Posted on 04/25/2011 2:59:23 PM PDT by spacejunkie01
I need advice on the best backup generator to buy, particularly non gas run. I like solar but not sure who deals in them besides mysolarbackup.com and they're not cheap.
If I want to run my freezer/fridge for an extended period of time, what would be best?
Here in Houston our natural gas is delivered via underground pipeline. It never goes out even when we get hit by hurricanes.
Hey, I’ve got one of those. Works great! Saves money! Most evenings I glow so much I don’t have to turn on the lights.
I’m trying to figure out if there’s some way to sell myself back to the grid. Save even more money.
I would recommend about 6500 watts with a Honda motor running on propane or natural gas. You can get one that starts automatically when the power goes off or one that you start manually (these are cheaper). Get a GenTran switch which will handle 6 circuits and have an electrician install it. When the power goes off, if your generator starts automatically, you want the circuits to switch automatically. If you manually want to start your generator when the power goes off, you have the throw the switches on the GenTran to connect the circuits in your house.
Hook up you freezer, your refrigerator, your air conditioner, your hot water heater, your furnace, and some lights (and your water pump if you have one) It is nice to be able to flush your toilets.
Start the generator at least monthly and let it run until it warms up.
Good Luck.
Personally, I'd start looking in "CHAT"
If you can run a generator on Solar, you don’t need a generator...
Huh?
Not true! We are just practical here and realize solar is so far from practical, why make a political statement and lose you frozen food. I realize an ammonia system works fine for an RV, but most homes have freon models. To convert from an everyday use system to an RV setup is probably not going to happen for most folks. Solar, as it is now, will never produce more than 5% of our power. Now if much of our appliances start using less than a 100 watt bulb, it would be exciting. If just one air conditioner uses 50 amps of 220, you would need acres of panels to run one thing. If you just want to have a couple of lights, no problem. If I were building a new home, I would consider an absorption system for cooling and refrigeration. A solar heater with a small backup for night time would work for that system.
We are not against solar or wind or even alternative fuels, but we are just not buying into impractical answers that will never generate the supply needed for the load. The lie being spread now to our youth that we can run our houses on solar and wind if we just spend enough money is polluting the discussion. Believe me, when a workable solution comes, Freepers will be first in line.
Think what would happen to your lawn mower if you ran it for 12 or 18 hours straight
You oil would be mud in no time at all
I sell a lot back to the grid with mine. In fact, I earn enough money to overthrow a small third world country of my choosing.
My new subjects call me El Presidente....
How much of your house do you want to power up? I’ve never heard of a practical solar generator for real stand-by power. We have a Generac 20KW, propane powered unit with an automatic transfer switch. It’s great. The whole system, including electrical installation and the 500 gallon propane tank with gas ran about $9K.
OK, here’s the deal: My advice to you is predicated upon how handy you are.
If you’re good with wrenches and DIY jobs, I’d recommend a diesel unit. Why? Because when you look in the right places, you can get tremendous bang for your buck in diesel gensets if you seek out used gensets. Diesel backup gensets are the predominate choice for military, commercial, farm/ag and emergency response users.
If you really, really want a genset that you simply “turn on and it goes,” then I’d recommend propane first, natural gas second.
We have a diesel genset. If you know something about diesel engines, they’re simple to operate and maintain. For long term fuel storage, you need to add biocide every year or so to keep the slime from forming in the fuel tank at the water/fuel barrier. You’ll need to change the oil after the genset has been used for 100 to 200 hours, and often diesel engines require a lot of oil in the change. That said, if you have a large enough fuel tank, you can simply dump your crank oil into your diesel and burn off the used motor oil.
With LPG and NG, you don’t need to change your oil anywhere nearly as often as with a diesel. You will be able to get the genset started much more easily in cold weather... but you’ll find that with the limited energy capacity of LPG, you’ll go through about 30%+ more gallons of propane than you would have for diesel. You’ll also have to deal with any ignition system issues in a LPG or NG genset, whereas in a diesel, if the fuel system is in good shape and you have clean fuel... it just works.
With the ONLY house running lights believe me you won’t be hard to find.
100% right. I remember Hurricane Alicia in 1983. The heat after the passing was unbearable.
Some of your comments suggest you are looking to be off grid for an extended period with few if any services available from the economy. (whatever that may have become.)
An old pilot type cookstove so the oven can be operated with out electricity. A decrepit trailer/RV will have one in a pinch.
For food storage, I would consider propane units. Like an RV unit but full size ones are available for “sports camps” etc.
Look closely at your current consumption in KWH and then read your meter then eliminate all loads you decide you can do without at the breaker panel. Live 1 week like that and reread the meter. This will give you a real feel for what will be required of both you and your proposed backup.
For extended operation without outside services. Solar with a large battery bank or 2, an appropriate full sine wave inverter and a quiet generator to top off the banks when needed. This will require a huge commitment to be willing to accept the lifestyle reduction but in a chaotic environment survival is paramount to comfort.
You will need to attend to fresh water supply and waste disposal as well if you currently accept government service for these.
Roger to all you said, I’m not getting down on Freepers; the community just doesn’t support solar. As a complete power solution, no, it doesn’t work. My point is that solar does work in limited circumstances. In this instance, the solar refrigerator I wrote about does work. I’m using one now, the total cost for my setup was under $1200 (fridge, solar panel, and battery), and could be more practical than a generator simply because it doesn’t need any fuel to keep food cold. I may have to replace my battery every 5-7 years, but I won’t have to scrounge for fuel for the generator if SHTF.
LLS
http://www.lehmans.com/store/Appliances___Gas_Refrigerators_and_Freezers?Args=&view_all=&sort_by=
A propane tank rents for $1.00 per year here in Colorado. So get a 1000 or 1500 gallon tank, and fill it twice a year. Run your generator on propane, use synthetic oil and change it once a year; twice a year if that makes you feel better. Buy stove, freezer, fridge, heater to run on propane. Then you will be set.
bkmk
I'm working on a commercially viable product using 2011 technology, as soon as work out these Wick Rotation Quaternion quasi-nuclear fermi level state equations for using a fluorine-doped palladium-beryllium nano rods in a buckyball catcher-cage.
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