Portable Generators and "dirty power"

[BoomerD]

And just like that the Champion 4650 is back in stock at Home Depot. It was out of stock when I posted the link yesterday.

After you posted this, I tried to order one...nope, out of stock...so I waited. Became available yesterday, so I ordered one. SHOULD be here on the 8th.

4650W Electric Start Dual Fuel Inverter – Champion Power Equipment

Our 4650-watt inverter generator features Dual Fuel allowing the 212cc engine to run on gasoline or propane. Enjoy the quiet 61 dBA for up to 14 hours on gasoline or up to 21 hours with a 20-lb propane tank and increase your power with the optional Parallel Kit.

www.championpowerequipment.com

 

[Greenman]

After you posted this, I tried to order one...nope, out of stock...so I waited. Became available yesterday, so I ordered one. SHOULD be here on the 8th.

4650W Electric Start Dual Fuel Inverter – Champion Power Equipment

Our 4650-watt inverter generator features Dual Fuel allowing the 212cc engine to run on gasoline or propane. Enjoy the quiet 61 dBA for up to 14 hours on gasoline or up to 21 hours with a 20-lb propane tank and increase your power with the optional Parallel Kit.

www.championpowerequipment.com

Damn that's cheap. I bought a used Multiquip for $450 and thought I stole it. Not an invertor, and roars like a fright train.

Multiquip 3600 W Generator with Honda GX240 Engine with Wheel Kit

Multiquip 3600 W Generator with Honda GX240 Engine with Wheel Kit - GA36HR

www.acmetools.com

 

[BoomerD]

Damn that's cheap. I bought a used Multiquip for $450 and thought I stole it. Not an invertor, and roars like a fright train.

Multiquip 3600 W Generator with Honda GX240 Engine with Wheel Kit

Multiquip 3600 W Generator with Honda GX240 Engine with Wheel Kit - GA36HR

www.acmetools.com

That one's probably a little tougher built...made for jobsites and such. The Champion I bought was made for RV'ers, tailgaters, and home use.

 

[BoomerD]

After several days of FedEx delivery drama, I finally got the generator today. I hope to have time tomorrow to get it running. Next, I have to install the "pass-through" for it so I can have power in the house without having cords through doors or windows.

Reliance Controls Portable Generator Through the Wall Kit WKPBN30 - The Home Depot

Everything you need in an economical kit to create a backup power panel inside your home. The weatherproof power inlet box mounts to your home outdoors and the lighted six outlet receptacle panel attaches

www.homedepot.com

 

[BoomerD]

Got the pass-thru installed today and gave it a try. The Champion 200994 generator is QUIET! All I had to load it up was a 1500 watt electric heater, and, sure, the generator ramped up for the added load, but it was still hella quiet.

 

[NutBucket]

Hmmm, will that spade bit go through stucco?

 

[BoomerD]

Hmmm, will that spade bit go through stucco?

Possibly...but I doubt it. Stucco, being portland cement based, is awfully hard on bits made for wood. It sure wouldn't be worth a damn after you finished if it did. Also, stucco tends to crack and break if you're not careful when trying to drill anything more than a small hole with a masonry bit.

 

[NutBucket]

I was only joking. Not sure why they would bother to include that bit as it's useless for most interior wall coverings too.

 

[BoomerD]

I was only joking. Not sure why they would bother to include that bit as it's useless for most interior wall coverings too.

Nah, did a great job through drywall and the outer sheathing. Was a bit rough on the vinyl siding. The guy who was helping me got a bit...enthusiastic when he was drilling. (Nothing a bit of caulk couldn't fix)

 

[Red Squirrel]

Didn't realize stucco was that strong. Never had to drill through it but I'll have to remember if I ever have to My house is brick and if I'm going into the foundation I then have to go through a layer of cinder block, so very long SDS masonry bits are quite handy. Core bits are freaking expensive, and chances are the size of holes I want vary between projects, so I just make a hole the size I want by making a bunch of small holes.

 

[BoomerD]

Didn't realize stucco was that strong. Never had to drill through it but I'll have to remember if I ever have to My house is brick and if I'm going into the foundation I then have to go through a layer of cinder block, so very long SDS masonry bits are quite handy. Core bits are freaking expensive, and chances are the size of holes I want vary between projects, so I just make a hole the size I want by making a bunch of small holes.

Our ;house in CA was stucco on the exterior. I cut a hole in the wall for a doggy door...the stucco was 3/4" thick. Basically, sand and portland cement. (like concrete without the rock)

 

[Crotulus]

Got the pass-thru installed today and gave it a try. The Champion 200994 generator is QUIET! All I had to load it up was a 1500 watt electric heater, and, sure, the generator ramped up for the added load, but it was still hella quiet.

I was surprised by how quiet this generator is. Were you running propane or gas? I've only run propane through it so far. Glad to hear the setup will work out for you. It is a simple way to get power into a home.

 

[BoomerD]

I was surprised by how quiet this generator is. Were you running propane or gas? I've only run propane through it so far. Glad to hear the setup will work out for you. It is a simple way to get power into a home.

Did the test on gasoline. Haven't hooked it up to propane yet.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

Every UPS and/or Line Conditioner I've seen says specifically NOT to use them on motor driven generators. I had 3 or 4 in the 400-600 VA range and they all started going nuts as my 7500W genny started getting older. Motors and appliances would work fine and I could add something like a heater that would calm things down by adding load.

I grabbed one of the HF 2K Inverters on sale and it did the job for the electronics, but I'd still have to run the beast for the bigger stuff. Had cords running everywhere though.

Finally bit the bullet for a Generac 16K and transfer switch.

 

[iRONic]

Pulled the trigger on the champion 4250, $606 on amazon.

Guess I'm selling the generac gp5500 so I won't be too much in the hole. Might have 20hrs on it.

$499.99 @ woot

 

[highland145]

$499.99 @ woot

Thanks.....🙄🙄

 

[BoomerD]

$499.99 @ woot

That's great price for that generator...and I just dropped a grand on the one I bought.

 

[Red Squirrel]

With the cost of gas, should have gone with a solar generator.

 

[iRONic]

Thanks.....🙄🙄

Sorry, just saw the woot and thought of this thread.

 

[highland145]

Sorry, just saw the woot and thought of this thread.

It's sold out. 😀

 

[NutBucket]

With the cost of gas, should have gone with a solar generator.

How many panels do I need to run my fridge?

 

[BoomerD]

With the cost of gas, should have gone with a solar generator.

The generator I got is pretty fuel efficient. 2.3 gallons of gasoline will run it "up to 14 hours." In reality, probably 8-10 under a real load.

4650W Electric Start Dual Fuel Inverter – Champion Power Equipment

Our 4650-watt inverter generator features Dual Fuel allowing the 212cc engine to run on gasoline or propane. Enjoy the quiet 61 dBA for up to 14 hours on gasoline or up to 21 hours with a 20-lb propane tank and increase your power with the optional Parallel Kit.

www.championpowerequipment.com

 

[iRONic]

It's sold out. 😀

The panel attached below was in this house when I bought it 4 years ago. I've been undecided about which genny to get ever since.

- The utilities in our neighborhood are buried.
- We've had 3 power outages in those 4 years.
- Only one was 4+ hours.

I'm going with propane & electric start for sure when I finally pull the trigger.

 

[BoomerD]

The panel attached below was in this house when I bought it 4 years ago. I've been undecided about which genny to get ever since.

- The utilities in our neighborhood are buried.
- We've had 3 power outages in those 4 years.
- Only one was 4+ hours.

I'm going with propane & electric start for sure when I finally pull the trigger.

View attachment 58318View attachment 58318

If you want a regular whole house back-up generator, you're looking at big bux. IF that panel you have has an automatic transfer switch built in...you're good to go...and might only be looking at $10,000-$15,000 for a decent generator and propane tank (usually rentals) as well as any installation.
For my house, we're all electric with the nasty fucking Cadet in-wall electric heaters, (most are 240V) so I'd need somewhere north of 20,000 watts...maybe as much as 25,000 if I want heat, all appliances including washer/dryer, water heater, etc.
Like you, we MIGHT get 3-4 outages per year...rarely more than 8 hours max...so we can limp by with a smaller generator to provide some of the essentials for a few hours.

(since I bought the generator, we haven't had a single outage here. <knock on wood> I'd call that cheap insurance.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

I've had outages of 10 days at least twice and 2-3 days several times.

The panel pictured above is not auto-transfer and requires some sort of portable unit that will need to be moved into place, plugged in and monitored for fuel. It also likely won't power the whole house, but rather a few select circuits. That's OK for a lot of people, but not for all.

That cord tale should be outside the house too, not inside, but at least the cord can be run through the pet door.

My 16Kw standby cost me around $5K including the transfer switch and miscellaneous components.