In the market for a generator

[bradleyelectric]

I have a honda 3000EU for the truck if we need it on a job. It is a straight 120v unit. I've got a 6500w portable incase I need it.

I like the generator interlock from Square D that mounts on the panel cover. Interlocks between the main and the generator backfed breaker. You don't have to figure out what you want to put in the generator panel. Just watch what you have on so you don't trip the backfed generator main.

I haven't installed 1 in my house yet. Have sold a couple during residential service changes. Easy to deal with. http://ecatalog.squared.com/pubs/El...s, Homeline (HOM, LK, PK, QOM)/1100HO0301.pdf

I like the looks of this inlet. Haven't had 1 in my hands yet, but rexel ordered 1 for me to see. http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com/Midwest-Electric/m42.html

 

[charlietuna]

Speaking from experience--hurricanes can teach you a lot-- consider a few things before you invest. It's a luxury to own an automatic generator--but your prime interest is FUEL ! I have struggled thru quite a few hurricanes--one for 26 days and the last for 16 days without power. One of my neighbor's companies had a complete automated system(12kw) installed since he worked out of his house. Only trouble he was out of LP gas on the third day and there was no way a delivery truck was available for 12 days! Of course once the power goes "OFF" you don't know how long it's gonna remain "OFF"? So you must conserve! The average household just consumes like they are still being supplied by the power company....

Being an electrician you can improvize --- now i was on a well, but had LP gas for cooking and water heating. My neighbors planned for nothing !!! I had a 7kw portable unit that i wired into my house at 240 volts. I was very critical to what that generator fed, not because of electrical load, but because of fuel consumption. I ran a single circuit to each of my neighbor's houses to feed their refrigerator/freezers. I also cross connected my water system with their houses to provide them water. They did not have gas so they could use my showers for warm water as needed. The generator was started every morning at 7:00am and ran until 11:00PM. I disconnected all my appliances at the breakers to prevent them from being damaged by poor power from the generator. I disconnected all the TV sets and used an old black and white portable for news broadcasts. Gasoline for the first week was hard to find--got up one morning and drove over 100 miles to find gas and then it's rationed like 10 gallon max! After a week, gas was not a problem--i was burning about ten gallons a day and the neighbors were bringing their share. Consider the fuel source when considering a permenent system.

 

[LarryFine]

She does like to gamble - so Fox Woods or Mohegan Sun is about a two hour drive.

Maybe she'd win enough to buy or generator - or NOT.

That's IT! Tell her that she has to win the money to cover the generator, and your contribution is to do the installation.

 

[PCN]

We've had the best luck Onan. Their RS12000 or 15000 is nice for a permanant setup.

For portable though I'd go with a Honda myself. Nothing starts like a Honda in my opinion, few are as quiet.

 

[boyle78]

I have a honda 3000EU for the truck if we need it on a job. It is a straight 120v unit. I've got a 6500w portable incase I need it.

I like the generator interlock from Square D that mounts on the panel cover. Interlocks between the main and the generator backfed breaker. You don't have to figure out what you want to put in the generator panel. Just watch what you have on so you don't trip the backfed generator main.

I haven't installed 1 in my house yet. Have sold a couple during residential service changes. Easy to deal with. http://ecatalog.squared.com/pubs/El...s, Homeline (HOM, LK, PK, QOM)/1100HO0301.pdf

I like the looks of this inlet. Haven't had 1 in my hands yet, but rexel ordered 1 for me to see. http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com/Midwest-Electric/m42.html

I installed a Reliance panel with the generator interlock and the HO loves it! Like you said...no need to pick circuits....just watch what you turn on. Wheel up the portable Honda and bango! you have enough for the well pump, furnace and fridge no prob!

 

[bradleyelectric]

I installed a Reliance panel with the generator interlock and the HO loves it! Like you said...no need to pick circuits....just watch what you turn on. Wheel up the portable Honda and bango! you have enough for the well pump, furnace and fridge no prob!

You don't have to worry about what light you can turn on.

 

[Podagrower]

I like the looks of this inlet. Haven't had 1 in my hands yet, but rexel ordered 1 for me to see. http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com/Midwest-Electric/m42.html[/QUOTE]

I used a couple of these a few months ago, and they were very easy to work with, plenty of room, easy to mount, the outlet comes out of the box for easy wiring.

 

[hillbilly1]

I like the looks of this inlet. Haven't had 1 in my hands yet, but rexel ordered 1 for me to see. http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com/Midwest-Electric/m42.html

The big boxes carry them also if you want to look at one.

If you want a larger whole house generator, (20 kw and up) get one that operates at 1800 rpm instead of 3600 rpm, they are much quieter. The only draw back with those are that when heavy loads cut on you will have more voltage flicker. The Kohler 7 KW's are extremely quiet.

 

[bradleyelectric]

The big boxes carry them also if you want to look at one.

If you want a larger whole house generator, (20 kw and up) get one that operates at 1800 rpm instead of 3600 rpm, they are much quieter. The only draw back with those are that when heavy loads cut on you will have more voltage flicker. The Kohler 7 KW's are extremely quiet.

My problem with a whole house auto unit is I have no gas other than 5 gallon jugs. I've got plenty of them around here though. I heat with an outdoor wood boiler with an oil backup. Hot water from same. No holding tank. everything else is electric.

 

[wireguru]

ive got a couple 2400w pure sinewave inverter generators on their way from china. theyre the quiet type (54db or something) fully enclosed in plastic housing like the hondas. electric start too ill post them when they show up. I cant wait to see how they do, specs are pretty good, 5hr @ 100% load on a tank, and theyre speced for continuous duty.

 

[gar]

081213-2016 EST

I have a Honda ES5000X. I bought it because of the great eastern blackout. It was about 2200. Starts very well, but do not leave gas in Honda engines. This model is quite noisy.

It looks like an EM5000SX2A or equivalent may be about 2500 and is much quieter.

Our power reliability is so good that in 40 years it may have failed 3 times including the blackout. Generally the problems are tree problems. We have some instantaneous drops in voltage but not often.

I have a moderate size house with a 200 A service. One refrig, 2 freezers, and an oven on electricty. A 5000 W unit is more than enough for my basic needs. This only has to run long enough to keep the essentials cooled or heated. So it can travel between several houses to service their essential needs.

There is a jumper you have to remove to disable the GFCI.

My son has a less expensive 5000 W unit and it works fine.

The Honda has excellent voltage regulation. Also looks nice in its red paint.

.

 

[norcal]

A 5 KW Honda was my 1st choice but ended up buying a Miller Bobcat 225NT gives me 8 KW plus have a portable welder if the need arises, 18 HP Onan engine w/ electric start and it was only $400.00 more then what the Honda was going to cost, the only reason there is a need/ want for a backup power supply is power to run the well pump, water & spaceheating are natural gas and need no power to operate but having a empty water tank is not something anybody wants to deal with. Guess I should keep my mouth shut about a dead battery & no or low fuel.
My vote is Honda for a smaller genny, there is a reason why Generjunk is lower priced & you get what you pay for. (The Miller is not a small unit).

 

[hardworkingstiff]

I'm a Honda fan.

When it comes to temp power, noise becomes an issue. Fuel consumption is an issue (especially if we get back to $4/gallon).

Don't let money be your primary driver in selection.

 

[jrannis]

I have a honda 3000EU for the truck if we need it on a job. It is a straight 120v unit. I've got a 6500w portable incase I need it.

I like the generator interlock from Square D that mounts on the panel cover. Interlocks between the main and the generator backfed breaker. You don't have to figure out what you want to put in the generator panel. Just watch what you have on so you don't trip the backfed generator main.

I haven't installed 1 in my house yet. Have sold a couple during residential service changes. Easy to deal with. http://ecatalog.squared.com/pubs/El...s, Homeline (HOM, LK, PK, QOM)/1100HO0301.pdf

I like the looks of this inlet. Haven't had 1 in my hands yet, but rexel ordered 1 for me to see. http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com/Midwest-Electric/m42.html

Thats the only way Ill will put one in for a HO. The 50amp works great. Seems like everybody makes the generator backfeed slidebar. Seimens has at least three types that I know of.

 

[jrannis]

I'm sitting in my cold house - no power since late Thursday night, and I need to earn some points big time. Back in 1998 we lost power for 2.5 days and she was after me to get a generator back then - but you couldn't find one unless you wanted to travel 500+ miles.

Well we're going on the third day, and I've been getting the "evil eye". If you guys were going to buy a generator for your own home, what would you buy. I'm thinking an 7.5 KW is fine and a 10 KW would not be overkill. I'm fine with the furnace, lights in the family room, receptacles in the family roon and the exhaust fan on the hot water tank (it's propane, so there's a blower fan that has to have power). No well pump to worry about.

Oh - and the most important - the coffee pot.

I may be taking a drive today. Thank goodness I have my Blackberry and an inverter in my car, or I wouldn't have my lap top up and running.

Thanks
Dave

Found 12kw new, old stock for real cheap:
http://www.eddhelms.com/press_releases_2.asp?id=129

 

[ptonsparky]

Just installed three 10KWs that came delivered with auto transfer switch for around $2700. Very impressed with them. One arrived via truck on the third day after ordering.

We managed on a 2000 watt for three days but did not have to pump water & have gas heat.

 

[frenchelectrican]

I have two generators both are stationary 5 KW and 20 KW both are diesel units but they are super low rpm one at 1800 RPM { 5 KW } and 600 RPM {20 KW } that used for both shop/home set up however I do have portable generator that can be used on jobsite.

one is 5 KW portable diesel { this verison do have enclosed so it run little quiter than unenclosed gas generator } and right now I may end up get NG/LP portable generator on some area where they have NG fuel ready.

Merci,Marc

 

[bjp_ne_elec]

Just installed three 10KWs that came delivered with auto transfer switch for around $2700. Very impressed with them. One arrived via truck on the third day after ordering.

We managed on a 2000 watt for three days but did not have to pump water & have gas heat.

What brand and Model Number?

 

[Fulthrotl]

I have use small portable hondas, and they are excellent!!! and very very quiet....

finally broke down and bought one for the work van....
honda EU2000iA. easier than carrying 300' of #10
extension cords....

used it about 3 hours tonight.... nice little unit...
made it a special spot in the van to sleep.

 

[76nemo]

Anyone installed or have an opinion on this set???


http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com/Guardian-UltraSource-4583/p1267.html

I was looking at this awhile back when the HO shot it down for the price. Now that we are in the midst of another good winter storm, she's scratching her head again:-?

Anyone???