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Generator question....portable Rich 03-29-2008
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Posted by SteveB on March 29, 2008, 11:41 pm

> I'm in the market for a portable generator and just need it to run the
> fridge the furnace and just small things after that. I went on a few web
> sites and they seem to be geared to running your whole house instead of
> just a few things to get past the storm or what ever. I live SW of Chicago
> and the longest I've been without power was 3 days when a tornado came
> through. I would like to buy one that would get me by for a day or two at
> the most and only run the basics. What I'm having trouble with is sizing
> the unit to my needs. Sump pump, furnace, fridge and some lighting but I
> have all compact fluorescents.
>
> Thanks for any advice, especially from someone that has this basic setup,
> Rich

Your problem is in your approach. You are looking for the minimal machine
to perform marginally. You are allowing for no extras. It is wise to have
more power than you need in these circumstances, rather than not enough to
meet your needs. It is not necessary to overkill, but getting a unit that
is surely adequate is better than one that is borderline marginal. The
oversized one will not work as hard. It will last longer. You won't be
standing there with no power AND a DOA generator. This is the last thing
before darkness and spoiled food. Do you want to take that big a chance?

And buy a quiet quality unit, not an obnoxiously loud cheapo that will wear
out fast.

Steve



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Posted by ransley on March 30, 2008, 12:33 pm
> I'm in the market for a portable generator and just need it to run the
> fridge the furnace and just small things after that. I went on a few web
> sites and they seem to be geared to running your whole house instead of ju=
st
> a few things to get past the storm or what ever. I live SW of Chicago and
> the longest I've been without power was 3 days when a tornado came through=
.
> I would like to buy one that would get me by for a day or two at the most
> and only run the basics. What I'm having trouble with is sizing the unit t=
o
> my needs. Sump pump, furnace, fridge and some lighting but I have all
> compact fluorescents.
>
> Thanks for any advice, especially from someone that has this basic setup,
> Rich

You can get a 6 circuit transfer box for about 400 prewired from
Generac, Lowes gave me one free when I bought a 5500 watt Generac.
Best is a transfer box with meters as you can balance the load and
its alot safer. Backfeeding has alot of risks for an accident to the
generator and you. You can get a trifuel unit, or convert yours.

Posted by ransley on March 30, 2008, 2:09 pm
> I'm in the market for a portable generator and just need it to run the
> fridge the furnace and just small things after that. I went on a few web
> sites and they seem to be geared to running your whole house instead of ju=
st
> a few things to get past the storm or what ever. I live SW of Chicago and
> the longest I've been without power was 3 days when a tornado came through=
.
> I would like to buy one that would get me by for a day or two at the most
> and only run the basics. What I'm having trouble with is sizing the unit t=
o
> my needs. Sump pump, furnace, fridge and some lighting but I have all
> compact fluorescents.
>
> Thanks for any advice, especially from someone that has this basic setup,
> Rich

Something else to consider, is how you balance the load so you dont
burn our the unit, its two legs make 220, using only one is not
correct, thats where a transfer panel makes it work safely.

Posted by Rich on March 30, 2008, 5:11 pm

> I'm in the market for a portable generator and just need it to run the
> fridge the furnace and just small things after that. I went on a few web
> sites and they seem to be geared to running your whole house instead of
> just
> a few things to get past the storm or what ever. I live SW of Chicago and
> the longest I've been without power was 3 days when a tornado came
> through.
> I would like to buy one that would get me by for a day or two at the most
> and only run the basics. What I'm having trouble with is sizing the unit
> to
> my needs. Sump pump, furnace, fridge and some lighting but I have all
> compact fluorescents.
>
> Thanks for any advice, especially from someone that has this basic setup,
> Rich

Something else to consider, is how you balance the load so you dont
burn our the unit, its two legs make 220, using only one is not
correct, thats where a transfer panel makes it work safely.

OK I've been looking at more units and switches and I think I'm going to use
my 16HP Briggs engine and get a 5500 watt PTO unit and make the generator
from that. Then use the money I didn't spend on an engine to get a transfer
switch and set this up properly.

Thanks for all who helped, Rich




Posted by Boden on March 30, 2008, 5:32 pm
Rich wrote:

>
>>I'm in the market for a portable generator and just need it to run the
>>fridge the furnace and just small things after that. I went on a few web
>>sites and they seem to be geared to running your whole house instead of
>>just
>>a few things to get past the storm or what ever. I live SW of Chicago and
>>the longest I've been without power was 3 days when a tornado came
>>through.
>>I would like to buy one that would get me by for a day or two at the most
>>and only run the basics. What I'm having trouble with is sizing the unit
>>to
>>my needs. Sump pump, furnace, fridge and some lighting but I have all
>>compact fluorescents.
>>
>>Thanks for any advice, especially from someone that has this basic setup,
>>Rich
>
>
> Something else to consider, is how you balance the load so you dont
> burn our the unit, its two legs make 220, using only one is not
> correct, thats where a transfer panel makes it work safely.

Please explain. Do transfer panels do dynamic load balancing?

Boden
>
> OK I've been looking at more units and switches and I think I'm going to use
> my 16HP Briggs engine and get a 5500 watt PTO unit and make the generator
> from that. Then use the money I didn't spend on an engine to get a transfer
> switch and set this up properly.
>
> Thanks for all who helped, Rich
>
>
>

Page 8 of 10       < 1 2 3 > last >>
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