A Generator Thread for Preppers

Self | 31 July 2012 | Lurker

[Hetty_Fauxvert]

Bookmark!

[outofsalt]

Good post! I'm still running extensions from a small 3500W unit but I'm able to run power to the fridges every few hours (keep the doors closed as much as possible) and having a window A/C saved my marriage! I run a few strings of Christmas led icicle light off batteries through a 300W inverter and can see well enough to read without pulling much juice. Here is a handy gizmo for checking power draw to specific items. Search for Kill-a-Watt and you'll find it easily.

[MrB]

For running fridges & freezers, remember, they don’t have to be constantly run, just run down to temp, then keep your freezer covered with blankets.

So, for short term runs, an inverter hooked up to your car (leave it idling) will work great.

Listen to this guy:
http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/harris-on-blackout-1

[MrB]

Honda has a good 1800 rpm 10kw unit.

[Eye of Unk]

I have three gennies, one I picked up by accident, its an old military 30kw three phase powerplant from the late 50’s, has a Continental gas six cylinder engine, its just sitting in my back yard, then I was given a 5kw portable gas gennie but it needs a new carb, and then some years ago a new employee on his way up the Alaska highway found a slightly battered 12kw Onan diesel genset along the road, like it fell off a trailer.

I bought it and some other items like a welder and an air compressor from him for $150, a couple months later he demanded the gennie back after he realized what it was worth, I had to weld up a crack in the oil pan and a bent filter housing, I made a skid frame for it and its in a small utility trailer at work, runs great and has low hours.

The concrete batch plant where I work at in Alaska many yuears ago soley depended upon generators to provide power for the heavy equipment, this was before they put in a high voltage line and transformer, so I have spent many a year starting gennies way up to a 150kw with a 8v71 Detroit diesel. We still have all the big units just sitting around and in working order, all are 3 phase though.

The Onan uses just a bit less than a gallon an hour. My setup at home will be a dual gennie affair, a fuel sipping one for most of the time and for just a couple of hours the big unit to do any heavy load work, or to eventually fast charge a large bank of batteries when no sun. And getting a natural gas kit is also on my shopping list, not for just gas because in a major earthquake most likely the gas line will be gone. But its cheaper to use natural gas.

[OneVike]

Yes, I noticed the errors that have been mentioned by others. However, if you had not posted this thread I would still be looking elsewhere.

Now all I need to do is keep the whole thread and use it for reference.

Thanks again.

OV

[Sarajevo]

Why do I think you’ve been around the block, more than a few times?

You probably looked at my profile page ;)

[Sarajevo]

Thanks for the input! Now I’ll have to bookmark this thread. It’s full of good info.

[BobL]

“You probably looked at my profile page ;) “

Just your name. The wars there really scared me - because you had advanced people, living at (or very close to) Western standards. When they blew off the front of a house, you’d see a car in the garage, and a washer and dryer (or at least I did, in one picture). That isn’t supposed to happen to people living that well.

It just shows what can happen when HATE is not fought...which definitely applies here.

[JDoutrider]

I’m having a lennox rep coming over tommorrow to give me a looksee at their brand. I’ll ping you if anything looks worthwhile...

[Sarajevo]

Just your name.

That's a throwback to the time I started posting on these boards. I'm really bad when it comes to picking a screen name, so I picked a city I worked in overseas.

You are right about the standard of living and wondering why it happened, especially in a very cosmopolitan European city.

[BobL]

“You are right about the standard of living and wondering why it happened, especially in a very cosmopolitan European city.”

Yea, I think very, very, few people get that part of it. Yugoslavia was NOT a Third World country, not by a long shot.

[Lurker]

Do lots of research on those permanent home stand by units. I have a brother who sells the commercial units. He’s told me some horror stories about some of the ones on your list.

[JDoutrider]

Thanks. The Lennox rep never showed... tells me a story there!

If you have the time, could you relate some of those stories you mentioned from your brother? At least the names to stay away from? It would really help me in my research to have some insider tips!

[ctdonath2]

Any real info on propane/NG generators? Costco is carrying a variety of Honeywell models at tolerable prices ($3500 for 15kW).

Main obvious questions are:
- How long can it run on X units of gas? (To wit: runtime for a standard gas-grill type canister?)
- Cost per kWh? (To wit: how competitive a source of electricity?)

[Lurker]

How long a generator will run on a given amount of fuel depends on a lot of factors. Engine displacement and load are just two. As I mentioned above I plan on running mine on the natural gas that’s delivered to my home by the gas company.

The folks at US Carb whom I linked to above were very helpful when I called them. I’d recommend you do that.

[Lurker]

Seems like a good time to bump this one.

[McGruff]

My wife is on an oxygen machine and I've got a generator like this one

but I've found out it's a gas hog. Couldn't store enough gas for more than a couple of days. Thinking about going to natural gas if it's an option.

[Lurker]

It may be an option. Give the folks at propane-generators.com a call. They are the experts.

[editor-surveyor]

One thing that I didn't see in your article is that air cooled engines tend to run hotter on natural gas than on gasoline, and to produce noticeably less power.