Advice--Generators: Built-in/Town Gas VS. Portable/Gasoline

Posted by Thomas G. Marshall on December 16, 2008, 4:05 pm

I can calculate the wattage needed by my house (including surges for
the water pump, etc.), but I'm stuck on the fundamentals.

1. Is there ever a power outage where the town gas itself is shut
off? It seems to have survived (was always on) during the recent uber-
blackout here in central mass.

2. Any words of wisdom of a house generator running on town gas /
propane (permanently installed outside box) vs. a portable one on a
cart running on gasoline?

3. Are there brands more likely than not to remain functional year
after year without maintenance?

THANKS!!!!!!!!!

Posted by jamesgangnc on December 16, 2008, 10:17 pm

Natural gas is almost always unaffected by electrical power outages. And it
doesn't take a lot of electrical power to run a forced air natural gas
furnace. I run both of mine plus other stuff with a 4400 portable
generator.

There is a big price difference to having the convenience of a built in
natural gas generator verses a portable you hook up yourself. You have to
decide if it's worth it to you.

Just about all the portable ones need to have their gas treated if it's left
in them. I also recomend turning the gas off and letting the float bowl run
dry when you are finished with the generator.

> I can calculate the wattage needed by my house (including surges for
> the water pump, etc.), but I'm stuck on the fundamentals.
> 1. Is there ever a power outage where the town gas itself is shut
> off? It seems to have survived (was always on) during the recent uber-
> blackout here in central mass.
> 2. Any words of wisdom of a house generator running on town gas /
> propane (permanently installed outside box) vs. a portable one on a
> cart running on gasoline?
> 3. Are there brands more likely than not to remain functional year
> after year without maintenance?
> THANKS!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Thomas G. Marshall on December 17, 2008, 9:26 am

> Natural gas is almost always unaffected by electrical power outages. =A0A=

nd it

> doesn't take a lot of electrical power to run a forced air natural gas
> furnace. =A0I run both of mine plus other stuff with a 4400 portable
> generator.
> There is a big price difference to having the convenience of a built in
> natural gas generator verses a portable you hook up yourself. =A0You have=

> decide if it's worth it to you.
> Just about all the portable ones need to have their gas treated if it's l=

eft

> in them. =A0I also recomend turning the gas off and letting the float bow=

l run

> dry when you are finished with the generator.

That's among the problems. I need something fairly maintenance free,
because I am not very good at keeping to a yearly maintenance. If all
there is to do is put Stabil or some other storage product into the
fuel, then I suppose I can handle it.

How long does the tank of gas in your portable? I'm considering a run
of the mill 5kW (don't know the surge rating), and am pondering how
often I'll have to run out there and fill it up.

Posted by Thomas G. Marshall on December 17, 2008, 9:28 am

> Natural gas is almost always unaffected by electrical power outages. =A0A=

nd it

> doesn't take a lot of electrical power to run a forced air natural gas
> furnace. =A0I run both of mine plus other stuff with a 4400 portable
> generator.

Another question: Is it safe to quickly run the thing into a 20 amp
outlet (so long as I keep it below 2Kw usage) assuming that I shut off
the main circuit-breaker to the outside?

This is something that concerns me. I may need to loan such a device
to unfortunate relatives in NH sometime who most likely will not have
invested in a power transfer switch.

Posted by George on December 17, 2008, 11:04 am

Thomas G. Marshall wrote:

>> Natural gas is almost always unaffected by electrical power outages. And it
>> doesn't take a lot of electrical power to run a forced air natural gas
>> furnace. I run both of mine plus other stuff with a 4400 portable
>> generator.

>
> Another question: Is it safe to quickly run the thing into a 20 amp
> outlet (so long as I keep it below 2Kw usage) assuming that I shut off
> the main circuit-breaker to the outside?

No, transfer switches aren't that complicated for what you want to run.
You can get small ones that support a few circuits and have a male plug
where you can plug in your extension cord from the generator.

> This is something that concerns me. I may need to loan such a device
> to unfortunate relatives in NH sometime who most likely will not have
> invested in a power transfer switch.
>

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