Yes Sir, we did just about the same system as you and with the 500gal propane tank. House is all electric with heat pump. Heater guy put a couple of switches on heating unit so it just runs off of heat pump and not all of the electric heat units when the generator is on. We wish we would have done it 25 years ago.
I bought a big azz generator because of this storm
- Thread starter JMayo
- Start date
Jr Rigsby
Silver $$ Contributor
In the early 90's we had an ice storm that knocked out power for several days, a buddy had a giant generator, a whole pickup bed full, borrowed & got frig & freezers back down to temp. Had wood heat at the time, so did stay warm. Went & purchased a 5500watt, put in garage & have never unboxed it, don't even know what color it is, hope stays that way.
Yeah, No B.S.!!!! 20 years ago we had a severe ice storm...big huge pine tree falls and takes off the entire gable end of the house I owned at the time. Power out for 12 days. We built a new house a few months later and while all this ice storm mess was still in everyone's mind the wife says, "we are going to get a generator for this house".....we did, and have not lost power in 20 years!!!!!!
Edit: I will offer this little bit of wisdom...Stabil is not a very good gas stabilizer. Honda recommends Star-tron and it has definitely proven to work a lot better. If you have old gas in an engine you can first try draining as much as you can and add a fresh gallon of fuel. Then add a can of Seafoam and run it out. Usually this will straighten out any problems from stale gas. If not....buy a carburetor kit and get to work.
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This is a definite must do...I got one a few years ago for my hunting cabin that is off grid. Didn't want to scare the animals off the mountain so I specifically went looking for the quietest one made. Might be something else out there now, but as of a couple years ago the gasoline powered Honda Inverter EU series were the best. They are pricey, but they are quiet. You can stand right next to it running and have a normal voice level conversation. It also has a hard wired remote so I don't have to go out in the cold at night and start it.
LarryDScott
Site $$ Sponsor
I just had a 22KW Generac installed. If you live near western Ky
I have a 10KW Portable FS. I have dumped the fuel spring and fall and refilled w/non-alcohol and Sea Foam. $550.00 and take it away. Complete w/cover and power cord to hook to the breaker box. LDS
I have a 10KW Portable FS. I have dumped the fuel spring and fall and refilled w/non-alcohol and Sea Foam. $550.00 and take it away. Complete w/cover and power cord to hook to the breaker box. LDS
Duel fuel is a good idea if you're not diesel. But, think about this,,,,, your typical 5000W generator is only rated for 20 amps @ 230V. My well pump has a 25 amp breaker. My Amprobe says it pulls 17.5 amps. My water heater is on a 30amp circuit. Amprobe says it pulls just under 18 amps. 5000W won't do much, at least not all at the same time. It's not going to run your furnace or heat pump. Check the 'draw' on your fridge and microwave, you may be surprised!
This is true and definitely safer. I have never liked storing gasoline in any amount...it's a bomb. I was told however that propane conversions cost a little horsepower. In my case I had to be careful. I am using my generator at my cabin to run the well. It's a 220 single phase 30 amp circuit. I probably would be okay though. Honda invertors are true to the ratings. I have the 6500 watt model and the well at it's highest draw I have seen was 4400. Honda calls it "voltamps"...but it is the same as watts. Not sure why they have to be different...I guess it sounds better.
We use generators a lot at work (cell sites) and if (when?) I build my retirement property it's going to have a 20kw MB with regulators for both NG and LP, just in case. Diesel is also an option with these, and they are pretty quiet for their size.
20KW won't run a house like utility power, but it'll keep you alive, especially is you have non-electic heat. This would also be a case where solar might actually come in handy. At least on a small scale.
I had to laugh at JoshB's post. When "preppers" (loosely meaning anyone who isn't just sitting around waiting for Uncle sam to rescue their ass) are talking about the zombies attacking, that's how it starts...
Being prepared the best way you know how is never a bad thing. Whether it's just having some canned food and water or living in an frickin' underground lair. (Doctor Evil voice)
20KW won't run a house like utility power, but it'll keep you alive, especially is you have non-electic heat. This would also be a case where solar might actually come in handy. At least on a small scale.
I had to laugh at JoshB's post. When "preppers" (loosely meaning anyone who isn't just sitting around waiting for Uncle sam to rescue their ass) are talking about the zombies attacking, that's how it starts...
Being prepared the best way you know how is never a bad thing. Whether it's just having some canned food and water or living in an frickin' underground lair. (Doctor Evil voice)
I do the same thing and it's good because it uses up the gas before it gets old. Jerry Clower calls a siphon hose an "Arkansas credit card"!!!
To all that are going to install a whole house generator ; if you plan on using a 20-25kw I strongly suggest two 12kw or 15kw . Down here in s Florida , the only thing running at night is the A/C and refrigerators . It's a lot more EFFECIENT to run a smaller set at night and use both during high needs . I have enough propane for a couple of weeks but in a huge cat 4-5 we may have to make it last longer . If the supply system gets disturbed ,everyone that has propane gensets will be in dire straits and needing refills at about the same time .
I like Bart's B solution but not available on my property ! Dang
I like Bart's B solution but not available on my property ! Dang
That is definitely a great idea, but I think for most folks the whole "what got us to this generator need thing in the first place" kicks in....When you get to that size genset it is not cheap. Compared to the cost to buy two and do it that way vs. how often and how much you are spending to save running one all night a few days....well......
Just like me at my cabin. I looked into getting power run all the way to the top of the mountain in the middle of the Jefferson National Forest. Dominion Power only wanted $110,000.00 to run it and I had to pay for the cable and have a contractor standing by in case they hit rock and had to blast it!!!
I could buy a brand new generator every time I go up there and kick it off the side of the GD mountain for that kind of money!!!!!!!
I am envious of you folks that go years without a power failure. there is not a week goes by with out at least 2 outages here in Arkansas. most would be enough duration to force a standby to start.
we had a big 750 when I worked that would start but had to be shut down manually. I got calls at all hours to go shut it down.
it swallered a valve in the ice storm in 03 I think it was. and they got a brand new fancy one after I retired.
we had a big 750 when I worked that would start but had to be shut down manually. I got calls at all hours to go shut it down.
it swallered a valve in the ice storm in 03 I think it was. and they got a brand new fancy one after I retired.
MS50
Gold $$ Contributor
I have a 10K Generac stand-by that runs on natural gas. If you live in cold weather, have a trickle charger, battery warmer (reportedly not needed with an AGM battery), and an oil warmer installed. It's a must that you use synthetic oil. Without these add-ons, the generator will not start if it's in the teens or colder for long periods. I listened to electricians tell me how I "shouldn't need them" and "it will probably start". From the get go I should've consulted a generator guy. Would've saved me a lot of hassle.
We have roughly 240 Generacs. From the old 1.3l Fiats to the newer 30kw Deisels. Every single one has a block heater and battery charger. The diesel units are pretty good except the casting of the rocker arms is subject to fail at the oil galley. The older, non-baffled ones are also very loud and will rattle the windows in the house if it's closer than 100 yards. We have a half dozen down now for this. Also, the W type ATS switches have a ten dance to stick in between utility and standby. They can be manually transferred most of the time but if you have an ATS make sure its exercised weekly.
The big downfall of the older LP units is 1) their POS trickle charger on the circuit board won't keep a battery charged. Expencr less than 2 years from a battery. We wire in external chargers to avoid buying a control board each year. 2) they are not sealed up for mice properly so we get a LOT of rodent damage and Generac made every damn wire on the harness the same color blue so when they eat the numbers off you're left playing "guess where this goes" with a wire that may or may not fry the control board if hooked up wrong. They also have to be checked for squirrels routinely if as they build nests on the exhaust manifold (two burn downs from this) and in the front of the AC can. 3) their voltage regulators have a tenancy to fail. 4) the plastic timing cover have a port that dirt dobber wasps like to go through to build their mud nests
If they get one of any size built on the cam or crank gear before it exercises the next time it starts it will jump time.
I'm sure about the home units from Home Depot, etc but for my money I will be looking at whisper watt, Kohler or MB quiet. They cost quite a but more but we have very little issues out of the few we have. My impression of the Generacs may be skewed, as most of our units are 18-20 years old, but we spend a considerable about of time and money trying to keep them running over issues they have had since year one.
The big downfall of the older LP units is 1) their POS trickle charger on the circuit board won't keep a battery charged. Expencr less than 2 years from a battery. We wire in external chargers to avoid buying a control board each year. 2) they are not sealed up for mice properly so we get a LOT of rodent damage and Generac made every damn wire on the harness the same color blue so when they eat the numbers off you're left playing "guess where this goes" with a wire that may or may not fry the control board if hooked up wrong. They also have to be checked for squirrels routinely if as they build nests on the exhaust manifold (two burn downs from this) and in the front of the AC can. 3) their voltage regulators have a tenancy to fail. 4) the plastic timing cover have a port that dirt dobber wasps like to go through to build their mud nests
If they get one of any size built on the cam or crank gear before it exercises the next time it starts it will jump time.
I'm sure about the home units from Home Depot, etc but for my money I will be looking at whisper watt, Kohler or MB quiet. They cost quite a but more but we have very little issues out of the few we have. My impression of the Generacs may be skewed, as most of our units are 18-20 years old, but we spend a considerable about of time and money trying to keep them running over issues they have had since year one.
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