Weigle Tree Service said:
The problem I wish to address is" being on the ready " for a power outage.
What works for one person might not work for another. Everybody's situation can differ. I put homeowner snowblowers and electric generators in the same categories. Machines that spend most of their lives in storage not being used.
I'm worked as an electrician and as a mechanic for 40 years. Yet, I have problems with my own self-powered gensets - which makes me wonder how people cope who hire out for their repairs. I've got over a dozen generators. They range from as small as a gas powered 500 watt unit, up to a diesel 40,000 watt unit. Many times I'll try to start one that has sat for year or more, and have minor issues. I say "minor" since I have no problem pulling apart a carburetor, or priming a fuel injection pump to get something going. For someone else with no mechanical skills, these problems can be "major", not "minor."
In my opinion, if someone already owns a tractor with a PTO - either full-size or a newer compact - you'd be nuts to buy a self-powered generator when you could opt for a PTO unit.
If not - all depends on what you can do and what you expect. Also depends if you're going to have fuel to run it.
Some areas get many long outages, and some areas may get one outage every few years that lasts only a few hours. Some houses have alternative heating and water sources not needing electricity, and some don't. Like I said, different people and different situations and needs.
Much of this is moot at my home since I have solar-electric with a large battery bank. But, I haven't always had it and we get many power outages. Over the years, I've gotten by fine with a cheap Homelite 4000 watt genset, up to a large PTO generator. They work fine, but I don't like having to run a generator full speed, all the time when electric demands are intermittent. And yes, an inverter-genset is an option that does not run full RPM all the time. They work great. They are also very pricey, and very complicated to repair. Nothing is the ONE solution above all else. I've been building a cabin for several years - in an area with no electricity. I started out running a generator all day long - so I could run power saws and an air-compressor to power my nail gun. Got so I couldn't stand it anymore. Go up to the remote woods to listen to that engine run all day long got on my nerves. Finally put in a battery bank of four T-105 type batteries and a 3000 watt inverter. Much nicer. I run my tools for 2 days and then recharge once with the generator if the sun is not good. If there is sun, I recharge using two 120 watt solar panels. The once glitch is - I don't run the air-compressor from the battery bank. But, I got so that I plan things out so all my nailing sets done in stages- not ad hoc. A get a bunch of rafters, studs, or whatever in place. Then start the gen to get air, do the nailing, and then, shut down.
A few suggestions: Someone who does not own a tractor with a PTO, and does not get many outages might pick up two generators. Chances are you can always get one running. I see many 5000 watt generators for sale used for around $200. That's a small investment. Then, make and effort to run them at least once every year.
In regard to big generators - they often go cheap and are also often simpler in design then small units. The catch is - they are fuel hogs and hard to move. I've bought several that were basically new and unused for next to nothing. Local schools often change out their units every 20-30 years with tax-payer supported "improvements." With my local school, I've bought their Fairbanks Morse 17KW water-cooled, four-cylinder powered genset for $150. It was purchased brand new in 1964 and never used - not even once. Paint is still on the exhaust system. All they did is have the janitors "exercise" it every six months to make sure it ran. This sort of situation is common. In fact - when I bought this one, our school took tax-payer dollars and bought a larger, 50K diesel rig. That was 5 years ago. Now, guess what? They are dumping it. This one has never been used once either. But now - the are embarking on a a $33,000,000 "capital improvement" project. Engineers said it would be easier to buy a new 75KW three-phase genset instead of trying to wire in the old (never used) genset. So, this one will be up for sale soon.
Whatever you do - remember the genset doesn't help if you can't hook it to your essentials, and . . . in long outages - you'd better have a plan for a fuel-source. If you have heating-oil tanks - you can run your diesel from them. If you have a large propane tank - consider a gas engine setup to run on propane. If natural gas? Fine if you can count on your working during a crisis. Gasoline is more problematic than all the rest. It does not store well. That being said, having maybe 10 five-gallons jugs around should not be an issue. With some Stabil added, they will easily keep for two years. Also very easy just to dump it into your car after it's a year old and renew.
