Thank you guys for all the good comments and suggestions. Since this video was made I upgraded the small generator to a 2000w inverter generator that is much more quiet. Also, I just got my first power station. A company called Pecron sent me a small unit to show in a video. th-cam.com/video/n4sm2G9Cyjc/w-d-xo.html Solar panels are on the way next.
I live in the rural deep south - REA did not string power lines out here till about 1960 - many had 32 volt farm light plants - it consisted of 16 large 2 volt cells and a generator to charge the house battery's - Most that had a farm light plant charged there house battery all day on Friday - There was an agreement nation wide to only charge battery's on Friday and half a day Monday when needed because the noise - Any appliances that were 125 volts AC rural people could buy the same appliance in the 32 volts DC version - The battery's lasted 40 to 60 yrs on average - That's sort of lost history today - you could say a power station is the miniature version of the old ways -
I gave away my 6500 watt generator and replaced it with a much quieter 4000 watt 240 volt and an ultra quiet 2400 watt 120 volt inverter type. Both handle massive surges. I ran a new curcuit in the house to run critical need items and painted these outlet covers blue. The critical curcuit runs on the small generator. I converted both generaters to run on natural gas, propane or gasoline and I am installing a 12KW battery back up to reduce the need to run a generator full time for power. I am concidering solar as my last backup but only because it will pay for itself in a few years in lower electric bills.
I built our house and wired it. I put a sub panel with its own transfer switch that runs the furnace, fridge, freezer, lights and internet. We can run our house over 10 hours on a 1 gallon tank of gas in our Honda 2000. We also have a Champion a little bigger than yours I hook to the whole house transfer switch. It has a FOB remote start and we only run it for an hour or so at a time to run heavy loads like our well pump. Our total gas consumption is about 3 gallons a day to keep the power one. With ATVs and snowmobiles we always have 20-30 gallons of fresh gas around and I have a way to get gas out of any of our 3 pickup trucks. We live in a fairly rural place but have a fuel distributor a mile away that has plenty of available fuel with backup generators. I can even take the UTV or snowmobile to get it. I drain and put fresh gas in it every fall when I change the oil. Then I run them on a load for few hours just to verify they are ready to go for the winter.
Living in Northwest Florida a backup power source is a must if you want to keep your food in ref.and freezers from going bad. Iv'e added a couple champion duel fuel inverter generators to my preps. Run time on them is up to 22 hours per tank, you just have to run critical loads. Also added a Midea u-shaped inverter a.c. to stick in a window to keep from burning up in the Florida heat. It takes less than 6 amps to start, and runs on 3 to 5 amps. Great video and good advice.
I just picked up a Champion 100520 open inverted generator, 8750/7000 from Northern Tool last week $585.00, Northern wanted to move out all the Champions.They only had one I would have purchased two. Will add a natural gas kit to it. Have installed these kits on over a dozen generators with no issues. You will lose about 20% of your watts on natural gas. @@Mechanical_Mind
I also live in north central Florida. A portable generator, a can of gas, and a small window air conditioner is worth its weight in gold after a hurricane goes through and wipes out power for several days.
That is a valid point about the larger generator using more fuel. I just bought a Powersmart 4400 watt inverter generator because they are on sale right now and it uses 2.54 gallons for a 15 hour run time on eco mode it's engine is 224CC this is according to the advertised specs anyway I haven't gotten the generator yet to do any testing on it before I bought this one I used a 2 stroke Harbor Freight generator to get through my last power outage that lasted for 20 hours and that worked OK but I am tired of having to mix gas and oil and I wanted more power as well those little 2 stroke generators are only 900 watts but I was able to use that to power my refrigerator and my deep freezer both by getting one cold then swapping the generator to the other that is a hassle though. The nice thing about the small generators is they are easier to pick up and tote to where you need them also.
I somewhat agree. I have a large portable and it runs whole house. However, during winter etc a small one would run 2 fridges and heat during day. I may pick up a small one one day. Gas appliances besides stove here. I cant run it. Small would sip fuel and could get by. I hardly ever run my whole house just to keep my gen head happy and save fuel.
I have chosen it go with a small inverter generator and two 1000 watt solar battery power banks. Honda 2000 will run 4 hours at 50% load on a half gallon on gas. I use generator to charge battery power stations when solar is unable to keep up. I do not plan to power the whole house, only furnace fan, chest freezer, recharge phones/tablets, & recharge portable lights. Excellent advice in this video!
Hey Thanks Utah_Mike! The next day after I made this video I bought the 2000 Predator inverter generator to replace that Sportsman Tan generator. We have newer appliances now and I was worried about using a regular generator for them. Best part is it so much quieter and more fuel efficient.
Also rocking a hybrid setup with a small 1900W inverter generator to top up a solar+battery+inverter setup. Handful of panels will pass-through to run window unit and fridge/freezer, and the batteries can get charged by the generator during the afternoon so that there is enough power to keep everything running overnight.
I agree totally that you need various sizes to fit the load. I have a dozen generators from a Yamaha EF-1000 all the way up to a 30,000 watt diesel generator set. The same goes for tractors. So many people try to do everything with a tractor that is too small. I have a 25 HP, 43 HP and a 110 HP loader to fit the need. It was difficult to convince my wife that I needed all these but both of my girlfriends agreed that they were good ideas.
I use a propane generator. When there was a power outage due to a snowstorm in Texas, gasoline was unavailable. There was no electricity to pump gasoline. I have a dual fuel generator and I have two weeks worth of propane. It doesn't go bad, doesn't gum up carburetors and it will run everything in my house.
Been considering this same idea. Duel fuel and having propane tanks on hand since they just hang out til you need them. How many tanks do you have for two weeks supply? What size generator? Thanks!
@stephencabrera8785 12000w pulsar g12kbn, and I have 4 100 lb tanks and six 20 lb tanks. The generator will run for 7.5-8.5 hours on a 20lb cylinder. I'm not sure exactly what that adds up to with my supply, but it is enough, in my opinion. My brother has a 500 gallon tank with the exact same generator.
I wrote an article for a power company many years ago about using smaller generators. Since then there are a number of cheaper inverters and solar systems which are available. I would like to add some advice to this article. First, get two heavy gauge 50 foot extension cords to cut power loss. Since the generator must be outdoors, it will allow you to power two indoor appliances at once or if connected together they will reach farther to one item. Second, get a couple indoor/outdoor wireless thermometers for your refrigerator and freezer so you only run the generator when needed. For long term outages conservation is critical. Get two or three oil lamps and a few quarts of lamp oil for lighting instead of expensive battery power lights. (an exception would be several solar yard lights that will charge up during the day and provide several hours of light for $3 or less a piece.) Next record how much power each item will use so that you can efficiently connect several items at once without overloading the generator or running it unnecessarily. Some people may require a dual voltage generator if they have 220 volt items like well pumps. Have an alternate propane appliance to replace a power hungry electric stove or water heater. A small generator will power a 10,000 btu or less window air conditioner or microwave but not at the same time. You can buy a small generator, two heavy extension cords, a couple indoor/outdoor thermometers and four 5 gallon gas cans with stabilized gas for $600 or less. Or you can buy a large automatic system for $10-12,000 that will drain a 500 gallon propane tank in a week. Whatever your needs, remember that in an emergency, conserving fuel is always the wisest choice.
Great video! Your video is very informational for folks who are just starting to get into back up generator power. However I’m in a different league almost onto itself. I’m a power lineman for a living so I’m very aware of back up generators. I have the best of the best because I don’t want my neighbors to know we have power. My neighbors are very close by & to have an obnoxious generator running all the time will make quick enemies of my neighbors. I have the flag ship model of the Honda inverter line. The EU 7000is. It’s fuel injected & burns way less fuel than even your smaller generator at half load. It’s comparable in size to your larger Champion. When the Honda is on it is super quiet at 58 decibels on regular & 54 decibels on economy mode. It’s rated at 5500 watts with a surge to 7000 watts. I have personally tested mine to 9200 watts surge & it runs fine. With everything on including the 2-1/2 ton central air I’m using 3750 watts. I have a soft start kit for my A/C. I keep 111 gallons of gasoline at my house incase of a power outage. That’s enough gasoline for twenty days. The Honda burns 11 gallons in 42 hours at half load. That’s almost two full days between fill ups. I bought an auxiliary fuel tank that holds 6 gallons. I refill my auxiliary without shutting my generator off. I have 15 of the 5 gallon No Spill fuel jugs. Not 4 or 5. The longest I’ve been out of power was after storm Isais a few years ago. I was busy working storm work getting everyone else’s power back on. I knew my family was safe at home. Maybe you can do a review on inverter generators? Most people are unaware. You almost need an inverter to power your home. Every appliance today has a micro-processor in it. Without clean 60 cycle power they may not power up? Or if they do? They might damage it with dirty power off a conventional generator. The same adage exists. Save money on a generator & replace all your appliances after a long duration outage. OR buy an inverter generator & keep your appliances. The choice is yours?
Good video and I totally agree. We lost power here in KY last year for 5 days. I ran a small inverter generator for 5 days straight and burned less than 20 gallons of gas. You would have needed a 55 gallon drum (or more) of gas to run a larger generator.
Be sure to change oil frequently. These have very minimal oil capacity, and no oil filter. I recommend changing the oil once every 10 gallons of fuel consumed, per quart of crankcase capacity. Because the smaller one at best , holds ~20 Oz of oil, 7 1/2 gallons is probably about right for that one, The bigger one probably holds closer to 1 1/2 quarts, so, 2 full tanks of gas is probably about right for that one. You said it right at the very end, Never turn off the generator by the ignition switch. Its better to remove all loads, and turn off the fuel valve. Stay there with it, and when the engine starts to sputter, ride the choke, to maintain mixture. That extra vacuum helps clear the emulsion tube as well as the idle circuit, as well as the float bowl. That will ensure that no liquid is left behind, that can leave behind varnish, from fuel evaporation. There's nothing more satisfying, than having a generator start on the first pull, when you really need it!
Exactly. In fact, riding the choke as the float bowl runs out of fuel will provide extra vacuum, to clear the emulsion tube, and idle circuit, as well as draining the float bowl. You want to leave as little liquid fuel as possible to evaporate, causing varnish that can throw off fuel/air mixture.@@donbrloks3959
Have you ever had to use a generator for an extended duration? That oil change interval is crazy. That could easily be every other day or so. Sure, it won't hurt. But totally unnecessary.
If you live in the country and have a well, the pump is likely 220v. For us, water is the most important thing to have during a power outage. Small generators do not have 220v capability. Our generator MUST have 220v capacity at a minimum.
Agreed. Fuel replenishment and starting/stopping various power sources is not something everyone in the family will do well. Just let the ATS switch from utility power to generator power when necessary.
I have 3500 peak 2500 continues I run my fridge 5000 ac coffee maker microwave 3 royobie battery charger computer 100w still not maxing out uses 3 .5 gal a day smaller for long haul is correct we get cold weather I use propane for that big buddy
Dual fuel generator with a few propane tanks. Propane burns cleaner(extends generator life) and is able to be stored much longer than gasoline. You can also cook on a gas grill with it.
If you take care of your generator, propane does not matter. I have a Generac XL5500 which runs on gas. After each severe power outage, I put it back into long term storage mode which was outlined in the product manual. That includes, running the gas out of it, changing the oil and filter, and putting a squirt of oil in the cylinder and closing the valve. This unit still starts up with one pull. If you need a generator, it should be the best maintained motor on your property.
I have been doing home backup power since the 1980's when it occurred to me that most everything is dependent upon electricity. Portable and the low cost Generac whole house standby generators use a lawn mower engine. These need an oil change every 50 - 100 hours (1 hour for the first oil change). You absolutely can't use ethanol blended fuels, these breakdown very quickly and start damaging the carburetor in as little as 2 weeks. I only use non-ethanol fuel with Sta-Bil and 1 oz of Marvel Mystery Oil per gallon, which I have tested out to 4 years so far in gas tanks, gas cans, and carburetors, without any problems. Your standard kitchen refrigerator uses a surprisingly high amount of starting power. You need a generator with 2,500 watts minimum of continuous output (not surge power) to cleanly start a kitchen refrigerator. Note that generators have wattage listed in surge power, the actual output power is only about 75% of the surge rating (multiply the surge rating by 0.75 to obtain the continuous rating). If you can only afford 1 generator, buy an inverter type enclosed in the plastic case, with a surge wattage of 3,000 watts or more. These cost more than the basic open frame 3,600 rpm generator but, are quieter, generate clean power, lighter weight, and get better gas mileage. Ideally, you should have at least 2 sources of backup power for long term power outages. A gas generator and a rechargeable 2,000 watt power station.
I’d have to disagree. I ran my full size fridge and a deep freeze on a 1,600 watt (continuous). They weren’t even the only load. I ran my home internet/network, 4 fans, a 50” TV, and charging my Battery backup. Ran for 3 days with no issues.
@@victorc777 My recommendations are a worst-case scenario, so someone trying to buy the average generator to power their selected items will end up with a working setup. My information is based upon testing numerous refrigerators since the 1980's. Also, generators like the Honda for instance, have excellent surge performance compared to the average Chinese knockoff. Additionally, the newer kitchen refrigerators with a DC Inverter compressor, have a lower starting current. So, when taking everything mentioned into account, I like to err on the side of extra capacity, which also extends the life of the generator since it is not running at near maximum capacity.
@@billharris6886 fair enough…. I realize that older inefficient fridges can pull much more than my newer Samsung fridge. I just don’t know how much more TBH. My generator is the (Chinese) Predator inverter generator from harbor freight. Worth every penny!
Great video. We have the 9000/7250 watts Predator generator. It has an 8-gallon tank. At 50% load, 3,625 continuous running watts, it can run for 13 hrs. I installed a Tri-fuel kit to run it off of our Natural Gas line in our house. NG is the primary fuel source and with gasoline as a backup. (I store 35 gallons in Jerry cans) We have a Delta Pro Power Station that is always ready in case of a power outage. It's all set up and connected to a six and ten circuit manual transfer switch. We can get four to six hrs. of use, depending on the power load. We use our generator to recharge the Power Station, then switch to the Power Station while the generator rest. This saves on fuel and keeping things quite at night. Both can run our entire house. The power station can't run our Central Air though.
Hey sounds good but if you purchase a smaller KW gas generator it will only sometimes have 15-20 Amp outlets not a 30-50 amp outlet for multiple circuits. You will need to separate isolate only circuit you need like furnace most important then possibly some lights , outlets and tv If you go larger it will have 30 amp breaker and you can run one cord to inlet box and a interlock kit
This is very true!! It’s cheaper and more reliable to run Multiple smaller generators ,the efficiency is 5x better and you always always have spare parts
Excellent presentation. Extremely important information for many people who THINK they need a big, honking generator for emergencies. During emergencies, using a larger generator can be problematic for several reasons, as you discuss.
I highly recommend a Sol Gen as well. I still use my Pecron P3000. Operating at 2000 watts. Great for smaller draws and charge via their 200 W suitcase panels.
I recently got a Pecron E600 and a 200w suitcase panel. It's a game changer! I've been using and testing them both for months now. For backup power, now all I want to invest in is more battery and solar capacity
I have two generators as well.... a big 9000 and a small 3500. I am installing a transfer switch for the 9000 to run almost everything except for the central AC and water heater. At night I can power that down and run the small generator to only run a portable window unit and refrigerator and save a bunch of gas. You are dead on with this video!
Last week after a storm I had a power outage for about 40hours, usually they are less then 6 hours, 2 to 5 times a year. I bought 2000W nominal/4000W peak 12V DC to 220V AC pure sine inverter from Aliexpress. It was 90EUR and free shipping in 3 days. I attached it directly to car's battery using supplied leads. So far I tested that I can use 1500W hairdryer for prolonged periods of time >15 minutes, while car is on idle. Simultaneously to 500W resistive load (hair dryer on low setting) inverter can easily start 1KW water well pump, so there is water in the house. When I tried 2000W water boiling kettle, battery voltage quickly dropped below 10.5V and inverter turned itself off. It was because of older car battery or lieds to the battery(that where supplied with inverter), inverter would be able to deliver more. During future outages I plan to use inverter only for essentials - computers, phones, lights, fridge and water well pump. No electrical space heating, cooking, hot water boiler, dishwasher or washing machine, these extras will have to wait until grid power is restored. Car idles quieter than generator and consumes about 1 liter per hour while on idle (average 2liter diesel or petrol engine car). Since I use that car daily - fuel in the tank is always fresh and there is no need to store extra fuel for generators. If there are 20 liters of fuel in car, I can idle it for 10 hours before going to fill up the tank until it is full. Full tank of gas is enough to idle for almost a week. If the 2000W inverter is turned on without any load it consumes about 10W of energy. If you have light load attached - a laptop, few phones charging, led lights in the house (some 100W in total) then you can turn cars engine off, and use those loads for 2 to 3 hours from the battery. After 3 hours you need to start the car to idle for 30 to 45 minutes, and again engine can be turned off. While the car is idling you can use about 1000W on average, and 2000W or more for a very short periods of time, alternator should be able to keep up with demand and recharge the battery. And if you continiuesly use over 500W of power, just keep the car idling, battery will last less than one hour if car is turned off. My fridge on the sticker seas that in consumes 250KWh per year, so it is less than 1KWh per 24 hours. Maybe 40W/h on average. It might have high initial power, or consume 200W while running, but the compressor is running maybe 25% of the time, 75% of the time refrigerator does not consume any electricity. If refrigerator is the only load during the night, car battery should be able to deliver electricity without being on idle for those 8 to 9 hours. Almost all inverters also have few safety features, one of witch is to turn itself off if the battery voltage drops below 10.5V. You will notice it because of an inverter power outage and there should be enough juice in the battery to start the car and charge the battery. In my opinion batteries + inverter is the most convenient and fuel efficient way for loads below 200W, and it is plenty for electronics and lights. But you need to have a way to charge those batteries without. Running smaller 1KW or 2KW generator non stop - to run one refrigerator or charge a phone is very loud and waste of fuel you have to store lots of extra fuel for those special occasions - power outages.
Inverter generators are quieter because they throttle down when loads decrease (also saving fuel), while standard generators run at a constant 3600 RPM. But inverter generators are usually smaller, and rarely output 240 volts.
Good points. My little honda 2000 burns 1 gallon in 8 hours under load and runs fridge, freezer and small window a.c. simultaneously. And is quiet. I Back feed half of the panel.
Thanks! Both of my current ones are very loud. I'm going to try to keep flipping mowers and generators for more video topics. I want to see if I can upgrade my way up to a small 2000 watt inverter style and also a 5500 watt inverter style.
That honda is not running 1 gallon for 8 hours under full load. That stuff may be plugged in, but it's not "running" or cycling at the same time. It's rated at 1 gallon for 8 hours at a 25% load. Anyway, yes, I use the Champion version with great success.
@@MrRChitty That quite possible but the main must be off for those that don't know and you also must have all the 220 breakers off so you're not sending 120V to one leg of 220V well or water heater.
Good video. We lose power fairly often, and I'll pass along two more items: 1) Consider an inverter generator. Does not have to be a Honda. These vary the engine speed, all the way down to idle, as the load changes. They use much less fuel, are quiet, and are easier on your electronics (baked into all appliances these days) since the power is "cleaner" with fewer spikes, etc. 2) Also, consider dual-fuel/propane. Unlike gasoline, propane will last indefinitely. You can even run your generator off of your home propane tank if you have one. Also, no risk of spilling fuel on a hot engine. AND, you can store it safely in your house if you want since the propane dissipates quickly after it is disconnected.
Good points Thomas. After reading so many of the comments I sold that little tan generator and got a small Predator 2000 inverter to replace it. Next I want to upgrade the larger generator to a dual fuel inverter style. Eventually I also want a battery and solar system
I found this to be very helpful in a power outage. AMIR wireless refrigerator/ freezer thermometer..About $19 on Amazon. Only run generator when necessary to maintain cold temperature, without opening the door. Also, I agree with the one that recommended a small power station for small electrical loads such as lights, fans, entertainment.
My suggestion is get an inverter generator with auto throttle they’re much more efficient quieter and very efficient on low loads. My 6KW continuous inverter generator is as efficient as your small generator.
What model do you have? Two days after posting this video I sold that little generator and bought a Predator 2000/ 1600 watt inverter generator. OMG it's so much better that the little Tan one in the video. My goal is to swap the larger one in the video for a 5000 or higher inverter generator.
With newer appliances, I would get a GOOD true rms frequency meter and check the frequency and voltage of these smaller generators. I've seen a ton of newer smart ups battery backups that will not switch over to portable generators output. Lots of refrigerators are now using single phase to 3 phase convertors with a frequency drive to control the compressor.... not something you want to hit with dirty voltage. Washing machines are using technology very similar on direct drive units with no transmission. If you have older appliances it may not cause problems, but with modern appliances it could end up costing a lot more than the generator did.
That's a great point! I actually picked up a inverter generator yesterday because we have recently gotten a new house with new appliances and I was worried about running them with a regular generator. I've been getting so many good comments like yours that I'm editing a part 2 to this video to cover these points. Thanks for watching and commenting!
You're exactly right about " Clean " power needed for many new appliances including the furnace which is why I bought an Inverter. Old oil furnace or fridge could care less but the new gas furnace won't run with a regular generator. Nothing like burning up the circuit board on the furnace when ice storm takes out power for days. Love my gas sipping, quiet Inverter.
I have both small and large generators. When I purchased my large 9000 watt generator, I made sure it was dual fuel. If gasoline is not available, you can run it on propane. Very versatile in an emergency.
Agree with your comment about having a large enough supply of gas. We keep 5 5-gallon gas cans of stabilized gas on hand. We have a 7,000 watt Harbor Freight Predator gas generator connected using a generator interlock. Our game plan is to run a genie a few hours in the morning and several in the evening. Gas supply should last a week. To keep our home network alive when the genie is not running we have UPS that is able to power the LAN when the generator is not running and recharge quickly. Something else is run your generator every few months to make sure it will work when you need it.
We live in SE PA. Earlier this Spring I bought a 9000W portable generator. We are on a well. Almost all the time, power here goes out from a Summertime storm. Which usually strikes 5:00-6:00 PM. Usually an outage from a Summer storm will last 6-8 hours. I had an interlock kit installed with a 50 amp cord hook up. I did research, I concluded the amount of instances the grid is down, and the severity of the outages, the gas guzzler would be fine. Really I'm still breaking it in 4 months later. The power here doesn't go out too much. We had an ice storm in 2014 where we lost power for 3 days, that was about the longest outage we ever experienced. I also have a 2000W Honda inverter I bought that year. Even during that 3 day outage, it was a short drive to get gas. The local convenience store was open from their own generator power. And power in the next County 5 miles away was mostly on.
Great information you give. If I may add from personal experience, we were out of power and water for 10 days during the freeze we had in Texas. I own 2 Honda generators with one being the companion having the 30amp plug. I converted both of them to propane because I had experienced where one of them would not turn on even after frequent maintenance and using non-ethanol gas. When I could not start it I just switched to propane and it ran flawlessly. I also bought a couple of solar generators (power banks)that would run my essentials like fridge and freezer for about 13 to 16 hours. Great thing about this is that I only ran the generator to charge them for a couple of hours when we had no sun for several days. Other wise a couple of 200W solar panels would keep them charged while running my essential items. Redundancy is key. Thank you for sharing your video.
If you're in an area known for prolonged outages why not have one that will run on propane and have a 250 gallon tank sitting out back? I say that over natural gas because natural gas can be disrupted
Also the gas doesn't go bad and can't be stolen! The best thing we got on my grandmothers house was a standby generator with a 250 gallon LP tank. She could run for 2 weeks in an ice storm while use home fuel for the furnace. Just a 10k watt unit was perfect. This was vermont btw.
Get a generator which can run on propane and keep a bunch of filled tanks in your garage. You can store propane for as long as the tanks don't rust through which will be forever if you keep them inside a building. Be aware that if you get a 12,000 watt generator you will need a lot of propane or gasoline to run it for more than a day. I would suggest 30 or 40 pound propane tanks. You can move them around with a hand truck if you are older.
I BORROWED A 9000 FIRMAN AND IT WOULD RUN 12 HOURS MAX. I HAVE A NEW GENERATOR DUROMAX 4000 WILL RUN 19 1/2 HOURS.I RUN 3 LIGHTS,CELLPHONE BOOSTER AND A INDOOR OXYGEN MACHINE.
That's exactly what I just bought to replace the small in this video. Plus it's so quiet and it has the option to parallel up with another one. th-cam.com/video/Aa_0DXB9bkk/w-d-xo.html
The main problem with the small generator is the needs of someone in the City - vs - a Rural environment. In the city where natural gas is abundant, and municipal water is supplied. You can get by pretty comfortably with say a little 3500 watt'r that only supports 120v. In the country however, where most people are on a well.. most well pumps run at 240v, and a lot of appliances are electric, so to cook it takes 240v. I don't think anyone would voluntarily take a generator that uses more gas on purpose.. but sometimes it's unavoidable as you don't see any generators offering 240v until you get into the 5000ish+ range. And even then, at the 5000watt range, it's only going to be providing around 20amps at 240. Better than nothing. But unless you've lived in a rural environment, most people don't realize how power hungry some of the 240v appliances are.
@Mechanical_Mind It was a very well done video 👍 I hope for more. I just made that comment as a nod to everyone that lives in the country as I do. I know people that live in the city that think I'm a maniac for owning a 10k watt generator.. when they can't even fathom being on well water or having a hot water tank that doesn't run on gas lol.
The generator has to be sized for the use. Having more than you need will just burn extra fuel. I have a 15k which runs my whole house and is needed. I am the only person around that has AC, hot water, full light, stove, washer , dryer. Even my pool is running. My life doesn’t change except for having to refill. We lost power for 13 days and I spent $400 in fuel. It ain’t cheap. Now I also have a diesel powered generator. The stations run out of gas but still have diesel. Here in south Florida the gas pumps have backup generators at most stations.
I have a dual fuel with 2 twenty and 1 30lb tanks and a 12 gallon fuel tank not including the tank on the generator itself. I have a bluetti back up battery that runs the internet,tv and Alexa along with two Mr buddy heaters so I won’t use the big generator u til I absolutely need to.
I have a 1500 watt pure sine wave inverter I connect to my car battery. Won't run the AC, hot water heater, or range but it will power the necessities; microwave, fridge, lights, a few fans, necessary electronics. We're campers so we have a propane camping stove to cook on. I fill my car when I hear bad weather is approaching. Car burns about a quart of gas per hour idling so, with a full tank, I have ~75 to 80 hours of run time. Car is quiet when idling so I'm not bothering the neighbors. When I'm done with the inverter I put it back in its box and on the shelf for next time. No maintenance whatsoever.
I bought a large generator at costco that did 4500W, the first power outage I I had, hooked it up and ran my house. I runed my smasung tv though :( I didn't understand that I need a inverted generator to run electronics. Epensive lesson. Now I own 3500w inverter generator, can't use it for the AC but it works fine for everything else including my new tv lol.
Crank your generators once a month. Use only non-ethanol gasoline and put a fuel stabilizer in the fuel which will extend the life up to a year, easily. If you do not have a Quiet generator, consider making a House to put the generator in to keep it out of the weather and tone down the noise. The use of Non-ethanol gasoline is critical, and you can often get it at a small local airport if none is available at gas stations. If you are in an area where power outages are not unusual, having an extra spark plug and fuel filter is critical to have on hand, along with extra oil that maybe needed for long use. Some Heat/AC units need an adaptor added to the unit to work properly. The NON INVERTER generators may burn up computers, TVs and other high end equipment. NON Inverter generators are usually ok for freezers and refrigerators, but anything with a computer needs an inverter generator, especially WIFI, phone chargers, etc. Your local electric company can offer a wealth of information on these issues.
I have electric power generators in multiple sizes fueled by solar, gasoline and natural gas. It depends on the anticipated outage length. The solar/battery generators will last 1 day without recharging but they are silent. The gasoline generators require multiple fuel cans to cover several days. The whole-house generator will run as long as natural gas is available, stopping only for maintenance checks every week. The whole house generator requires no intervention to fail-over using the automatic transfer switch but it was expensive.
I have 2 small generators: a 2400w ultra quiet yamaha Inverter type,120 volt and a relatively quiet 4000 watt generac 240 volt. I converted both to tri-fuel: natural gas as default since it is hooked up to the house and I don't have to store it. As a second source I store 250 lbs of propane and as a last choice 70 gallons of gasoline. I am currently installing a 12,000 watt hour battery backup system so that I don't have to run the genertors full time for power. I can charge my batteries to supply all my critical needs in just a few hours, once a day. Next year I will install enough solar to cover all critical needs when the sun shines. The pay back, for me, is 3 years on the solar and 6 years on the battery system. As I explain to poeple I concider this an insurance policy that will pay for itself in 9 years. How many other insurance policies pay for themselves?
I use a DuroMax XP13000HX with a 50amp interlock. I want the ability to use propane without compromise in case I can’t find gas during a mass power outage. I need to be able to use my 4 ton HVAC (with soft start), my lights, refrigerator and chest freezer at the bare minimum. I need 35 amps to start the compressor not counting the 5 amps from the air handler. Since it’ll be cycling on and off and I don’t have much control of when the freezer and refrigerator cycle I want to make sure I have enough starting amps in the event they all come on together, that’s close to 11,000 watts to start and about 4300 to run. So using propane I’m at 86% peak starting watts and 43% running. Having a good buffer helps prevent bad voltage and frequency drops. I could do the XP12000HX but I’ll be getting too close to the max starting amps than I’m willing to go.
I'm an electrical engineer. Many ask me about putting in whole house generator. I tell them when I wired my house I did make it future for whole house for a selling point for a future buyer but I would never do that. Whole house is a stupid idea as it takes to much fuel. I have a 30A generator inlet outside with breakers tied in the main panel for the transfer switch. I have to have 240v for my week pump. When I have a power outage I wheel the generator out of the garage and connect it. If I know it will be a long outage run it for about 30-60 minutes at a time and then turn off for 2-3 hours.
I have a 3400 watt peak generator that i use mostly in the summer when we get bad storms and it knocks out the power. But it really came in handy last week when we lost power for 3 hours and i was able to run the Furnace and lights. Everyone that can should have some kind of small emergency generator just in case.
For me the holy grail has been an open frame inverter generator. I can power what I need, but it's quieter, more efficient and puts out better power than a conventional gen. Also, despite my more rural setting we've never passed 48 hours without power being restored, and you could buy gas well before that. That said, I do stockpile like 27 gallons so I feel like there is no reason to go out and pick up a small inverter generator. In a severe situation I could easily ration my generator usage and extend for days and days. For example, my WEN is rated at 7,000W continuous and the spec is 10% less fuel consumption than your Champion 5500W while carrying over 20% more load. And it really shines overnight where the engine can idle down a bit.
About two minutes of info in a 12 minute video. Better to avoid gasoline and use propane, better yet to use natural gas if available. A tri fuel inverter used piped NG is almost as good as permanent generator.
I find the best route is to have a solar generator (usable indoors) w/extra battery and use the small generator to charge the solar generator as needed.If the sun comes out you can charge with a portable solar panel and the small gas generator at same time as needed.
I use solar ones teamed up with my champion gas/propane generator. If no sun I can charge my solar ones fairly quick which extends my fuel consumption drastically. As you know living down in Florida its a must to have alternative energy. I have been running my fridge and deep freezer 24/7 for a year now using this combo. I lost to much food and then had a hard time buying it back because of shortages after the last hurricane.
You go more than a few days, gas becomes a serious issue. A little 2k generator will keep your fridge running as well as a fan or two for a couple days in a 5 gallon can.
Any used Honda generator is better than any new generator ...Honda is the long term generator that is why is more expensive because it will last a life time 25 yrs...
The hum of generators is something that people are going to have to get used to. It just so happens that everybody else makes their share of noise and l don’t say shit about it.
Hi thanks for this. i've got 5 of them ; two 3500 watters, 2 - 1100 watters...one 1983 Yamaha 2800 watter = EF2800 model. Starts, just as good as all the newer ones....better built. !
I remember during a snow storm when the city lost power. My buddy's neighbor had his generator stolen overnight. They left a broken weed eater running to make it sound like it was still out there
I agree Mike. There are tons of great comments on this video. So much so that I made a follow-up video today. Yes I always recommend running non-ethanol gas in small engines. Thanks for watching
Have a smaller one as a backup, my main runs primarily on natural gas so I can power everything as long as I want. I can connect the small one to my panel was well and might use it in the winter for shorter outages. Less noise and can get it out quickly.
Hard pass on gas. I went Ecoflow Delta and solar panels. Whisper quiet and free fuel for life. Perfect for use here in South Texas. We always have sun here… year round.
I definitely want to get solar and batteries. If you dont mind me asking, How much did your set up cost, how many panels, and how much power do you get?
I bought an A-iPower 2000w quite a few years ago just to have something. I ended up liking it so much I bought one or their 3800w from Sams club 2 years ago. It burns 2 gallons of gas in around 8 hours. Runs all the lights, fridge, TV, and the gas furnace. I've never had issues with leaving the gas in them like I did with the old style. I believe it has to do with the sealed vent system. I also keep them in the garage where it's semi conditioned so that may play a part as well. It's also crazy how quiet it is. I can run it on the deck and full load and not even hear it in the house.
I have the same A-i Power 2,000 inverter generator. With long term power outages, I use it to recharge my off-grid solar battery bank. It goes through 1 gallon of gas in 3 hours with a continuous power draw of 1,300 watts. I have the generator in my barn with the exhaust system plumbed outside through a car muffler. It's very quiet, I can no longer hear it run when 50 feet are more away from the barn.
If you want power through the night you will need batteries and an inverter otherwise the neighbours will be justifiably upset with you stopping them sleeping. Then you will need a really big battery charger to refill batteries while going at the usual day consumption rate. You'll have the same neighbours after the power cut so don't upset them, Maybe offer them an hour of one freezer twice daily so that they don't waste food. The prime target is to reduce your consumption drastically so that you survive a few days. Yes a power outage will put the petrol station out of business too, with nothing to pump fuel or run the computerised till system.
Unless it is an inverter generator you are asking for trouble, I had a small generator burn out the circuit board on a very expensive fridge. Also don't plug your TV or internet into one of these small generators. I recommend eith er a Honda 2000 or 3000 unit. I personally have a standby generator running on natural gas
I upgraded the small one generator to a 2000k inverter generator. Next I plan to upgrade the larger one to an inverter style. Then hopefully get into some batteries and solar.
Do it right , if you do replace carburetor, replace filters,gas line, sparkplug all at once. Have extras ON THE SHELF , so you don't have to go shopping in middle of a night emergency. (tools, flashlight,oil and LARGE print laminated instruction sheet at fingertips too! )
Me personally I have shelves full of extra parts oil etc, even a spare carb is a good idea IMO. I would also recommend the average joe to have at least an extra spark plug, oil, and fuel hose and clamps.
I agree, I have a 9000 watt for emergency 1-2 day outages, with a back feed to my house, and I have a 1200 watt for the bare essentials, and I have batteries with a trickle charger and solar panels stored away, with a 1500 watt inverter for really long emergencies. I can also hook up my big battery charger to the generator to charge the batteries for a couple of hours it the is no sun.
Four hours is a very conservative estimate, a lot depends on a refrigerators temperature setting, ambient room temp, how full or empty, any door openings. I usually run the generator until midnight then shutdown until 6-7 the next morning and never had any spoilage problems. Personally I don't like to run my generator when unattended unless absolutely necessary. Always have 15 gallons of stabilized gas on hand and rotate through this using the gas for yard equipment. Should a hurricane or ice storm be on the horizon, I'll add a 4th or 5th can to the rotation. Just do not have enough long term outages to justify the expense to purchase and maintain second generator. If you have a lot of long duration outages this strategy might be a good investment.
i have about 140 gallons with gas treatment, dated and rotated for my cars. i never let my cars/truck get beyond half full. works for us. if there is a major power issue, based on a 12 hour run, good for almost a month. with enco mode.
I've kinda become addicted to FB Marketplace. I thought about making a video about it. 9 out of 10 ads I see for mowers and generators say " Carb needs cleaning"
Nowadays solar is the way to go. Combined with a battery you could even charge the battery for 1h using the generator and run the whole day in case a hurrican trashed you panels on the roof. Or have some spare panels..
I've got a medium predator that works very well. I'm beginning to store gas in 50 gal portable tanks because I just went through ice storm lasting 2 weeks-yep its freaking cold without heat. I freeze dry and can food but also freeze to store foods...
I sold that little tan generator in the video and got a little predator 2000w inverter generator. It so much quieter than the one in the video. Plus with the throttle control I'm sure it will do better on fuel
Agreed.12 generators,Honeywell,Hondas (5)Energizer(2) yamaha ,generac Aipower,Predator.Always looking for another,Ja Ja. There is always room for another.
I lived through Texas winter storm Uri and hurricane Beryl using a Champion 100520 invertor generator. I live in a residential neighborhood so a large tank of propane is out of the question. Also my natural gas feed and electrical feed are on the opposite sides of my home, so I was restricted to using gasoline only. With that in mind I keep a 10 day supply of gasoline. I know it's a pain in the butt, however it's my only option.
My cousin in Conroe, TX has TWO gas meters. One for the house and another for the whole house generator that powers his well pump. He just pays for the usage from both meters. My gas meter and electric panel are 25 feet apart on the same outer wall of my garage. We have a Kohler generator and ATS.
So, you're telling me that a 1200 watt constant generator running at 100 percent power uses far less fuel than a, say, 7200 watt generator producing 1200 watts at just over 16 percent power? Uh uh. Not possible.
I flunked calculating derivatives but if a car is running on idle and moving 6 MPH it uses gasoline. If that same car is traveling 60 MPH it is using gasoline. What is the optimum speed to travel at to get the most miles out of the gasoline?(ps, i made up that part about flunking.)
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Thank you guys for all the good comments and suggestions. Since this video was made I upgraded the small generator to a 2000w inverter generator that is much more quiet.
Also, I just got my first power station. A company called Pecron sent me a small unit to show in a video. th-cam.com/video/n4sm2G9Cyjc/w-d-xo.html
Solar panels are on the way next.
I live in the rural deep south - REA did not string power lines out here till about 1960 - many had 32 volt farm light plants - it consisted of 16 large 2 volt cells and a generator to charge the house battery's -
Most that had a farm light plant charged there house battery all day on Friday -
There was an agreement nation wide to only charge battery's on Friday and half a day Monday when needed because the noise -
Any appliances that were 125 volts AC rural people could buy the same appliance in the 32 volts DC version -
The battery's lasted 40 to 60 yrs on average -
That's sort of lost history today -
you could say a power station is the miniature version of the old ways -
Use what you actually need
Cut off unnecessary power consumption is the key for emergency
True, but even at 25% power usage the big generator will burn 4x of fuel ⛽ that the smaller one would.
I gave away my 6500 watt generator and replaced it with a much quieter 4000 watt 240 volt and an ultra quiet 2400 watt 120 volt inverter type. Both handle massive surges. I ran a new curcuit in the house to run critical need items and painted these outlet covers blue. The critical curcuit runs on the small generator. I converted both generaters to run on natural gas, propane or gasoline and I am installing a 12KW battery back up to reduce the need to run a generator full time for power. I am concidering solar as my last backup but only because it will pay for itself in a few years in lower electric bills.
I built our house and wired it. I put a sub panel with its own transfer switch that runs the furnace, fridge, freezer, lights and internet. We can run our house over 10 hours on a 1 gallon tank of gas in our Honda 2000. We also have a Champion a little bigger than yours I hook to the whole house transfer switch. It has a FOB remote start and we only run it for an hour or so at a time to run heavy loads like our well pump. Our total gas consumption is about 3 gallons a day to keep the power one. With ATVs and snowmobiles we always have 20-30 gallons of fresh gas around and I have a way to get gas out of any of our 3 pickup trucks. We live in a fairly rural place but have a fuel distributor a mile away that has plenty of available fuel with backup generators. I can even take the UTV or snowmobile to get it.
I drain and put fresh gas in it every fall when I change the oil. Then I run them on a load for few hours just to verify they are ready to go for the winter.
Living in Northwest Florida a backup power source is a must if you want to keep your food in ref.and freezers from going bad. Iv'e added a couple champion duel fuel inverter generators to my preps. Run time on them is up to 22 hours per tank, you just have to run critical loads. Also added a Midea u-shaped inverter a.c. to stick in a window to keep from burning up in the Florida heat. It takes less than 6 amps to start, and runs on 3 to 5 amps. Great video and good advice.
I'm going to sell both of mine and upgrade them both to inverter style. And the bigger one a dual fuel type like you have. Thanks for watching!
I just picked up a Champion 100520 open inverted generator, 8750/7000 from Northern Tool last week $585.00, Northern wanted to move out all the Champions.They only had one I would have purchased two. Will add a natural gas kit to it. Have installed these kits on over a dozen generators with no issues. You will lose about 20% of your watts on natural gas. @@Mechanical_Mind
I also live in north central Florida. A portable generator, a can of gas, and a small window air conditioner is worth its weight in gold after a hurricane goes through and wipes out power for several days.
That is a valid point about the larger generator using more fuel. I just bought a Powersmart 4400 watt inverter generator because they are on sale right now and it uses 2.54 gallons for a 15 hour run time on eco mode it's engine is 224CC this is according to the advertised specs anyway I haven't gotten the generator yet to do any testing on it before I bought this one I used a 2 stroke Harbor Freight generator to get through my last power outage that lasted for 20 hours and that worked OK but I am tired of having to mix gas and oil and I wanted more power as well those little 2 stroke generators are only 900 watts but I was able to use that to power my refrigerator and my deep freezer both by getting one cold then swapping the generator to the other that is a hassle though. The nice thing about the small generators is they are easier to pick up and tote to where you need them also.
I somewhat agree. I have a large portable and it runs whole house. However, during winter etc a small one would run 2 fridges and heat during day. I may pick up a small one one day. Gas appliances besides stove here. I cant run it. Small would sip fuel and could get by. I hardly ever run my whole house just to keep my gen head happy and save fuel.
That’s the neighbors problem for not being prepared.
Propane is the best way to go folks and have a 100 gallon tank is just smart since the fuel never goes bad 😊😊😊
I have chosen it go with a small inverter generator and two 1000 watt solar battery power banks. Honda 2000 will run 4 hours at 50% load on a half gallon on gas. I use generator to charge battery power stations when solar is unable to keep up. I do not plan to power the whole house, only furnace fan, chest freezer, recharge phones/tablets, & recharge portable lights.
Excellent advice in this video!
Hey Thanks Utah_Mike! The next day after I made this video I bought the 2000 Predator inverter generator to replace that Sportsman Tan generator. We have newer appliances now and I was worried about using a regular generator for them. Best part is it so much quieter and more fuel efficient.
Also rocking a hybrid setup with a small 1900W inverter generator to top up a solar+battery+inverter setup. Handful of panels will pass-through to run window unit and fridge/freezer, and the batteries can get charged by the generator during the afternoon so that there is enough power to keep everything running overnight.
I was going to say that, but you beat me to it
I agree totally that you need various sizes to fit the load. I have a dozen generators from a Yamaha EF-1000 all the way up to a 30,000 watt diesel generator set. The same goes for tractors. So many people try to do everything with a tractor that is too small. I have a 25 HP, 43 HP and a 110 HP loader to fit the need. It was difficult to convince my wife that I needed all these but both of my girlfriends agreed that they were good ideas.
? wetmore ?.....= gladsome more...
The funny jokes have the most truth😂
I use a propane generator. When there was a power outage due to a snowstorm in Texas, gasoline was unavailable. There was no electricity to pump gasoline. I have a dual fuel generator and I have two weeks worth of propane. It doesn't go bad, doesn't gum up carburetors and it will run everything in my house.
Me too propane is only way to go or natural gas as back up
Been considering this same idea. Duel fuel and having propane tanks on hand since they just hang out til you need them. How many tanks do you have for two weeks supply? What size generator? Thanks!
@stephencabrera8785 12000w pulsar g12kbn, and I have 4 100 lb tanks and six 20 lb tanks. The generator will run for 7.5-8.5 hours on a 20lb cylinder. I'm not sure exactly what that adds up to with my supply, but it is enough, in my opinion. My brother has a 500 gallon tank with the exact same generator.
I wrote an article for a power company many years ago about using smaller generators. Since then there are a number of cheaper inverters and solar systems which are available. I would like to add some advice to this article. First, get two heavy gauge 50 foot extension cords to cut power loss. Since the generator must be outdoors, it will allow you to power two indoor appliances at once or if connected together they will reach farther to one item. Second, get a couple indoor/outdoor wireless thermometers for your refrigerator and freezer so you only run the generator when needed. For long term outages conservation is critical. Get two or three oil lamps and a few quarts of lamp oil for lighting instead of expensive battery power lights. (an exception would be several solar yard lights that will charge up during the day and provide several hours of light for $3 or less a piece.) Next record how much power each item will use so that you can efficiently connect several items at once without overloading the generator or running it unnecessarily. Some people may require a dual voltage generator if they have 220 volt items like well pumps. Have an alternate propane appliance to replace a power hungry electric stove or water heater. A small generator will power a 10,000 btu or less window air conditioner or microwave but not at the same time. You can buy a small generator, two heavy extension cords, a couple indoor/outdoor thermometers and four 5 gallon gas cans with stabilized gas for $600 or less. Or you can buy a large automatic system for $10-12,000 that will drain a 500 gallon propane tank in a week. Whatever your needs, remember that in an emergency, conserving fuel is always the wisest choice.
Love your contribution to the topic Philip
Great video! Your video is very informational for folks who are just starting to get into back up generator power.
However I’m in a different league almost onto itself. I’m a power lineman for a living so I’m very aware of back up generators. I have the best of the best because I don’t want my neighbors to know we have power. My neighbors are very close by & to have an obnoxious generator running all the time will make quick enemies of my neighbors.
I have the flag ship model of the Honda inverter line. The EU 7000is. It’s fuel injected & burns way less fuel than even your smaller generator at half load. It’s comparable in size to your larger Champion. When the Honda is on it is super quiet at 58 decibels on regular & 54 decibels on economy mode. It’s rated at 5500 watts with a surge to 7000 watts. I have personally tested mine to 9200 watts surge & it runs fine. With everything on including the 2-1/2 ton central air I’m using 3750 watts. I have a soft start kit for my A/C. I keep 111 gallons of gasoline at my house incase of a power outage. That’s enough gasoline for twenty days. The Honda burns 11 gallons in 42 hours at half load. That’s almost two full days between fill ups. I bought an auxiliary fuel tank that holds 6 gallons. I refill my auxiliary without shutting my generator off. I have 15 of the 5 gallon No Spill fuel jugs. Not 4 or 5. The longest I’ve been out of power was after storm Isais a few years ago. I was busy working storm work getting everyone else’s power back on. I knew my family was safe at home.
Maybe you can do a review on inverter generators? Most people are unaware. You almost need an inverter to power your home. Every appliance today has a micro-processor in it. Without clean 60 cycle power they may not power up? Or if they do? They might damage it with dirty power off a conventional generator. The same adage exists. Save money on a generator & replace all your appliances after a long duration outage. OR buy an inverter generator & keep your appliances. The choice is yours?
Good video and I totally agree. We lost power here in KY last year for 5 days. I ran a small inverter generator for 5 days straight and burned less than 20 gallons of gas. You would have needed a 55 gallon drum (or more) of gas to run a larger generator.
Be sure to change oil frequently. These have very minimal oil capacity, and no oil filter. I recommend changing the oil once every 10 gallons of fuel consumed, per quart of crankcase capacity. Because the smaller one at best , holds ~20 Oz of oil, 7 1/2 gallons is probably about right for that one, The bigger one probably holds closer to 1 1/2 quarts, so, 2 full tanks of gas is probably about right for that one.
You said it right at the very end, Never turn off the generator by the ignition switch. Its better to remove all loads, and turn off the fuel valve. Stay there with it, and when the engine starts to sputter, ride the choke, to maintain mixture. That extra vacuum helps clear the emulsion tube as well as the idle circuit, as well as the float bowl. That will ensure that no liquid is left behind, that can leave behind varnish, from fuel evaporation. There's nothing more satisfying, than having a generator start on the first pull, when you really need it!
This Info is Correct!!!
And then, drain the carb. Running out of gas still leaves a small amount of fuel in the bowl.
Exactly. In fact, riding the choke as the float bowl runs out of fuel will provide extra vacuum, to clear the emulsion tube, and idle circuit, as well as draining the float bowl. You want to leave as little liquid fuel as possible to evaporate, causing varnish that can throw off fuel/air mixture.@@donbrloks3959
Have you ever had to use a generator for an extended duration? That oil change interval is crazy. That could easily be every other day or so. Sure, it won't hurt. But totally unnecessary.
I change oil every 24 hours and keep several cases of gallons plus a jar marked with correct amount required to fill it 😊
If you live in the country and have a well, the pump is likely 220v. For us, water is the most important thing to have during a power outage. Small generators do not have 220v capability. Our generator MUST have 220v capacity at a minimum.
If you're only going to buy one generator get a big one that will run your whole house.
Agreed. Fuel replenishment and starting/stopping various power sources is not something everyone in the family will do well. Just let the ATS switch from utility power to generator power when necessary.
I have 3500 peak 2500 continues I run my fridge 5000 ac coffee maker microwave 3 royobie battery charger computer 100w still not maxing out uses 3 .5 gal a day smaller for long haul is correct we get cold weather I use propane for that big buddy
Excellent source of information. Thank you very much.
Dual fuel generator with a few propane tanks. Propane burns cleaner(extends generator life) and is able to be stored much longer than gasoline. You can also cook on a gas grill with it.
If you take care of your generator, propane does not matter. I have a Generac XL5500 which runs on gas. After each severe power outage, I put it back into long term storage mode which was outlined in the product manual. That includes, running the gas out of it, changing the oil and filter, and putting a squirt of oil in the cylinder and closing the valve. This unit still starts up with one pull. If you need a generator, it should be the best maintained motor on your property.
@@gibblespascack1418 You are the exception to the majority. Most folks don't take care of 50k cars, much less a 1k generator.
I have been doing home backup power since the 1980's when it occurred to me that most everything is dependent upon electricity.
Portable and the low cost Generac whole house standby generators use a lawn mower engine. These need an oil change every 50 - 100 hours (1 hour for the first oil change). You absolutely can't use ethanol blended fuels, these breakdown very quickly and start damaging the carburetor in as little as 2 weeks. I only use non-ethanol fuel with Sta-Bil and 1 oz of Marvel Mystery Oil per gallon, which I have tested out to 4 years so far in gas tanks, gas cans, and carburetors, without any problems.
Your standard kitchen refrigerator uses a surprisingly high amount of starting power. You need a generator with 2,500 watts minimum of continuous output (not surge power) to cleanly start a kitchen refrigerator. Note that generators have wattage listed in surge power, the actual output power is only about 75% of the surge rating (multiply the surge rating by 0.75 to obtain the continuous rating).
If you can only afford 1 generator, buy an inverter type enclosed in the plastic case, with a surge wattage of 3,000 watts or more. These cost more than the basic open frame 3,600 rpm generator but, are quieter, generate clean power, lighter weight, and get better gas mileage.
Ideally, you should have at least 2 sources of backup power for long term power outages. A gas generator and a rechargeable 2,000 watt power station.
I’d have to disagree. I ran my full size fridge and a deep freeze on a 1,600 watt (continuous). They weren’t even the only load. I ran my home internet/network, 4 fans, a 50” TV, and charging my Battery backup. Ran for 3 days with no issues.
@@victorc777 My recommendations are a worst-case scenario, so someone trying to buy the average generator to power their selected items will end up with a working setup. My information is based upon testing numerous refrigerators since the 1980's. Also, generators like the Honda for instance, have excellent surge performance compared to the average Chinese knockoff. Additionally, the newer kitchen refrigerators with a DC Inverter compressor, have a lower starting current. So, when taking everything mentioned into account, I like to err on the side of extra capacity, which also extends the life of the generator since it is not running at near maximum capacity.
@@billharris6886 fair enough…. I realize that older inefficient fridges can pull much more than my newer Samsung fridge. I just don’t know how much more TBH. My generator is the (Chinese) Predator inverter generator from harbor freight. Worth every penny!
Great video. We have the 9000/7250 watts Predator generator. It has an 8-gallon tank. At 50% load, 3,625 continuous running watts, it can run for 13 hrs. I installed a Tri-fuel kit to run it off of our Natural Gas line in our house. NG is the primary fuel source and with gasoline as a backup. (I store 35 gallons in Jerry cans)
We have a Delta Pro Power Station that is always ready in case of a power outage. It's all set up and connected to a six and ten circuit manual transfer switch. We can get four to six hrs. of use, depending on the power load.
We use our generator to recharge the Power Station, then switch to the Power Station while the generator rest. This saves on fuel and keeping things quite at night.
Both can run our entire house. The power station can't run our Central Air though.
Where do you get a tri-fuel kit for the Predator and is it difficult to install?
Hey sounds good but if you purchase a smaller KW gas generator it will only sometimes have 15-20 Amp outlets not a 30-50 amp outlet for multiple circuits. You will need to separate isolate only circuit you need like furnace most important then possibly some lights , outlets and tv
If you go larger it will have 30 amp breaker and you can run one cord to inlet box and a interlock kit
Redundancy is good. Main unit is a 22kw Generac whole house. Back up is an 8kw Generac . Both fueled by natural gas.
This is very true!! It’s cheaper and more reliable to run Multiple smaller generators ,the efficiency is 5x better and you always always have spare parts
Excellent presentation. Extremely important information for many people who THINK they need a big, honking generator for emergencies. During emergencies, using a larger generator can be problematic for several reasons, as you discuss.
Thanks John!
I highly recommend a Sol Gen as well. I still use my Pecron P3000. Operating at 2000 watts. Great for smaller draws and charge via their 200 W suitcase panels.
I recently got a Pecron E600 and a 200w suitcase panel. It's a game changer! I've been using and testing them both for months now. For backup power, now all I want to invest in is more battery and solar capacity
I have two generators as well.... a big 9000 and a small 3500. I am installing a transfer switch for the 9000 to run almost everything except for the central AC and water heater. At night I can power that down and run the small generator to only run a portable window unit and refrigerator and save a bunch of gas. You are dead on with this video!
Last week after a storm I had a power outage for about 40hours, usually they are less then 6 hours, 2 to 5 times a year. I bought 2000W nominal/4000W peak 12V DC to 220V AC pure sine inverter from Aliexpress. It was 90EUR and free shipping in 3 days.
I attached it directly to car's battery using supplied leads. So far I tested that I can use 1500W hairdryer for prolonged periods of time >15 minutes, while car is on idle. Simultaneously to 500W resistive load (hair dryer on low setting) inverter can easily start 1KW water well pump, so there is water in the house. When I tried 2000W water boiling kettle, battery voltage quickly dropped below 10.5V and inverter turned itself off. It was because of older car battery or lieds to the battery(that where supplied with inverter), inverter would be able to deliver more.
During future outages I plan to use inverter only for essentials - computers, phones, lights, fridge and water well pump. No electrical space heating, cooking, hot water boiler, dishwasher or washing machine, these extras will have to wait until grid power is restored.
Car idles quieter than generator and consumes about 1 liter per hour while on idle (average 2liter diesel or petrol engine car). Since I use that car daily - fuel in the tank is always fresh and there is no need to store extra fuel for generators. If there are 20 liters of fuel in car, I can idle it for 10 hours before going to fill up the tank until it is full. Full tank of gas is enough to idle for almost a week. If the 2000W inverter is turned on without any load it consumes about 10W of energy. If you have light load attached - a laptop, few phones charging, led lights in the house (some 100W in total) then you can turn cars engine off, and use those loads for 2 to 3 hours from the battery. After 3 hours you need to start the car to idle for 30 to 45 minutes, and again engine can be turned off. While the car is idling you can use about 1000W on average, and 2000W or more for a very short periods of time, alternator should be able to keep up with demand and recharge the battery. And if you continiuesly use over 500W of power, just keep the car idling, battery will last less than one hour if car is turned off. My fridge on the sticker seas that in consumes 250KWh per year, so it is less than 1KWh per 24 hours. Maybe 40W/h on average. It might have high initial power, or consume 200W while running, but the compressor is running maybe 25% of the time, 75% of the time refrigerator does not consume any electricity. If refrigerator is the only load during the night, car battery should be able to deliver electricity without being on idle for those 8 to 9 hours.
Almost all inverters also have few safety features, one of witch is to turn itself off if the battery voltage drops below 10.5V. You will notice it because of an inverter power outage and there should be enough juice in the battery to start the car and charge the battery.
In my opinion batteries + inverter is the most convenient and fuel efficient way for loads below 200W, and it is plenty for electronics and lights. But you need to have a way to charge those batteries without. Running smaller 1KW or 2KW generator non stop - to run one refrigerator or charge a phone is very loud and waste of fuel you have to store lots of extra fuel for those special occasions - power outages.
Inverter generators are quieter because they throttle down when loads decrease (also saving fuel), while standard generators run at a constant 3600 RPM. But inverter generators are usually smaller, and rarely output 240 volts.
Good points. My little honda 2000 burns 1 gallon in 8 hours under load and runs fridge, freezer and small window a.c. simultaneously. And is quiet. I Back feed half of the panel.
Thanks! Both of my current ones are very loud. I'm going to try to keep flipping mowers and generators for more video topics. I want to see if I can upgrade my way up to a small 2000 watt inverter style and also a 5500 watt inverter style.
That honda is not running 1 gallon for 8 hours under full load. That stuff may be plugged in, but it's not "running" or cycling at the same time. It's rated at 1 gallon for 8 hours at a 25% load. Anyway, yes, I use the Champion version with great success.
There is a way to run both sides of the panel, I have a generator hook up and jump inside the 240 plug from 1 leg to the other.
@@MrRChitty That quite possible but the main must be off for those that don't know and you also must have all the 220 breakers off so you're not sending 120V to one leg of 220V well or water heater.
Your Honda 2000 gets better fuel economy than mine. I get 8 hours at 1/4 load with 1 gallon.
You don’t buy any generator that won’t run on propane too. It’s easier to stock up and store propane than gasoline
Good video. We lose power fairly often, and I'll pass along two more items: 1) Consider an inverter generator. Does not have to be a Honda. These vary the engine speed, all the way down to idle, as the load changes. They use much less fuel, are quiet, and are easier on your electronics (baked into all appliances these days) since the power is "cleaner" with fewer spikes, etc. 2) Also, consider dual-fuel/propane. Unlike gasoline, propane will last indefinitely. You can even run your generator off of your home propane tank if you have one. Also, no risk of spilling fuel on a hot engine. AND, you can store it safely in your house if you want since the propane dissipates quickly after it is disconnected.
Good points Thomas. After reading so many of the comments I sold that little tan generator and got a small Predator 2000 inverter to replace it. Next I want to upgrade the larger generator to a dual fuel inverter style. Eventually I also want a battery and solar system
@@Mechanical_Mind I did start watching you follow-up video that covers these topics... Thanks!
Amazing advice Thank you!!
I found this to be very helpful in a power outage. AMIR wireless refrigerator/ freezer thermometer..About $19 on Amazon. Only run generator when necessary to maintain cold temperature, without opening the door. Also, I agree with the one that recommended a small power station for small electrical loads such as lights, fans, entertainment.
Thanks for sharing!
My suggestion is get an inverter generator with auto throttle they’re much more efficient quieter and very efficient on low loads. My 6KW continuous inverter generator is as efficient as your small generator.
What model do you have? Two days after posting this video I sold that little generator and bought a Predator 2000/ 1600 watt inverter generator. OMG it's so much better that the little Tan one in the video. My goal is to swap the larger one in the video for a 5000 or higher inverter generator.
With newer appliances, I would get a GOOD true rms frequency meter and check the frequency and voltage of these smaller generators. I've seen a ton of newer smart ups battery backups that will not switch over to portable generators output. Lots of refrigerators are now using single phase to 3 phase convertors with a frequency drive to control the compressor.... not something you want to hit with dirty voltage. Washing machines are using technology very similar on direct drive units with no transmission. If you have older appliances it may not cause problems, but with modern appliances it could end up costing a lot more than the generator did.
That's a great point! I actually picked up a inverter generator yesterday because we have recently gotten a new house with new appliances and I was worried about running them with a regular generator.
I've been getting so many good comments like yours that I'm editing a part 2 to this video to cover these points.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
You're exactly right about " Clean " power needed for many new appliances including the furnace which is why I bought an Inverter. Old oil furnace or fridge could care less but the new gas furnace won't run with a regular generator. Nothing like burning up the circuit board on the furnace when ice storm takes out power for days. Love my gas sipping, quiet Inverter.
You’re the best guy at welcoming questions and explaining your ideas.
I appreciate that!
I have both small and large generators. When I purchased my large 9000 watt generator, I made sure it was dual fuel. If gasoline is not available, you can run it on propane. Very versatile in an emergency.
Agree with your comment about having a large enough supply of gas. We keep 5 5-gallon gas cans of stabilized gas on hand. We have a 7,000 watt Harbor Freight Predator gas generator connected using a generator interlock. Our game plan is to run a genie a few hours in the morning and several in the evening. Gas supply should last a week. To keep our home network alive when the genie is not running we have UPS that is able to power the LAN when the generator is not running and recharge quickly.
Something else is run your generator every few months to make sure it will work when you need it.
We live in SE PA. Earlier this Spring I bought a 9000W portable generator. We are on a well. Almost all the time, power here goes out from a Summertime storm. Which usually strikes 5:00-6:00 PM. Usually an outage from a Summer storm will last 6-8 hours. I had an interlock kit installed with a 50 amp cord hook up. I did research, I concluded the amount of instances the grid is down, and the severity of the outages, the gas guzzler would be fine. Really I'm still breaking it in 4 months later. The power here doesn't go out too much.
We had an ice storm in 2014 where we lost power for 3 days, that was about the longest outage we ever experienced. I also have a 2000W Honda inverter I bought that year.
Even during that 3 day outage, it was a short drive to get gas. The local convenience store was open from their own generator power. And power in the next County 5 miles away was mostly on.
Great information you give. If I may add from personal experience, we were out of power and water for 10 days during the freeze we had in Texas. I own 2 Honda generators with one being the companion having the 30amp plug. I converted both of them to propane because I had experienced where one of them would not turn on even after frequent maintenance and using non-ethanol gas. When I could not start it I just switched to propane and it ran flawlessly. I also bought a couple of solar generators (power banks)that would run my essentials like fridge and freezer for about 13 to 16 hours. Great thing about this is that I only ran the generator to charge them for a couple of hours when we had no sun for several days. Other wise a couple of 200W solar panels would keep them charged while running my essential items. Redundancy is key. Thank you for sharing your video.
If you're in an area known for prolonged outages why not have one that will run on propane and have a 250 gallon tank sitting out back? I say that over natural gas because natural gas can be disrupted
That's a very good idea!
Also the gas doesn't go bad and can't be stolen! The best thing we got on my grandmothers house was a standby generator with a 250 gallon LP tank. She could run for 2 weeks in an ice storm while use home fuel for the furnace. Just a 10k watt unit was perfect. This was vermont btw.
Get a generator which can run on propane and keep a bunch of filled tanks in your garage. You can store propane for as long as the tanks don't rust through which will be forever if you keep them inside a building. Be aware that if you get a 12,000 watt generator you will need a lot of propane or gasoline to run it for more than a day. I would suggest 30 or 40 pound propane tanks. You can move them around with a hand truck if you are older.
I BORROWED A 9000 FIRMAN AND IT WOULD RUN 12 HOURS MAX. I HAVE A NEW GENERATOR DUROMAX 4000 WILL RUN 19 1/2 HOURS.I RUN 3 LIGHTS,CELLPHONE BOOSTER AND A INDOOR OXYGEN MACHINE.
A little 2k suitcase inverter generator is great in addition to a big generator
That's exactly what I just bought to replace the small in this video. Plus it's so quiet and it has the option to parallel up with another one.
th-cam.com/video/Aa_0DXB9bkk/w-d-xo.html
The main problem with the small generator is the needs of someone in the City - vs - a Rural environment.
In the city where natural gas is abundant, and municipal water is supplied. You can get by pretty comfortably with say a little 3500 watt'r that only supports 120v.
In the country however, where most people are on a well.. most well pumps run at 240v, and a lot of appliances are electric, so to cook it takes 240v.
I don't think anyone would voluntarily take a generator that uses more gas on purpose.. but sometimes it's unavoidable as you don't see any generators offering 240v until you get into the 5000ish+ range.
And even then, at the 5000watt range, it's only going to be providing around 20amps at 240.
Better than nothing. But unless you've lived in a rural environment, most people don't realize how power hungry some of the 240v appliances are.
Very good points. This video is getting the best comments and contributions
@Mechanical_Mind
It was a very well done video 👍
I hope for more.
I just made that comment as a nod to everyone that lives in the country as I do.
I know people that live in the city that think I'm a maniac for owning a 10k watt generator.. when they can't even fathom being on well water or having a hot water tank that doesn't run on gas lol.
The generator has to be sized for the use. Having more than you need will just burn extra fuel. I have a 15k which runs my whole house and is needed. I am the only person around that has AC, hot water, full light, stove, washer , dryer. Even my pool is running. My life doesn’t change except for having to refill. We lost power for 13 days and I spent $400 in fuel. It ain’t cheap. Now I also have a diesel powered generator. The stations run out of gas but still have diesel. Here in south Florida the gas pumps have backup generators at most stations.
I have a dual fuel with 2 twenty and 1 30lb tanks and a 12 gallon fuel tank not including the tank on the generator itself. I have a bluetti back up battery that runs the internet,tv and Alexa along with two Mr buddy heaters so I won’t use the big generator u til I absolutely need to.
I have a 1500 watt pure sine wave inverter I connect to my car battery. Won't run the AC, hot water heater, or range but it will power the necessities; microwave, fridge, lights, a few fans, necessary electronics. We're campers so we have a propane camping stove to cook on. I fill my car when I hear bad weather is approaching. Car burns about a quart of gas per hour idling so, with a full tank, I have ~75 to 80 hours of run time. Car is quiet when idling so I'm not bothering the neighbors. When I'm done with the inverter I put it back in its box and on the shelf for next time. No maintenance whatsoever.
DUEL FUEL: Propane is KING for this kind of outage. Tri-fuel if U have nat.gas
I bought a large generator at costco that did 4500W, the first power outage I I had, hooked it up and ran my house. I runed my smasung tv though :( I didn't understand that I need a inverted generator to run electronics. Epensive lesson. Now I own 3500w inverter generator, can't use it for the AC but it works fine for everything else including my new tv lol.
Crank your generators once a month. Use only non-ethanol gasoline and put a fuel stabilizer in the fuel which will extend the life up to a year, easily. If you do not have a Quiet generator, consider making a House to put the generator in to keep it out of the weather and tone down the noise.
The use of Non-ethanol gasoline is critical, and you can often get it at a small local airport if none is available at gas stations.
If you are in an area where power outages are not unusual, having an extra spark plug and fuel filter is critical to have on hand, along with extra oil that maybe needed for long use.
Some Heat/AC units need an adaptor added to the unit to work properly.
The NON INVERTER generators may burn up computers, TVs and other high end equipment. NON Inverter generators are usually ok for freezers and refrigerators, but anything with a computer needs an inverter generator, especially WIFI, phone chargers, etc. Your local electric company can offer a wealth of information on these issues.
I have electric power generators in multiple sizes fueled by solar, gasoline and natural gas. It depends on the anticipated outage length. The solar/battery generators will last 1 day without recharging but they are silent. The gasoline generators require multiple fuel cans to cover several days. The whole-house generator will run as long as natural gas is available, stopping only for maintenance checks every week. The whole house generator requires no intervention to fail-over using the automatic transfer switch but it was expensive.
I have 2 small generators: a 2400w ultra quiet yamaha Inverter type,120 volt and a relatively quiet 4000 watt generac 240 volt. I converted both to tri-fuel: natural gas as default since it is hooked up to the house and I don't have to store it. As a second source I store 250 lbs of propane and as a last choice 70 gallons of gasoline. I am currently installing a 12,000 watt hour battery backup system so that I don't have to run the genertors full time for power. I can charge my batteries to supply all my critical needs in just a few hours, once a day. Next year I will install enough solar to cover all critical needs when the sun shines. The pay back, for me, is 3 years on the solar and 6 years on the battery system. As I explain to poeple I concider this an insurance policy that will pay for itself in 9 years. How many other insurance policies pay for themselves?
I use a DuroMax XP13000HX with a 50amp interlock. I want the ability to use propane without compromise in case I can’t find gas during a mass power outage. I need to be able to use my 4 ton HVAC (with soft start), my lights, refrigerator and chest freezer at the bare minimum. I need 35 amps to start the compressor not counting the 5 amps from the air handler. Since it’ll be cycling on and off and I don’t have much control of when the freezer and refrigerator cycle I want to make sure I have enough starting amps in the event they all come on together, that’s close to 11,000 watts to start and about 4300 to run. So using propane I’m at 86% peak starting watts and 43% running. Having a good buffer helps prevent bad voltage and frequency drops. I could do the XP12000HX but I’ll be getting too close to the max starting amps than I’m willing to go.
There are still Federal tax credits for buying solar and battery back-up systems that will help with your budget.
It’d be nice if they made smaller generators with 240v outlets. Inverter generators are more fuel efficient.
Might be worth getting a lifepo4 'power station' with a 240v outlet and charging it with the generator.
Smaller isn't better if the intention is to run the entire house, including the AC, which is now possible thanks to AC soft start modules.
I'm an electrical engineer. Many ask me about putting in whole house generator. I tell them when I wired my house I did make it future for whole house for a selling point for a future buyer but I would never do that. Whole house is a stupid idea as it takes to much fuel. I have a 30A generator inlet outside with breakers tied in the main panel for the transfer switch. I have to have 240v for my week pump. When I have a power outage I wheel the generator out of the garage and connect it. If I know it will be a long outage run it for about 30-60 minutes at a time and then turn off for 2-3 hours.
Thanks for the info
I have a 3400 watt peak generator that i use mostly in the summer when we get bad storms and it knocks out the power. But it really came in handy last week when we lost power for 3 hours and i was able to run the Furnace and lights. Everyone that can should have some kind of small emergency generator just in case.
For me the holy grail has been an open frame inverter generator. I can power what I need, but it's quieter, more efficient and puts out better power than a conventional gen. Also, despite my more rural setting we've never passed 48 hours without power being restored, and you could buy gas well before that. That said, I do stockpile like 27 gallons so I feel like there is no reason to go out and pick up a small inverter generator. In a severe situation I could easily ration my generator usage and extend for days and days. For example, my WEN is rated at 7,000W continuous and the spec is 10% less fuel consumption than your Champion 5500W while carrying over 20% more load. And it really shines overnight where the engine can idle down a bit.
About two minutes of info in a 12 minute video. Better to avoid gasoline and use propane, better yet to use natural gas if available. A tri fuel inverter used piped NG is almost as good as permanent generator.
I find the best route is to have a solar generator (usable indoors) w/extra battery and use the small generator to charge the solar generator as needed.If the sun comes out you can charge with a portable solar panel and the small gas generator at same time as needed.
I use solar ones teamed up with my champion gas/propane generator. If no sun I can charge my solar ones fairly quick which extends my fuel consumption drastically. As you know living down in Florida its a must to have alternative energy. I have been running my fridge and deep freezer 24/7 for a year now using this combo. I lost to much food and then had a hard time buying it back because of shortages after the last hurricane.
You go more than a few days, gas becomes a serious issue. A little 2k generator will keep your fridge running as well as a fan or two for a couple days in a 5 gallon can.
Any used Honda generator is better than any new generator ...Honda is the long term generator that is why is more expensive because it will last a life time 25 yrs...
Nice video and goes to my point, bigger is not better in an emergency.
Don't buy 2 generators. Get a large inverter generator and have both economy when not loaded heavily, and the ability to power large loads.
The hum of generators is something that people are going to have to get used to. It just so happens that everybody else makes their share of noise and l don’t say shit about it.
Hi thanks for this. i've got 5 of them ; two 3500 watters, 2 - 1100 watters...one 1983 Yamaha 2800 watter = EF2800 model. Starts, just as good as all the newer ones....better built. !
I remember during a snow storm when the city lost power. My buddy's neighbor had his generator stolen overnight. They left a broken weed eater running to make it sound like it was still out there
I heard a similar story. But if my ac goes off my wife is going to notice and I'll be out t h e re with my shotgun..
Lots of good comments. Don't forget to spend a little more on NON-ETHANOL fuel too!
I agree Mike. There are tons of great comments on this video. So much so that I made a follow-up video today. Yes I always recommend running non-ethanol gas in small engines. Thanks for watching
Good but don’t forget to get oil jugs for oil changes oil change is every 100 hours
Man you are Jamaican? You just picked up a little small generator lol😂
Have a smaller one as a backup, my main runs primarily on natural gas so I can power everything as long as I want. I can connect the small one to my panel was well and might use it in the winter for shorter outages. Less noise and can get it out quickly.
Hard pass on gas. I went Ecoflow Delta and solar panels. Whisper quiet and free fuel for life. Perfect for use here in South Texas. We always have sun here… year round.
I definitely want to get solar and batteries. If you dont mind me asking, How much did your set up cost, how many panels, and how much power do you get?
Propane unit with 50 amp for water pump operation. Better for water pump start up
Running generators only attracts in the zombies.
Sounds like a city folk problem.
Hello,what is the name of the small generator?where can I also get One to buy?
Excellent video. You are SO correct on fuel burn being a big issue during a long duration event. Nicely done.
Thank you. I appreciate it
I bought an A-iPower 2000w quite a few years ago just to have something. I ended up liking it so much I bought one or their 3800w from Sams club 2 years ago. It burns 2 gallons of gas in around 8 hours. Runs all the lights, fridge, TV, and the gas furnace. I've never had issues with leaving the gas in them like I did with the old style. I believe it has to do with the sealed vent system. I also keep them in the garage where it's semi conditioned so that may play a part as well. It's also crazy how quiet it is. I can run it on the deck and full load and not even hear it in the house.
You said 2 gallons of gas
8 hours ???
@@josephpuchel6497 Yes, running nearly 1/2 the house.
I have the same A-i Power 2,000 inverter generator. With long term power outages, I use it to recharge my off-grid solar battery bank. It goes through 1 gallon of gas in 3 hours with a continuous power draw of 1,300 watts. I have the generator in my barn with the exhaust system plumbed outside through a car muffler. It's very quiet, I can no longer hear it run when 50 feet are more away from the barn.
If you want power through the night you will need batteries and an inverter otherwise the neighbours will be justifiably upset with you stopping them sleeping. Then you will need a really big battery charger to refill batteries while going at the usual day consumption rate. You'll have the same neighbours after the power cut so don't upset them, Maybe offer them an hour of one freezer twice daily so that they don't waste food.
The prime target is to reduce your consumption drastically so that you survive a few days. Yes a power outage will put the petrol station out of business too, with nothing to pump fuel or run the computerised till system.
Great points and information! I do want to invest in a battery system at some point this year. Hopefully soon
Unless it is an inverter generator you are asking for trouble, I had a small generator burn out the circuit board on a very expensive fridge. Also don't plug your TV or internet into one of these small generators. I recommend eith er a Honda 2000 or 3000 unit. I personally have a standby generator running on natural gas
I upgraded the small one generator to a 2000k inverter generator. Next I plan to upgrade the larger one to an inverter style. Then hopefully get into some batteries and solar.
Do it right , if you do replace carburetor, replace filters,gas line, sparkplug all at once. Have extras ON THE SHELF , so you don't have to go shopping in middle of a night emergency.
(tools, flashlight,oil and LARGE print laminated instruction sheet at fingertips too! )
Me personally I have shelves full of extra parts oil etc, even a spare carb is a good idea IMO. I would also recommend the average joe to have at least an extra spark plug, oil, and fuel hose and clamps.
I agree, I have a 9000 watt for emergency 1-2 day outages, with a back feed to my house, and I have a 1200 watt for the bare essentials, and I have batteries with a trickle charger and solar panels stored away, with a 1500 watt inverter for really long emergencies. I can also hook up my big battery charger to the generator to charge the batteries for a couple of hours it the is no sun.
Four hours is a very conservative estimate, a lot depends on a refrigerators temperature setting, ambient room temp, how full or empty, any door openings. I usually run the generator until midnight then shutdown until 6-7 the next morning and never had any spoilage problems. Personally I don't like to run my generator when unattended unless absolutely necessary. Always have 15 gallons of stabilized gas on hand and rotate through this using the gas for yard equipment. Should a hurricane or ice storm be on the horizon, I'll add a 4th or 5th can to the rotation. Just do not have enough long term outages to justify the expense to purchase and maintain second generator. If you have a lot of long duration outages this strategy might be a good investment.
i have about 140 gallons with gas treatment, dated and rotated for my cars.
i never let my cars/truck get beyond half full.
works for us.
if there is a major power issue, based on a 12 hour run, good for almost a month.
with enco mode.
Thanks for the heads up Facebook market place
I've kinda become addicted to FB Marketplace. I thought about making a video about it. 9 out of 10 ads I see for mowers and generators say " Carb needs cleaning"
Nowadays solar is the way to go. Combined with a battery you could even charge the battery for 1h using the generator and run the whole day in case a hurrican trashed you panels on the roof. Or have some spare panels..
Batteries and solar panels are definitely what I want to upgrade to
I've got a medium predator that works very well. I'm beginning to store gas in 50 gal portable tanks because I just went through ice storm lasting 2 weeks-yep its freaking cold without heat. I freeze dry and can food but also freeze to store foods...
I sold that little tan generator in the video and got a little predator 2000w inverter generator. It so much quieter than the one in the video. Plus with the throttle control I'm sure it will do better on fuel
They're plastic jugs, not real gas cans.
Agreed.12 generators,Honeywell,Hondas (5)Energizer(2) yamaha ,generac Aipower,Predator.Always looking for another,Ja Ja. There is always room for another.
2 is one and one is none.... I think you're good though 🤣
Generator and solar is best like big solar not a little 100 w panel
Smaller generators are better for power outages. Unless you have a well.
I lived through Texas winter storm Uri and hurricane Beryl using a Champion 100520 invertor generator. I live in a residential neighborhood so a large tank of propane is out of the question. Also my natural gas feed and electrical feed are on the opposite sides of my home, so I was restricted to using gasoline only. With that in mind I keep a 10 day supply of gasoline. I know it's a pain in the butt, however it's my only option.
My cousin in Conroe, TX has TWO gas meters. One for the house and another for the whole house generator that powers his well pump. He just pays for the usage from both meters. My gas meter and electric panel are 25 feet apart on the same outer wall of my garage. We have a Kohler generator and ATS.
So, you're telling me that a 1200 watt constant generator running at 100 percent power uses far less fuel than a, say, 7200 watt generator producing 1200 watts at just over 16 percent power? Uh uh. Not possible.
I flunked calculating derivatives but if a car is running on idle and moving 6 MPH it uses gasoline. If that same car is traveling 60 MPH it is using gasoline. What is the optimum speed to travel at to get the most miles out of the gasoline?(ps, i made up that part about flunking.)
Too bad I can't run my well pump off the small one.
I would need 7 of the smaller generators.
Tri fuel…run on propane. Backup…get a Bluetti…
I keep carbs, and other parts just in case 😮