Posted: 9/21/2004 1:06:15 PM EDT
I DO!!! I stopped in Lowe's last night to get something else, and walked down the generator isle, expecting to chuckle once again at the empty-until-November according to them shelves. NO!!! A brand new, unopened 5500 watt Troy-Bilt had been returned not 5 minutes earlier, still on the return roller. Needless to say, this was a no-brainer. I had 2 offers to buy it in the store, and 3 more in the parking lot. Nope, this one is mine. I have power, but I will not subject my wife and kids to time without power again. I was unprepared, but adding this to my quiver, not anymore. Just had to gloat! 
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www.lowes.com/lkn?action=howTo&p=BuyGuide/SelectGenerator.html&rn=RightNavFiles/rightNavHowTo |
Any motor driven device will require a good bit at startup. 1, 2, and 3 have motors, and if they all started up at once, you'd overdraw from even a generator capable of many thousands of watts. Are you sure your well pump is only 1/3 hp if it's 280 feet down. I'm not sure how deep mine is, but it's 3/4 hp, and is 240 volts. |
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watts are not what you should look at .. it's the amps... you will need at least 30 amps and it must have at least a 30 amp plug with 4 prongs. Without the 4 prongs you cannot run things correctly. It is not recommended that you run your a/c with anything smaller than 50 amps. A/Cs on small generators can be very hard on your compressor. With the 30 amp set up , you can back feed your house panel through your dryer plus ( if that has a 4 wire hook up ). make sure you turn off your main disconnect first. J |
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Nice genset, Ninja. I believe that model is actually made by Generac Portable Power Products (which is now owned Briggs & Stratton). Plenty of bang for the buck. Here in San Antonio, the generator shelves are bare at Home Depot – everything's been moved to the gulf coast stores. I get a laugh out all the 'my generator is bigger than yours' talk – A 50 KW generator won't run a 2KW load any better than a 3KW generator, but it will consume 10 times more fuel doing it...
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I've got one, but it has never been out of the box. Don't remember what size it is. If I had to use it, I'd be running a few select items with extension cords from the generator out in the yard. A few guys have pointed out that you don't just get one and suddenly you have power all over the house again. It is a lot more complex than that, and can be quite dangerous to try feeding your breaker panel if you don't read up first. Edit to add, I don't have any fuel stored either, and it takes lots and lots to run a generator for a few days. |