Backup Power - Generator for Pellet Stove

I like the idea of dual fuel since I already have 4 propane tanks. Furthermore, the propane is cleaner and you don't have to worry about long term storage of gasoline which can gum up the works if you don't stabilize it. Go for it and give us a full report on how it works.

I remember a power outage that I had to travel a bit to get gas cans filled for,the generator. When arrived, each pump had a Lind of four or five vehicles doing the same thing. At this location, there was also a propane filling station. Not a soul near it. I now have a Duramax dual fuel generator.

Hey If you got the dough to spend , just go for it. Heck , a high end automatic start and run propane setup for the whole house would be great too if you can afford it. However, unless you have frequent outages and/or they last for long periods of times all you really need to do is keep an extra 5 gals of gas tucked away for a properly sized portable generator.
Having a generator is peace of mind and a blessing when the temps are hovering at 0 degrees and especially at nighttime but do you really need to power the whole house for a typical 2-8 hour outage ? Certainly gasoline storage can be a concern for some , but my advice is to never buy a gas powered generator that puts out more than you really need in a typical outage. . A 2500-3500 watt 120/240 volt generator should be more than sufficient. They run quieter and use much less gas than those 4K + units.
Obviously for powering up multiple circuits within the house , your money would be well spent by having a qualified electrician install the appropriate electrical gear for easy manual /auto switchover operation.

I agree with the op. Spend what you need to do what you want. I have a pure sine wave battery back up on my P43. A Generac 10000 watt gas generator and a house panel installed. For the major outages. Just purchased a Sportsman 1000 watt inverter generator to run just the pellet stove overnight if needed. It will run 6 to 8 hours on 1/2 gallon of gas. The Generac is nice for the whole house but would use 3 to 4 gallons overnight.. i always treat all my fuel with stabilizer and never had any fuel related issues.. good luck in your decision, just food for thought.

Dataman said:

I already have Plan A for Pellet Stove. 1250w Pure Sine Wave Inverter and 100ah Battery. But feel like I need Plan B for when the power is out longer than 6 hours. (Inverter real world test was 6 hours). I can get 8 hours out of 2 Batteries (one out of car that don't run in winter).

Thinking of Dual Fuel Generator. Anyone have experience with this Model

DuroMax Dual Fuel Digital Inverter Generator — 2,000 Surge Watts, 1,600 Rated Watts, CARB Compliant, Model# XP2000EH

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200718991_200718991

I like the idea of having 2 sources of fuel. I can always rob gas out of car in emergency (Wife's Convertible don't do snow). Buy nice mid sized propane tank for few days without power.

I like the Honda Generator, but it's gas only. (there is propane kit).

Thoughts? In 7 years I have only lost power for 4 hours max. PUD (Public Utilities) Lineman is in my neighborhood.



Thoughts?

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The Duromax seems like a cool product. Hadn't seen a dual fuel inverter before. Not cheap, but as someone mentioned, propane doesn't spoil, though it does get sluggish when extremely cold.

Since you haven't lost power for more than 4 hours, and your Plan A can run 6hrs or more, you seem pretty set.

The whole house Generac is a double edged sword. I have one. It's nice for the occassional short outage of a couple hours, thankfully that's all I've had to deal with. But a long outage.... doing the math for fuel usage in the manual, I'd burn about 10% tank or about $100 of propane a day, regardless of how little I use in the house. Then have to replace it mid winter when prices are high. For a long outage I'd rather just have something small for the essentials.

tlc1976 said:

The whole house Generac is a double edged sword. I have one. It's nice for the occassional short outage of a couple hours, thankfully that's all I've had to deal with. But a long outage.... doing the math for fuel usage in the manual, I'd burn about 10% tank or about $100 of propane a day, regardless of how little I use in the house. Then have to replace it mid winter when prices are high. For a long outage I'd rather just have something small for the essentials.

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Yeah, if one is wealthy fuel usage and costs might be irrelevant but most of us would probably have to get by with a small portable setup. The worst part being that it has to be baby sat.
In an extended outage (even in winter) there really isn`t always a compelling need to continually run the generator . Running it for a hour and off for two or more will keep the fridge cold and the house warm. I feel it`s much better to shut down the pellet stove and use the oil furnace to heat the house when the power goes down .

Champion has a nice 3500 W dual fuel inverter/generator. I picked up the 2000 W champion inverter which is a nice product that didn't break the bank and pretty much mothballed my bigger genset. Have the panel switch setup to run the fridge, kitchen outlets, essential lighting, ceiling fans. boiler, insert fan, tv/dvd. Not all at once of course but having been through several extended outages I know the joy of feeding a standard genset enough fuel to keep the freezer to temp. It's tough, never mind loud and expensive. Running a 5000 w generator to keep on a few lights, watch a movie or run a fan to sleep doesn't make much sense.

Yeah, there are basically 4 options in choosing backup power: 1) a big UPS to get your pellet stove thru those short outages, 2) a big standby generator to power your whole house, automatically, 3) a small 120v inverter generator that can power your pellet stove and several other outlets, 4) a larger 120/240v portable generator that can power 10 circuits or a 100-amp sub panel. No one option works for everyone.