Can anyone chime in...looking at a temporary supply source for my home in the event of a power outage during the colder months. Considering these gas powered generators from the local hardware or even internet. Question is how much wattage do I need to run some small appliances...lights, blowers on heaters.

Thanks

 

It really just depends on how much juice you are going to need. I bought a Honda EB 5000 of Ebay back in 2004 and it has been great for running my travel trailer while boondocking with A/C, Tv, lights, and Microwave going. But the drawback is, it is big, heavy, and loud.


If you think you are going to need less than 3000 watts, I would consider the Honda EU 3000. http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/M...lName=eu3000is

They are pretty portable and very quiet.

If you need even less, how about the Honda EU 2000. http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/M...elName=eu2000i

You can even buy two of them and run them in parallel for a total of 4000 watts. I am considering going this route next just for the quietness and portability. I love my EB 5000, but it would be more at home at a construction site rather than camping.

 

I do not recommend that at all. To truly run them in parallel, you have to synchronize the generators so that they are in phase. Something that is next to impossible with small generators. And if you don't have them in phase you risk damaging anything you run with them, espescially electronics.

 

Jrs, On those model Honda I think they use a inverter system & I'm pretty sure you can parallel them. Honda even sell a parallel cable for them.

 

I have a Generac 5250 with a piece of junk Tecumseh engine. if you do buy a portable generator make sure it is a quality one such as the Honda. or at the least a Briggs and Stratton. 5 kw should be plenty to run your whole house ( within reason) You have to look at the wattage at start up. Ebay has a few nice ones right now for decent prices. Just remember you get what you pay for. i found that out the hard way...

 

Huh? I have never seen that before. I wonder if it does sync the output, since those small hondas are really an alternator powering an inverter, rather than a full blown generator.

I have a Generac 7550 EXL. its rated at 7550 continuous running Watts, an 13,500 surge Watts. It is powered by a 14 HP briggs and stratton which has been giving me fits lately (bad oil pressure cutoff switch). It runs great, and has powered most of my house. It will run a central air unit and the outdoor A/C compressor, the fridge, all the lights in the house, microwave, dishwasher, and the TV (not all at once). It will run all the large appliances, but I have to rotate their use, so as not to overload the generator. And if I run the water heater, it is run by itself. I don't use the stove/oven (electric), I have a gas camp stove to free up the generator from that purpose.

It is a great unit, however it does have a drawback, its a bit noisy. However, when I can keep the lights and A/C on, I can put up with the noise.

 

I have no experience paralleling running them. I don't even own one. But im sure Honda has it figured out or they wouldn't market it that way.

 

I have a 3000 Honda - you can run two together. Check them out. It is quiet. I have a 5,000 for the house which runs a window A/C, fridge, microwave, etc in the event of power outage. Have a 6,500 Onan in my 44' gooseneck - runs a 13,500 BTU A/C heat unit. Have a 5,000 ONAN in my firetruck. Have a 7,500 in my Peterbilt - all vary as to noice, etc, but depending upon load, all do the job.

You can also get a transfer switch @ Home Depot or Northern Tool to have wired into your elec box to select circuits to transfer to the generator in the event of an outage. Also plan to place generator in well-ventilated area, (not a garage, or shed, or carport, or front porch...) and make sure you CO2 detectors in the house.

 

I sold my MEP-003A 10 Kw 4-cylinder DJC air cooled military genset awhile back, those you can parallel,
That puppy weighed #1200 and was not too portable.
I now only have a 4.0 CCK ONAN and a 4.0 BF3CA generator I can use for backup. I use the latter to run my arc and wire welders in the field; I can carry it on the rack I have built that slides into my hitch receiver.
They are both 1800 RPM 2 cylinder engines.
The CCK is heavy and I use it for when the power goes out.

You can get any of the RV gensets and make them stationary with the proper housing because of the cooling system.
You can also get the marine genset and use it for cogeneration.

http://www.onan.com/onan/rvgenerators/generatorHome.jsp

This is nice.
http://www.onan.com/onan/rvgenerator...torDisplay.jsp

 

One thing to remember, If you need 220V you CAN NOT run an inverter generator. That being said, the honda is very nice, but heavy if you need to move it. I have a Yamaha YG2800i inverter generator. Will run anything I need (not all at once though), use very little fuel, and only weighs 65 lbs ( + 3 gals of gas if full ) so its easy to move. Have started a 13.5k air conditionor on an old pace arrow motor home with it, so its not a weak 2800. Cost was around $1,100, so not cheap, but cheaper than the 3k honda or the 3k yamaha.

DuaneW

 

Since I moved in town (stupid move) our power doesn't go out often, but we did have an ice storm in 2004 that knocked power out for 4-7 days depending on where you were. After that I decided to buy a generator, buy couldn't afford a diesel or high end model. I bought a coleman powermate with a 10hp briggs and stratton. It is 6250watt surge and 5000 or 5500 running watts. It has a 20amp outlet so you can run 220 or hook into a transfer switch and has 4 110 outlets. I paid $429 for it (floor model + 10% off coupon), but they run around $600 regularly. I haven't used it much, but I start it every month and let it run with the air compressor running to give it a load and it starts easily.

 

When is Seattle where we had 3 or 4 multiple days outages a year we had a Colman contractors 6500 generator. Honda engine, colman generator. Worked great. Had eletric start, had to keep the battery charged. Could move it on its wheels. Hooked it up to the breaker box, it is legal, turn the main breaker off. I could run the eletric dryer and a few other things with it. Or run the whole house.

 

Yes the Yamaha and Honda Sine Wave Inverter Gen Sets can be paralleled. For great generator info go over the RV.net and poke around in their Tech Issues forum. You will learn alot.

Hub

 

Look at these. http://www.duropower.com/ You can do some research. I dont know if they are good or not.