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Backup generators - I've played the game for decades. My take..
self | 06/04/2024 | self (vanity)

Posted on 06/04/2024 8:42:56 AM PDT by eastexsteve

I live in rural NE Texas, and we experience power outages often. Some last for days. This year, we've been hammered by bad weather, and this round is the 12th time I've been on generator power this year. I've played the "generator game" for decades, starting off with one that I thought would be just good enough to keep me going, running the bare minimum appliances until the power came back on. This was torture. In my opinion, most people make bad decisions when it comes to buying a generator. They think small, and short run times. The truth is, here in Texas, you need one big enough to power your whole house, including A/C. For a 2,000 sqft house with a family of four, (that is VERY energy efficient with all LED lights etc.,) you are talking at least a 12KW - 13KW running watt (not surge watt) generator. If you want to stay married and keep your kids from running away from home, don't think about anything smaller. And, you want it fuel efficient enough to run all day. Also, you want one built to go extended run times. Most of these smaller camping or job site generators won't cut it, since they won't run very long under a load between fueling, and require oil changes every 50 hours. You're not powering a tent or a garage shop. You are powering your house, and you may have to do it for many days. Propane/Natural gas generators are VERY inefficient. Gasoline is somewhat better. Diesel is the best. Here in Texas during the "big freeze" a few years ago, some people even lost natural gas pressure! With the world like it is, and getting worse, you need to consider things like fuel, fuel storage, and fuel availability in case of a SHTF scenario. Before you go plop down hundreds of dollars on a generator thinking you need just enough to get you by, you better give it some serious thought.


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Miscellaneous; Weather
KEYWORDS: electricity; generator; generators; hh2; power; shtf
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To: George from New England

Too large a genset will waste fuel when closer to idle.


101 posted on 06/04/2024 10:04:03 AM PDT by George from New England (escaped CT back in 2006)
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To: ktw
I purchased a Generac RD030 diesel generator with a 132 gallon built in tank. Very expensive, but will put out 30k watts. Also, I purchased a 500 gal tank too! Now I am ready for whatever comes! I hope!

You know that diesel fuel only stores for about 12 months?? Good luck getting that gen to run for very long.

Buy yourself a diesel truck or car for daily driver and fill it from those storage tanks or otherwise your screwed.

102 posted on 06/04/2024 10:04:28 AM PDT by Politically Correct (A member of the rabble in good standing)
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To: eastexsteve

I am still using 15 year old diesel that has been stabilized a few times
You just need to keep down any algae growth.


103 posted on 06/04/2024 10:05:31 AM PDT by George from New England (escaped CT back in 2006)
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To: eastexsteve

I live off grid. My generator is propane. Sure it’s not as efficient but you don’t have to worry about fuel shelf life or bad fuel gelling in the carburetor. Propane is also half what Diesel or gasoline costs, even buying it through the petroleum dealer without the road taxes. I mainly run solar with a battery pack. I don’t need an AC up north where I live. I rarely run the generator and when I do it is only the monthly hour run to keep everything smooth.


104 posted on 06/04/2024 10:07:35 AM PDT by Organic Panic (Democrats. Memories as short as Joe Biden's eyes.)
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To: Jim Noble

11kw sould 100% run a microwave


105 posted on 06/04/2024 10:09:24 AM PDT by George from New England (escaped CT back in 2006)
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To: Magnum44

Extremely happy with my Generac. Runs the whole house and automatically comes on with 20 seconds of a black out. Self runs once per week to keep engine in good condition. Change oil once per year. In fact, runs like a small car engine.


106 posted on 06/04/2024 10:10:05 AM PDT by Eli Kopter
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To: curious7

We like company, so come on in. We keep house insurance beside our chairs and beds.


107 posted on 06/04/2024 10:10:05 AM PDT by Eli Kopter
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To: Carl Vehse

Unless I use subsonic ammo. Not that I have that or any silencers anymore since that tragic boating accident. :-)


108 posted on 06/04/2024 10:11:25 AM PDT by Republican in occupied CA (We had enough government in 1789)
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To: dpetty121263

Get an 1800 rpm one
The 3600 rpm are noisier and burn out after months of continous use.


109 posted on 06/04/2024 10:14:39 AM PDT by George from New England (escaped CT back in 2006)
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To: Political Junkie Too

Have you procured any kevlar vests ?


110 posted on 06/04/2024 10:15:25 AM PDT by George from New England (escaped CT back in 2006)
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To: eastexsteve
Get a Micro-Air EasyStart for your HVAC outside unit. $389 on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083H64Q5P

My A/C compressor used to need 75 Amps to startup. Now it uses only 21.5 Amps at startup! With this product you can use a much smaller generator to run your house and air conditioning.

The EasyStart provides other important benefits too.

111 posted on 06/04/2024 10:19:19 AM PDT by Buffalo Bob
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To: George from New England
Get an 1800 rpm one The 3600 rpm are noisier and burn out after months of continous use.

Ditto. I'm a big fan of low-RPM, water-cooled, diesel generators. I like those 500 hour service intervals. Those high-RPM generators are not built for the long haul. Those 50 hour oil changes drove me nuts.

112 posted on 06/04/2024 10:21:48 AM PDT by eastexsteve
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To: curious7

“True. And looters will follow the sound of generators, too.”

And here in Texas, the sound of gunfire will follow looters to Hell. Just sayin....


113 posted on 06/04/2024 10:23:47 AM PDT by Danie_2023
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To: Eccl 10:2

RACKING would apply to the SECOND shot.

FIRST SHOT ALREADY CHAMBERED


114 posted on 06/04/2024 10:26:31 AM PDT by ridesthemiles (not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
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To: eastexsteve

Wish I’d popped for a General (natural gas) instead of cheaping-out with a pull start gasoline genset and self-wired manual transfer switch.


115 posted on 06/04/2024 10:32:39 AM PDT by bigbob
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To: George from New England

A Lister diesel is the way to go if you can find them.


116 posted on 06/04/2024 10:33:18 AM PDT by dpetty121263
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To: George from New England

There’s something about the boost or jump in current when starting a microwave that we were told was a problem when this unit was installed.

I was absent the day they covered electromagnetism.


117 posted on 06/04/2024 10:37:40 AM PDT by Jim Noble (Assez de mensonges et de phrases)
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To: Magnum44
I am looking at both also probably a 26KW I have heard that Kohler is the better engine than the Briggs & Stratton but I know people who have both and are very happy. I am getting a 500 or 250 propane tank I was told that 250 which is about 200 gallons can run your generator for about a week.
118 posted on 06/04/2024 10:39:44 AM PDT by wild74
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To: SaxxonWoods

My understanding is that they still had to comply with certain green energy rules, as well as being subsidized to use certain sources as a portion of their supply. When things spread beyond half the supposed capacity, those sources failed and brought the whole thing down.


119 posted on 06/04/2024 10:45:18 AM PDT by lepton ("It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a thing he was never reasoned into"--Jonathan Swift)
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To: eastexsteve

Interestingly, before the green movement most of the pumps to move NG were powered by NG. Only makes sense right...


120 posted on 06/04/2024 10:45:25 AM PDT by Texas_Jarhead
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