What standby generator are you using?
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JoeS said:
If you DO use it for a major power outage, and you look out your window and see no lights anywhere but your house, you'll be glad you did it. Oh, and if you DO see another house with lights all on, you'll have found another happy whole house genny owner.
LI-Mini-Owner said:
Here is a clip from APC's FAQ regarding use of UPS from generators:
"A common characteristic of generators is the normal output voltage distortion when supplying power to nonlinear loads such as computers. This output voltage distortion can be interpreted by the UPS as unacceptable power quality, forcing the UPS to transfer to battery operation. When the load is transferred to the battery, naturally the generator distortion will be reduced or disappear, leading the UPS to attempt to transfer back to line operation. When the load is reapplied to the generator, the distortion will return, leading the UPS to once again transfer to battery. This cycle may repeat indefinitely at intervals of approximately 4 seconds. The answer in this case is to choose a generator which will not distort, when the nonlinear computer load is applied. In general, the generator should be 3-5x the size of the total attached load."
They do go on to describe how on some of their UPS's (includiung the SmartUPS1400) you can adjust the input sensitivity to account for Generator supplied power.
Good input so far people...keep it coming...as I said I am really between the 2 KW Honda Inverter and the 3.8KW Subaru conventional...Bucktail is this for an RV Frij? or can you really run the pellet stove (thought start cycle?) and Frij at the same time?...Practical experience from someone who has done it is precious to me!!
That would be great Bucktail....The Castile , refrigerator and a couple of lights would do me just fine....If it will really run these then I think I'd go with the smaller more portable Honda.
I have a power boss 5500w continous 7500w surge powered by a briggs and stration. picked it up last year after the ice storm and haven't really used it yet except for a test run and being to lazy once to run a power cord out to my detatched powerless garage once I have fired it up and let it run for 30 min periods of time and yes I conditioned the gas in it.
I have fired it up and let it run for 30 min periods of time and yes I conditioned the gas in it.I lost power twice for a week...once in '84 from ice storm. I did not have a generator at that time. Then in 2003 we had a wind storm knocking down trees and utility poles, etc. I purchased my generator the next morning and used it for a week. Right after that I installed a switch panel and have only used it once for a day since. It sucks having no power or TV for a week. My propane usage has been high this year especially as we had very cold temps for three weeks. Propane is $2.29 a gal. I have talked about getting a pellet stove for five years. I pulled the trigger and purchased a Harman XXV on Wednesday with installation scheduled on the 28th.
ffspeed
New Member
I bought mine about six years ago. 10 hp, ele-start, sear brigg & stration 5500w continuos, 7500 surge. It will run everything I need, heater, tv, lights, frig, mico wave. But for some reason if the freezer kicks on, that is just to much. So I un-plug it, when the genny is running.
Just got a Champion 3500 from Tractor Supply. Couldn't beat the price, but a little smaller than I would have liked. Runs nice and quiet though.
I was looking at getting the Generac® 2000 W Inverter Generator. TSC has it for $579 online right now.
BIH
BIH
agrossm
New Member
I've got a 5 kw China POS I paid way too much for a few years back when we had a big ice storm and no power for days. One of the disadvantages of living in a rural area, no 'lectric, no water. Anyway, it's been ok I've used it a few times, keep the oil changed and run it every other month on a load. It's got a Honda clone engine, Di Longi or something like that. Just remember to run them, they rely on magnets to produce power and if left too long the magnets will loose there magnetism. See this fourm:
http://www.smokstak.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15638
Occsionally you'll see a generator for sale that runs but does not produce power. I've always been tempted to buy one and try the re magnetizing trick, but I've already got my overpaid POS.
http://www.smokstak.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15638
Occsionally you'll see a generator for sale that runs but does not produce power. I've always been tempted to buy one and try the re magnetizing trick, but I've already got my overpaid POS.
i know that a few people wanted prices on generlink system and they are sold at nothern tools
this is the link for the 50 amp model $849.99
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200379219_200379219
this is the link for the 30 amp model $699.99
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200378213_200378213
this is the link for the 50 amp model $849.99
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200379219_200379219
this is the link for the 30 amp model $699.99
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200378213_200378213
peirhead said:
Peirhead,
I haven't forgotten about you. Like I said, I worked all weekend, and yesterday I had to take my daughter to the dentist. Anyway, when all was said and done, time slipped through my hands. I am pretty sure I can try tonight. Will keep you posted.
Cheers
Its OK Bucktail at this point if you can run the frig along with the stove and other stuff that is amazing, but even if it cant I think I have been convinced to go with the Honda anyways, Portability and ease of storage is more important to me than capacity. Still interested in the results though!!
Peirhead,
Well, as promised...
Fired up the Honda and let it warm up for about 15 minutes before plugging everything in. I captured a few pics as well. I ran everything for about an hour. Generator ran fine and didn't miss a beat.
My Setup: Honda EU 2000i, The blue cord going to basement. The yellow cord going to Refrogerator in Kitchen.
Castille Pellet Stove: Blue cord going to Pellet Stove, TV, Blue Ray, Onkyo Receiver, and Llights adjacent to TV
Full size refrigerator in kitchen plugged into yellow cord.
Pics of TV and lights starting up.
Pellet stove firing up from a cold start.
Refreshment Center
Bucktail
Well, as promised...
Fired up the Honda and let it warm up for about 15 minutes before plugging everything in. I captured a few pics as well. I ran everything for about an hour. Generator ran fine and didn't miss a beat.
My Setup: Honda EU 2000i, The blue cord going to basement. The yellow cord going to Refrogerator in Kitchen.
Castille Pellet Stove: Blue cord going to Pellet Stove, TV, Blue Ray, Onkyo Receiver, and Llights adjacent to TV
Full size refrigerator in kitchen plugged into yellow cord.
Pics of TV and lights starting up.
Pellet stove firing up from a cold start.
Refreshment Center
Bucktail
velvetfoot
Minister of Fire
I put in a generator interlock by square d:
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/19946/
Cheap, and effective.
It was surprising how much inrush current there was on my deep well pump.
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/19946/
Cheap, and effective.
It was surprising how much inrush current there was on my deep well pump.
Bucktail...I appreciate your efforts..the results are truly amazing...You should probably add a disclaimer that "Your results may differ" however I am sold on the Honda.....thanks again - Bob
peirhead said:
No problem. I was curious to see if it could do it as well. The big refrigerator is something I wouldn't run if we had really lost power though. Plus, the big refrigerator was already cold. Had the refrigerator sat for a while and needed to be warmed up, and the compressor needed to cycle continously, THE RESULTS COULD HAVE DIFFERED.
The bottom line is that I bought the generator for a backup power supply to run the pellet stove in the winter as a backup heat source, or to run the sump pumps if we lost power during a major rain event (Hurricaine), and finally, to provide a portable power source to take with me if needed.
IMPORTANT:
The funny thing is when I first bought the generator and hooked it up to the pellet stove (via extension cord), the stove wouldn't fire up. I verified with a digital multimeter that I had 120 volts at the machine and at the end of the extension cord. I didn't make any sense. The extension cord was of decent size (12 gauge wire), but it was about 18 years old, and had been used back when I was in the construction industry and I still used it for everything else around the house, and it worked fine.
I went out and bought a new 100 foot 12 gauge cord and tried it. The stove fired right up. What I learned is that the old cord still worked well, but that it just lost its ability to deliver clean power over the years from so much use.
Lesson learned> Buy a barnd new heavy duty 10 - 12 gauge extension cord, and keep it dedicated to the generator and for nothing else. Pellet stoves need clean power.
Cheers
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