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Wed May 03, 2023 5:17 pm

The wife wants me to get one for backup power

8500 watts should do it

any one with experience or recommendations ?

multi fuel would be even better.

Wed May 03, 2023 5:22 pm

Unless power goes out often for more than three days, stick with a 2kW name brand for about $1000 used

Thu May 04, 2023 8:13 am

If all you want is for an emergency back up and probably won't use it more than a few times a year I'd buy a gasoline generator and look at Harbor freight or Northern Tools.

Thu May 04, 2023 8:47 am

I would look be looking at standalone tri-fuel, and adding a breaker lockout and generator plug, instead of one with an automatic switch etc. The cost savings is huge even if you have to upgrade your electrical panel. You do want the invertor type as it's better for your electronics.

keep in mind these big generators do well at full power, but if you aren't running a big enough load, they don't like to run either... many people buy too big and then end up buying a smaller generator for just their fridge and some basics.

I like my Champion 2K watt

Thu May 04, 2023 9:07 am

So, a 2K watt unit will run a couple of fridges? It wouldn't even have to be simultaneously, just enough for the food from thawing/spoiling. Thanks--

Thu May 04, 2023 9:52 am

Jon Schmid wrote: So, a 2K watt unit will run a couple of fridges? It wouldn't even have to be simultaneously, just enough for the food from thawing/spoiling. Thanks--

easily. avg fridge uses under 300watts. take the amps on the on the label, multiply by 120 (volts)

Thu May 04, 2023 12:18 pm

Erik G wrote: Jon Schmid wrote: So, a 2K watt unit will run a couple of fridges? It wouldn't even have to be simultaneously, just enough for the food from thawing/spoiling. Thanks--

easily. avg fridge uses under 300watts. take the amps on the on the label, multiply by 120 (volts)
Thanks!!! 8) 8) 8)

Thu May 04, 2023 1:41 pm

I have a Honda 2200watt just a little guy end up using it every summer something happens we lose power for a good 6 hours. It will power my 1100watt room ac, The fridge, Internet modem and router, Tv and a small fan its going balls out but works. A 3000watt generator is nice size if your looking for a backup but they are heavy require a team lift to move. If you have natural gas or propane that's a nice fuel option they make conversation kits. But you wont get the full wattage unless you use gasoline.

I change out the fuel early spring and use Sta-Bil storage it has fired right up every time I needed it. Use ethanol free fuel of course

Thu May 04, 2023 2:37 pm

looking to power the house , well pump, furnace ,refrigeration, lights, etc.
also full time power for a shop/garage.

Thu May 04, 2023 3:55 pm

I power the house (well, gas furnace, fridge and most lights) easily with a 7500 watt one, thanks to LED bulbs the lighting part of the load is almost nothing now.

But this shop of yours?, what's going on in there?, welders?, compressors?, lights?, heat? And all day every day?, or just now and then?

Fri May 05, 2023 6:31 am

I have a Honda 2200. It ran a 12000 btu window AC and my fridge and a couple of lights just fine. My problem was finding gas for it after a hurricane when we lost power for 6 days. And the noise sucks, even for such a quiet unit.

So, I built a battery backup with 2000 watts of solar panels and kept the gas generator to top up the battery if solar runs short. That means the gas generator is the backup to my backup and hasn't been used for a couple of years.

Do an energy audit and see how much power you really need.

Fri May 05, 2023 11:10 am

Q-Dog wrote: I have a Honda 2200. It ran a 12000 btu window AC and my fridge and a couple of lights just fine. My problem was finding gas for it after a hurricane when we lost power for 6 days. And the noise sucks, even for such a quiet unit.

So, I built a battery backup with 2000 watts of solar panels and kept the gas generator to top up the battery if solar runs short. That means the gas generator is the backup to my backup and hasn't been used for a couple of years.

Do an energy audit and see how much power you really need.

What Solar controller and inverter are you using? With 2000 watts you need a 200 amp controller? The Mrs wants a cabana out back its a perfect spot for a solar farm would love to power the bedroom A/C

Fri May 05, 2023 11:29 am

DesertSasquatchXploration wrote: Q-Dog wrote: I have a Honda 2200. It ran a 12000 btu window AC and my fridge and a couple of lights just fine. My problem was finding gas for it after a hurricane when we lost power for 6 days. And the noise sucks, even for such a quiet unit.

So, I built a battery backup with 2000 watts of solar panels and kept the gas generator to top up the battery if solar runs short. That means the gas generator is the backup to my backup and hasn't been used for a couple of years.

Do an energy audit and see how much power you really need.

What Solar controller and inverter are you using? With 2000 watts you need a 200 amp controller? The Mrs wants a cabana out back its a perfect spot for a solar farm would love to power the bedroom A/C
My system is 24 volts. I'm using Victron 150/60 and a 100/20 solar charge controllers. And a Victron MultiPlus 3000 inverter.

Mon May 08, 2023 8:47 pm

Our 6000W ran the well pump to the house and barns, propane furnace/blower, fridge and kitchen lights. Our electrician set up a panel switch so we could flip to generator feed, and it worked great.

You could go old school and get a big old tractor and do the same thing (we ran two houses, 3 barns and 2 wells off that thing), but that may be a little overkill.

Tue May 09, 2023 10:56 am

Why not VW powered? This is the back-up generator I built for my house. I gave it remote start so you don't even need to go outside, just press a button.

Tue May 09, 2023 1:32 pm

Our motorhome has an Onan Cummins Diesel 4kw
The diesel will allow for longer boondocking. It does smell and you have to watch your fuel level as it draws from the same tank as the motor.
The rig is built in Canada. Canadian delivery has a auto gen shut off as a fail safe. US models don't :?

We installed a propane fueled 22kw Generac generator for the house about 10 years ago. Everything is automatic. If the power goes out the generator kicks on in about 15 seconds.
It's important to us that we have reliable power as we have a well and septic.
It is nice to run A/C or heat as needed.
Pro's, Fairly quiet and very little odor.
Con's, it's propane. We nearly ran out last year due to a driver shortage.