Posted: 6/9/2014 5:13:34 AM EDT
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Well, I'm starting over again on the generator front. I had a 4,500 watt gas generator stored in a locked shed in a fenced yard. Stolen. The cool part is there was a police car parked stationary not 50 feet from my house for all of but maybe thirty minutes during the time it came up missing. I suspect the scum bags were waiting for him to leave and they knew I was a church. This is the first theft I've had in maybe twenty-five years. Locks were cut and gates broken. If they want your stuff they're gonna get it. So I'm shopping generators. I'm kind of leaning towards a couple of smaller ones that could cut down on fuel consumption. My main power requirement is a 15 amp circuit to power my natural gas boiler in the winter. What do you guys like these days. I'll be up front and say I'm not spending more than $500 on this prep in total because power outages are not a huge issue in my area. And if power is lost long-term in a SHTF I'll be moving on to a whole different gig. My generator plan involves two or three weeks at any time max. |
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Quoted:
Well, I'm starting over again on the generator front. I had a 4,500 watt gas generator stored in a locked shed in a fenced yard. Stolen. The cool part is there was a police car parked stationary not 50 feet from my house for all of but maybe thirty minutes during the time it came up missing. I suspect the scum bags were waiting for him to leave and they knew I was a church. This is the first theft I've had in maybe twenty-five years. Locks were cut and gates broken. If they want your stuff they're gonna get it. So I'm shopping generators. I'm kind of leaning towards a couple of smaller ones that could cut down on fuel consumption. My main power requirement is a 15 amp circuit to power my natural gas boiler in the winter. What do you guys like these days. I'll be up front and say I'm not spending more than $500 on this prep in total because power outages are not a huge issue in my area. And if power is lost long-term in a SHTF I'll be moving on to a whole different gig. My generator plan involves two or three weeks at any time max. Did you display any deterrent to help prevent theft, like cameras [even $5 dummy ones], a keypad on the shed with LEDs, even a $4 dummy one, or any other deterrent? Why not? 
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I use a 3500 watt Champion that has 240v. I used a panel interlock so I can backfeed the panel. I really don't need much more because I'm on natural gas. The 240 just made it easier to back feed.
I see the generator as a transition to a very low power way of life |
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This. I love my little champion. It is often easier to take this to the back yard and power my circular saw than dragging out 200' of extension cord. Then head over to www.motorsnorkel.com and pick up a tri-fuel conversion kit. They are $187. A converted champion costs less than a blue or red genny, and based on feedback from the RV community they seem to be just as reliable. |
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Quoted: Did you display any deterrent to help prevent theft, like cameras [even $5 dummy ones], a keypad on the shed with LEDs, even a $4 dummy one, or any other deterrent? Why not? Quoted: Quoted: Well, I'm starting over again on the generator front. I had a 4,500 watt gas generator stored in a locked shed in a fenced yard. Stolen. The cool part is there was a police car parked stationary not 50 feet from my house for all of but maybe thirty minutes during the time it came up missing. I suspect the scum bags were waiting for him to leave and they knew I was a church. This is the first theft I've had in maybe twenty-five years. Locks were cut and gates broken. If they want your stuff they're gonna get it. So I'm shopping generators. I'm kind of leaning towards a couple of smaller ones that could cut down on fuel consumption. My main power requirement is a 15 amp circuit to power my natural gas boiler in the winter. What do you guys like these days. I'll be up front and say I'm not spending more than $500 on this prep in total because power outages are not a huge issue in my area. And if power is lost long-term in a SHTF I'll be moving on to a whole different gig. My generator plan involves two or three weeks at any time max. Did you display any deterrent to help prevent theft, like cameras [even $5 dummy ones], a keypad on the shed with LEDs, even a $4 dummy one, or any other deterrent? Why not? |
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Quoted:
Well, I'm starting over again on the generator front. I had a 4,500 watt gas generator stored in a locked shed in a fenced yard. Stolen. The cool part is there was a police car parked stationary not 50 feet from my house for all of but maybe thirty minutes during the time it came up missing. I suspect the scum bags were waiting for him to leave and they knew I was a church. This is the first theft I've had in maybe twenty-five years. Locks were cut and gates broken. If they want your stuff they're gonna get it. So I'm shopping generators. I'm kind of leaning towards a couple of smaller ones that could cut down on fuel consumption. My main power requirement is a 15 amp circuit to power my natural gas boiler in the winter. What do you guys like these days. I'll be up front and say I'm not spending more than $500 on this prep in total because power outages are not a huge issue in my area. And if power is lost long-term in a SHTF I'll be moving on to a whole different gig. My generator plan involves two or three weeks at any time max. You are depending on natural gas supplied to you? What is your back up system for heat...and how much electricity does that need? Moving on at a certain threshold of problems? |
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I’ve always liked the EU2000i generators. Those are very fuel efficient setups. I wanted to power my furnace blower, my deep freeze, my refrigerator and perhaps one small circuit to do things like run a radio or charge a phone. When I added it up it just didn’t look like a 2000i would cut it. On top of that they are pretty darn expensive. I ended up just getting a 3500 watt champion and wiring up a simple power inlet. When funds permit I would really like to upgrade the generator to one of the inverter generators and keep my champion as a backup. If power disruptions last more than a few days refueling is going to be a problem which is why I think small long lasting generators are great. If your funds are tight get a cheaper 2000-3500w conventional gas generator like the one you had but smaller and spend your effort getting the wiring right first. Power inlet, transfer switch and quality inlet cords. Once all of that is out of the way you can save up for the inverter generator.
I’m not an expert on the inverter generators but I do believe that Honda is getting a LOT of quality competition now. In the older days that 2000i was the best and only game in town for quality but now Yamaha, Champion, Genrac and a few other household names have competing products that appear to me from the outside to be strong contenders and they come with lower price points. |
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Quoted:
You are depending on natural gas supplied to you? What is your back up system for heat...and how much electricity does that need? Moving on at a certain threshold of problems? Quoted:
Quoted:
Well, I'm starting over again on the generator front. I had a 4,500 watt gas generator stored in a locked shed in a fenced yard. Stolen. The cool part is there was a police car parked stationary not 50 feet from my house for all of but maybe thirty minutes during the time it came up missing. I suspect the scum bags were waiting for him to leave and they knew I was a church. This is the first theft I've had in maybe twenty-five years. Locks were cut and gates broken. If they want your stuff they're gonna get it. So I'm shopping generators. I'm kind of leaning towards a couple of smaller ones that could cut down on fuel consumption. My main power requirement is a 15 amp circuit to power my natural gas boiler in the winter. What do you guys like these days. I'll be up front and say I'm not spending more than $500 on this prep in total because power outages are not a huge issue in my area. And if power is lost long-term in a SHTF I'll be moving on to a whole different gig. My generator plan involves two or three weeks at any time max. You are depending on natural gas supplied to you? What is your back up system for heat...and how much electricity does that need? Moving on at a certain threshold of problems? NG heat may be just ONE of his heat sources. I am set up to use a generator to run my household heater but I also have acquired a couple of backup kerosene heaters. Two is one after all. |
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Quoted: You are depending on natural gas supplied to you? What is your back up system for heat...and how much electricity does that need? Moving on at a certain threshold of problems? Quoted: Quoted: Well, I'm starting over again on the generator front. I had a 4,500 watt gas generator stored in a locked shed in a fenced yard. Stolen. The cool part is there was a police car parked stationary not 50 feet from my house for all of but maybe thirty minutes during the time it came up missing. I suspect the scum bags were waiting for him to leave and they knew I was a church. This is the first theft I've had in maybe twenty-five years. Locks were cut and gates broken. If they want your stuff they're gonna get it. So I'm shopping generators. I'm kind of leaning towards a couple of smaller ones that could cut down on fuel consumption. My main power requirement is a 15 amp circuit to power my natural gas boiler in the winter. What do you guys like these days. I'll be up front and say I'm not spending more than $500 on this prep in total because power outages are not a huge issue in my area. And if power is lost long-term in a SHTF I'll be moving on to a whole different gig. My generator plan involves two or three weeks at any time max. You are depending on natural gas supplied to you? What is your back up system for heat...and how much electricity does that need? Moving on at a certain threshold of problems? |
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Well, first get your running load AND surge load and get a generator that will handle that plus 25%. If you have Menards in your area, they have been having generators on sale for a month or so now (at least at ours). They had a 6500 watt electric start with wheel kit for $400  . Been on sale/clearance for probably 2 months. Just didn't have the monopoly money to drop on it right now with the newborn. They had some 3500 watt units with 240v for $250.Oh, and get a couple kerosene heaters
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Quoted:
Did you display any deterrent to help prevent theft, like cameras [even $5 dummy ones], a keypad on the shed with LEDs, even a $4 dummy one, or any other deterrent? Why not?
Quoted:
Quoted:
Well, I'm starting over again on the generator front. I had a 4,500 watt gas generator stored in a locked shed in a fenced yard. Stolen. The cool part is there was a police car parked stationary not 50 feet from my house for all of but maybe thirty minutes during the time it came up missing. I suspect the scum bags were waiting for him to leave and they knew I was a church. This is the first theft I've had in maybe twenty-five years. Locks were cut and gates broken. If they want your stuff they're gonna get it. So I'm shopping generators. I'm kind of leaning towards a couple of smaller ones that could cut down on fuel consumption. My main power requirement is a 15 amp circuit to power my natural gas boiler in the winter. What do you guys like these days. I'll be up front and say I'm not spending more than $500 on this prep in total because power outages are not a huge issue in my area. And if power is lost long-term in a SHTF I'll be moving on to a whole different gig. My generator plan involves two or three weeks at any time max. Did you display any deterrent to help prevent theft, like cameras [even $5 dummy ones], a keypad on the shed with LEDs, even a $4 dummy one, or any other deterrent? Why not?
I never knew dummy cameras were a thing until now. Thanks! Definitely putting a few up... |
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honda eu2k spend the money, its worth it btw, if you just get a gen to only use in shtf, you're doing it wrong. a small lite genny gets used a lot more than for just shtf YES That's what we did. Even for people on a horrible budget, it's money well spent. Cheap gennies may have inverters that make ugly square wave juice. That stuff fries nice electronics. |
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YES That's what we did. Even for people on a horrible budget, it's money well spent. Cheap gennies may have inverters that make ugly square wave juice. That stuff fries nice electronics. Quoted:
Quoted:
honda eu2k spend the money, its worth it btw, if you just get a gen to only use in shtf, you're doing it wrong. a small lite genny gets used a lot more than for just shtf YES That's what we did. Even for people on a horrible budget, it's money well spent. Cheap gennies may have inverters that make ugly square wave juice. That stuff fries nice electronics. Even cheap electronics can handle some pretty dirty power. Very low concern. |