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Lets talk portable Home Generators

2aBaC̶a̶

2aBaC̶a̶

Humans are amusing
Full Member
Minuteman
Jan 27, 2019
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I Da ho
Im looking at picking up a generator. Bug in, bug out, camping whatever.

I would like it to be somewhat quiet, portable, feul efficient.

Is the the gold standard still Hondas or what?
 
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120v, not sure on KW. I will have to check appliance tags and do the math.

not trying to run the whole house on a switch, just a fridge, deep freeze, and some basic appliances, lights etc.
 
If you are in an urban or suburban setting, you may want to give some serious thought to the noise level.
It may not be the best to advertise to the whole area that you have a generator going.

Honda makes some very quiet 2000w models that you can also carry pretty easily so you can sling them in your vehicle to take with you for a long camping trip or doing work with etc.

Also it makes it easy to set them up outside where there is plenty of fresh air, then shut them off and lock them back up inside at night.
 
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Gunfighter14e2 said:
OK, how many total watts do you need?
From the sound of it a 2KW (2000K watt) Honda inverter generator may be a perfect fit. Plus, if you want more power later on, if you have two of them with the paralleling cable you can hook both together.
Click to expand...

without a doubt. very very good advise.
top shelf dependable quiet quality shit
do not buy that harbor freight shit unless you like garbage
 
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Go to YouTube an search portable generators. Not being a dick. This is what I did. A 2000 watt unit is ok for camping. But remember, a microwave is 1500 watts. Size makes a difference, as does watts. I went 4000 watts . Should have gone bigger/more watts. Or you can buy two 2000, 2200 watt units. Run one and the other as needed. See youtube.
 
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Since I had ll the batteries already for the Ego lawn mower and snow blower I got this one:

www.protoolreviews.com

EGO Nexus Power Station Review - Modular Battery Inverter

The EGO Nexus Power Station is one of the most capable battery-powered inverters we've seen so far and lets you run tools up to 15-amps!
www.protoolreviews.com www.protoolreviews.com

Just waiting on the solar charger now....can be run indoors or inside a vehicle. No fuel, no maintenance, no noise. Kinda expensive but worth it....runs my fridge and all that all night as long as one does not get crazy and expect a whole house power. Even runs fans and window air conditioner.

VooDoo
 
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1580664244636.png

Have had one of these for several years.
Stupid quiet on eco.
Not bad on full throttle either.
I'd get the newer version with wheels.

BTW I think these can be ran in a series as well.


R
 
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a quality generator is not enough money to be running to the dang dollar store to save some bucks, sounds like the guy is looking for a generator he can depend on. i wouldnt trust a genset from harbor freight or northern tool for a far as i could throw it.
i have welding generators and a yamaha 3500w generator. i will be buying the honda, or a PTO driven generator for my ford 2910
 
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I’ve got a 3500w harbor freight, ive got other 30kw generators here on the farm, Onan, an old Detroit diesel...I’m not trying to start shit, as I was a snob to when come to harbor freight crap...
But the predator is the same damn thing as a Honda, parts will exchange back and forth, the patent just ran out on Honda so they copied it. For what the op is stating use wise, I don’t see need for a 2k generator when a $700 same thing will work is all
 
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It would be in emergency so really the essentials. I dont mind plugging something in as needed.
Fridge is 8.5A/ about 1000w.
Freezer is 1.5A or bout 200W.
TV is 2.0A or 250W
+ Misc electronics.

It is somewhat urban environment so sound is a factor. I could run it in a garage and vent exhaust.
 
Big Bo said:
Go to YouTube an search portable generators. Not being a dick. This is what I did. A 2000 watt unit is ok for camping. But remember, a microwave is 1500 watts. Size makes a difference, as does watts. I went 4000 watts . Should have gone bigger/more watts. Or you can buy two 2000, 2200 watt units. Run one and the other as needed. See youtube.
Click to expand...

Something to think about is efficiency in a setup. The advent of super cheap plentiful electricity / fuel has made folks a bit lazy.
For example, you could run solar electric to generate electricity and then use that to warm your water with an electric heater or microwave as needed. But you can also very cheaply and simply setup direct solar water heating that works well even on moderately cold days and is way more efficient if you want hot water. Decades ago we ran a super primitive setup with basically a long hose, a corrugated roof and an alligator clip at the end of the hose over the kitchen sink. It worked surprisingly well.

Much like trying to worry about using mechanical power to generate electric devices to run mechanical devices, more efficient to just run mechanically all the way.

Same with cooking, most of the time with a bit of preparation, using fuel to directly heat the food/cook is more efficient than going through an electric generation / usage step.
 
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Check out the engines man, all I’m saying...we swap out Honda motors all the time on nurse trailers and tankers with pumps here all the time...
 
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I weathered Katrina in NOLA. Gas generators are loud and would make you a target. The fuel pumps dont wok with the power out, so they were of limited use for a long term event. If I had to do it again, I would love to have had a solar/wind powered one with a battery bank. I actually just use a cheap $30 power inverter off Amazon and keep it in my truck. Its fine for keeping cell phones and gadgets charged using minimal gas (just restart the engine every now and then and let it run a minute). Having a good fuel siphon that can defeat the anti-theft flap on modern vehicle gas tanks would have been worth its weight in gold too. Also keep one of those in the truck now. No shortage of abandoned vehicles in that kind of an event that will have gas in them.
 
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2aBaCa said:
It would be in emergency so really the essentials. I dont mind plugging something in as needed.
Fridge is 8.5A/ about 1000w.
Freezer is 1.5A or bout 200W.
TV is 2.0A or 250W
+ Misc electronics.

It is somewhat urban environment so sound is a factor. I could run it in a garage and vent exhaust.
Click to expand...

Skip the TV, that is what books are for
lights are important
Fans may be important
Communication /monitoring devices
Have a couple low power draw laptops or similar devices that you can use as needed
 
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Almost forgot, we started using a small 5CF freezer this year in camp.
The above gen did the work for it and the microwave in base camp.
Never dick with high dollar coolers again.
Refroze water blocks for the ref and kept things frozen while up top.

R
 
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Portable solar generation technology is making gains. I bought an Inergy solar generator and a few portable solar panels for camping and charging my ebike on hunting trips. Works pretty good for some things, not so much for high draw appliances and tools. Give it a few years and I think this is the way to go. One plus is that its a quiet sob and the sun shines most days.
 
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I like the battery solar setup, maybe have to look into that as redundancy.
 
I just moved and went through this again. My old house was a y2k house. If the grid went down I could switch the house to a generator. I had a 5K watt generator that would run all the fridges freezers lights in the kitchen and one bedroom. it worked. I used it a couple of times during storms and it worked ok.

The house I moved into is over 100 years old and had some electrical issues I had to fix. I had an electrician install a new panel with an outlet to run the entire house on a generator. I bought a Dewalt 8/10K Watt generator. The 10 K is the peak but will run 8k all day long. I paid a grand for it. The 50 foot cable cost $200. The generator is electric start has wheels/portable. The Dewalt had good reviews and had the power I needed for the money. I looked at Hondas and they are nice but 5 times the price. My plan is to get a PTO generator for my tractor and run everything on diesel and use the gas one for a backup and at my range to run lights.

I have an old 3k Honda that was my dads. He bought it in the 80's. It is bullet proof. Change the oil and the spark plug once in a while and it will run forever. I just shut the gas off and run it dry when I shut down. It keep it at my BO location.

If you have the money, buy a Honda.
 
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GunGasm said:
I’ve got a 3500w harbor freight, ive got other 30kw generators here on the farm, Onan, an old Detroit diesel...I’m not trying to start shit, as I was a snob to when come to harbor freight crap...
But the predator is the same damn thing as a Honda, parts will exchange back and forth, the patent just ran out on Honda so they copied it. For what the op is stating use wise, I don’t see need for a 2k generator when a $700 same thing will work is all
Click to expand...
The issue is not the engine with H/F generators, it's the alternators. The dip, an winding pitch design sucks.
 
Rthur said:
Almost forgot, we started using a small 5CF freezer this year in camp.
The above gen did the work for it and the microwave in base camp.
Never dick with high dollar coolers again.
Refroze water blocks for the ref and kept things frozen while up top.

R
Click to expand...

im interested in the freezer, which one?
 
I have two Harbor Freight inverter gennies.
Do I hate myself for buying Chinese shit? Yes.
Do they run? Yes, if you don't get a dud. Always check them straightaway after purchase. If it runs, it'll run for a long time.
Do not let gas sit in them unless it's stabilized.
Are they quiet? Yes. The inverter models ARE. The regular models a smoke and noise generators.
Will I ever own a Chinese optic?
Hell no.

I reccomend a 3500 for your uses....minimum. Do not pay full price. Find the best coupon online.
 
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Crang said:
The fuel pumps dont wok with the power out, so they were of limited use for a long term event.
Click to expand...
Not if you build your own wood gasifier. Simple to build an maintain, plans/videos all over the net. We built one years ago an ran a Onan 40EK at 30KW on a load bank for 2 weeks, she never missed a beat. Limiting factor is dry wood supply.
 
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I've got an older - mid 90's - Kohler 10kw Kubota diesel generator. I mounted it on industrial caster type wheels and it moves/transports easily. It's a low hum when running, in my shop, and only burns .67 gph at half load. Run everything including well and A/C.

If you want smaller and more portable check out centralmainediesel.com. Diesel powered generators turn at 1800 RPM and are far more quieter and fuel efficient. Diesel stores longer.


http://www.centralmainediesel.com/
 
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Look....I've bought a lot of shit at HF. I didn't used to.
When I came to the realization, that most of the shit at Home Depot, Lowe's, Walmart, and pretty much any store you name, was ALL the same shit, made in China....
At that point, you might as well get it factory direct at friggin Harbor Freight.

I hate it, but it is what it is.

I can buy 4 small inverter gennies at HF, for the price of one Honda.
Yes, I get the clean power thing. The biggest loss of electronics I've ever experienced, was plugged into the wall. The electric company didn't pay for my TVs and microwaves, stove, remote control ceiling fans, etc.
"These things happen."

My chicom generators have gotten me through a few power outages and are great for camping.
No, I wouldn't stake my life on them.
 
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Lot's of opinions....

Didn't see anyone mention where to begin
  1. Take an inventory and build a spreadsheet of all appliances you wish to run. One row for each appliance. Four columns columns - appliance name, power consumed, motor (yes or no), clean power required (yes or no).
  2. Add in lighting and some AC outlets for charging devices, etc
  3. If there is a motor in the appliance, you need to account for surge power at startup. These appliances include refrigerators, freezers, furnaces (certain types), water pumps, etc. This surge power can increase generator load significantly. Most high quality generators specify a surge rating
  4. If you are powering a computer, monitor (LCD), stereo, then you will need to know how much power those consume and your generator will need a special inverter that filters out the noise and harmonics that the primary generator creates or you will fry that equipment.
This spreadsheet will allow you to determine what you need to drive your house. When you see the result, you will be able to determine what you really need at a minimum and know the rating including surge so you can properly select a generator that can supply the continuous load, surge load and clean load.

What kind of fuel? Portables are almost always gas. Larger hard wired can be propane or diesel.
Brands...that is up to what you want to spend. Prices are all over the place. Low end no name models usually are OEM'd from Generac or put together using briggs motors. These are cheap, no features and loud. Higher end machines from Honda, Koehler or Milbank are much more but offer quiet, automatic start, better fuel efficiency and much more durable Honda motors.
 
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Gunfighter14e2 said:
OK, how many total watts do you need?
From the sound of it a 2KW (2000K watt) Honda inverter generator may be a perfect fit. Plus, if you want more power later on, if you have two of them with the paralleling cable you can hook both together.
Click to expand...
My parents do this for their 26" travel trailer so they can run the air conditioning and microwave at the same time.
 
Honda EU2200I (they've upped it 10%) x1 + EU2200I Companion x1. Same price as the 3000, more power, less noise. Much easier to lift x 2 than the 3000 x 1. More efficient if you need less power running a 2200 vs. 3000. Can split the two for separate locations. Can split the purchase of both over time vs. all in on the 3000 when you buy it.

I have two of the 2000s w/ the conversion unit to run them in parallel and it works very well. The Companion negates the need for a conversion unit and gives you a 20A and 30A RV type plug and the standard 2200 gives you 2 15A plugs. Running the 30A plug is preferred if available.

Edit to add: Resale value is there if/when you change you mind.
 
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During hurricane Sandy I was without power for 10 days, buy the smallest wattage most fuel efficient generator.
Lots of people bought large generators only to find out that they burn 20 gallons of gas a day and there was no gas.
 
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Sams club has this one which I will likely buy soon. Its a dual fuel so it will run on LP or gasoline. Since I already use LP I can just hook it up to my 200 gallon tank. Its not a lot of power but will run the Fridge, gas stone some lights and the computer. Small enough to take with you. Sams Club for $447.00

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Product Code: 100401 Product ID: 29928
Product sold by: samstores.com
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Availability: In Stock NEW
 
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covers your house and a few others . that or you and the electric fence to keep out others. and you can move it with only a truck or car with hitch so its pretty portable .
1580673608782.png

my first though until I saw portable mentioned even though with a fork lift its pretty easy to move besides who don't like large industrial power equipment
www.factoryauthorizedoutlet.com

Generac RD03022ADAL 30kW 1800 RPM Extended Steel Tank Standby Diesel Generator

Features Generac Protector Series Diesel Standby Generator Designed for residential and light commercial applications Fully Automatic Operation When Paired w/ Generac ATS Generator is only compatible with Generac Auto Transfer Switches Perkins 2.2L In-Line Turbocharged 4-Cylinder Diesel Engine...
www.factoryauthorizedoutlet.com www.factoryauthorizedoutlet.com
 
acudaowner said:
covers your house and a few others . that or you and the electric fence to keep out others. and you can move it with only a truck or car with hitch so its pretty portable .
View attachment 7239664
my first though until I saw portable mentioned even though with a fork lift its pretty easy to move besides who don't like large industrial power equipment
www.factoryauthorizedoutlet.com

Generac RD03022ADAL 30kW 1800 RPM Extended Steel Tank Standby Diesel Generator

Features Generac Protector Series Diesel Standby Generator Designed for residential and light commercial applications Fully Automatic Operation When Paired w/ Generac ATS Generator is only compatible with Generac Auto Transfer Switches Perkins 2.2L In-Line Turbocharged 4-Cylinder Diesel Engine...
www.factoryauthorizedoutlet.com www.factoryauthorizedoutlet.com
Click to expand...

Now you done and went too far.
 
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