE FIGHT THEM THERE SO WE DONT HAVE TO FIGHT THEM HERE.

Well after the NEXT major attack on US soil:(

It will get changed too:

Bring the military back from peaceful areas of the world like japan and germany, and put them to work HERE for stuff like border security.

our country is broke having given away its wealth buying energy for a generation, and shipping our manufacturing base and even phone support jobs overseas.

we can no longer afford to be the worlds cop......

now its time to protect ourselves.

Airport security and TSA is all about making us feel safe, not about real safety.

a couple terrorists with a SAM can take out us airliners at any time.

having a generator or two, sopme shelf stable food, drinkable water, etc is survivalism its just good common sense........

Vote

T

Tom Horne 16 years ago

Peter

There are a number of factual errors in your posting. Fuel gas lines do not have to be below the frost line. Under the miss utility laws of most states the liability is all with the person doing the digging who disturbs an existing line. We have had a number of propane installs done and a single central tank has always worked out cheaper in the long run. When we installed the generator at my firehouse the cost of the gas line was much cheaper than the additional cost of a diesel generator even though that was a natural gas and propane combination unit that needed a gas line run from the street as well as from the propane tank.

The point is that your own experience; or mine for that matter; will not, necessarily extrapolate well to another installation in another location.

-- Tom Horne

Vote

T

Tom Horne 16 years ago

Your only on the hook if you charge for the use of your power. Otherwise the courts won't give them the time of day. They neighbor would simply have no cause of action at law.

-- Tom Horne

Vote

T

Tom Horne 16 years ago

My family is using minimum buried lines from New Hampshire out to Southern California and has been for many years. Not one of my five sisters not my brother has had a line broken by frost damage. My church operates summer camps from the mountains of North West Maryland to the sea coast of the Carolinas. None of those underground propane lines has ever had frost damage. No that is not a complete geographic sample of the US but I have not heard of buried gas lines being frost damaged. I don't see the problem.

-- Tom Horne

Vote