Posted: 1/25/2015 12:52:25 PM EDT
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I am in the market for a new generator.
Approx 8000-10000 watt will be used at home for the occasional power outage. will be used about 8 times a year at work. (every once in a while I work on a remote site) It would run for 4-5 hours at work. It would run for 12-16 hours a day during blackouts I can write it off for work, so price isn't to much of a concern, as long as it isn't ridiculously expensive. Should I stick with gas Propane? Diesel? Discuss |
| I have a propane 4000 watt. It's quieter than the equivalent gasoline, the fuel doesn't go bad. You can swap out the tanks in seconds without having to let the generator cool down or anything. It's easier to start, it's so easy even my wife can do it with one pull.The exhaust doesn't smell as bad. |
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One of my plans it to setup a QD gas outlet outside my basement that can run either a fixed whole house generator and/or a trifuel converted portable for small issues. Then have the electrical setup so I can pick and choose whats on.
Heres one site I found with the hardware http://caloreequipment.com/products/cl/standby-generator-flex-connectors.html?cat=113 |
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Quoted:
It would run for 12-16 hours a day during blackouts At full load, an 8 KW generator will consume around 2 gallons of gasoline per hour - or around 32 gallons in one 16 hour day. That's a lot of gas to store... Are you sure you can't live with a smaller generator? "Going small" not only reduces the amount of fuel you need to store for it, but also gives you the option of getting a much quieter inverter model. A Honda 3KW inverter model is going to be a LOT quieter than an 8KW conventional model. 
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Quoted:
I am in the market for a new generator. Approx 8000-10000 watt will be used at home for the occasional power outage. will be used about 8 times a year at work. (every once in a while I work on a remote site) It would run for 4-5 hours at work. It would run for 12-16 hours a day during blackouts I can write it off for work, so price isn't to much of a concern, as long as it isn't ridiculously expensive. Should I stick with gas Propane? Diesel? Discuss if you can not store and rotate a lot of gasoline, a 8-10KW generator is WAY TOO BIG. ar-jedi ps see http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_10_17/661411_Sandy____12_days_without_power__what_worked__what_didn_t____.html |
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My setup is a 10k gas generator, 900 watt harbor freight generator and 2 deep cycle batteries with a 1000 watt inverter. 10 k generator plugs into house and runs a couple hours in the morning and couple hrs in the evening. I cool fridge off ,re freeze freezer and hot water for showers. During the day I run the 900 watt harbor freight generator for tv, computers and fan for propane heater. I recharge deepcycle batteries for use at night to keep heater fan running and couple hrs of tv before going to bed. Then start over in the morning. I think I went thru almost 20 gallons of gas last year for 5 days of no power. |
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First you need to figure out what you realy need for the house if that is the driving force. Depending on what you need/want to run will determine which KW rating you need. There is start amperage and continuous. The start amperage is the killer. Some items like AC units may require as much as an extra 20% on the start up. Only way to get it right is to turn on what you want or need and get the amp draw. Or.. Get the info off of every item and add it up to get in the ball park. If you really need a 10kw or bigger for the house I would consider a stand alone unit with fuel capacity for 5 days and a way for extra fuel in either jugs or extra propane tanks to extend to 10 days if needed.
You also need to address how you are going to plug into the house. The correct way is a transfer switch which disconnects the circut to the grid and connects the power from the gen. So you do not back feed the whole block. A big portable will work but wrangling the fuel can be a bitch. Lots of jerry jugs. I have been through a couple hurricanes and had 12 5 gal cans for a 7kw portable gen. |
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Get the info off of every item and add it up to get in the ball park Most items only need to be operated intermittently - and very few of them need to be operated simultaneously. The best strategy is to juggle loads: 1. Decide which combination of items absolutely must be powered at the same time, 2. Determine which of those combinations (or single item) will draw the most power, and then 3. Pick a generator just big enough to comfortably power that particular combination or single item. |
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I went from a relatively small gas generator to a considerably larger one this time. The jump was from 4,000 watts to 8750. My determining factor was the price on the 8750 was just way too good to refuse, $300. But now I have a generator that is louder than my tractor and uses lots of gasoline. Now I'm OK with this because I have storage but eventually I'll have to go tri-fuel to make the thing practical for a long run should that need arise. I really do like the extra power when it comes to using it for work though. Don't buy more generator than you really need. The bigger ones can be quite loud and this is a concern when everyone else in the neighborhood is dead silent. |
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Quoted:
Most items only need to be operated intermittently - and very few of them need to be operated simultaneously. The best strategy is to juggle loads: 1. Decide which combination of items absolutely must be powered at the same time, 2. Determine which of those combinations (or single item) will draw the most power, and then 3. Pick a generator just big enough to comfortably power that particular combination or single item. Quoted:
Quoted:
Get the info off of every item and add it up to get in the ball park Most items only need to be operated intermittently - and very few of them need to be operated simultaneously. The best strategy is to juggle loads: 1. Decide which combination of items absolutely must be powered at the same time, 2. Determine which of those combinations (or single item) will draw the most power, and then 3. Pick a generator just big enough to comfortably power that particular combination or single item. Exactly, there is no need to try to run everything. I went from a 8000 watt to a 3000/3500 watt for the fuel consumption factor. I also have a kerosene heater with 15 gallon of kero to supplement heat in the winter if the electric fireplace powered by the generator don't keep us warm or if I decide to let the generator rest. |
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[b]Approx 8000-10000 watt...
will be used at home for the occasional power outage. will be used about 8 times a year at work. (every once in a while I work on a remote site) That is a BIG generator to be moving around... home/work, etc... For portability, diesel is your SAFEST, as other options have transportation risks (fire/explosion). I would really evaluate if I ~truly~ need that many watts... A Honda EU3000i is an AWESOME genny if you can get by with the reduced capability... Otherwise, I would look to getting TWO gensets, one at home, one at work, and store fuel accordingly. Rmpl |