Advice on portable generator?

[Zhoen]

Not that being without power for days in a heat wave while my kid had a tummy bug wasn't just AWESOME... but DH and I have decided it's time to look into a portable generator. We're on a well, so when we lose power, we lose water, as in--the toilets don't flush-- and that seriously stinks, no pun intended. We lose power for days whenever there's a hurricane, and it's getting really old. This was the first time we actually bothered to relocate, and only because she was sick, but I'd like to never have to do that again.

We're looking at the portable ones, since the other type run many-thousands-of-dollars. Ideally I'd like to be able to run (1)the well (2)the fridge (3)a room AC in the summer (in the winter we've got a wood stove, so we're fine).

Any recommendations on how much wattage we should be looking for, brands to seek or avoid, etc?

 

[1Mouse2RulethemAll]

Not that being without power for days in a heat wave while my kid had a tummy bug wasn't just AWESOME... but DH and I have decided it's time to look into a portable generator. We're on a well, so when we lose power, we lose water, as in--the toilets don't flush-- and that seriously stinks, no pun intended. We lose power for days whenever there's a hurricane, and it's getting really old. This was the first time we actually bothered to relocate, and only because she was sick, but I'd like to never have to do that again.

We're looking at the portable ones, since the other type run many-thousands-of-dollars. Ideally I'd like to be able to run (1)the well (2)the fridge (3)a room AC in the summer (in the winter we've got a wood stove, so we're fine).

Any recommendations on how much wattage we should be looking for, brands to seek or avoid, etc?

you are going to need one that covers the maximum wattage of all the appliances plus some. The ac and fridge will require a lot.


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[ToddyLu]

We live on the coast, too and have a small one. What ever you do....never EVER put it indoors. It needs to stay out from under any open windows and doors as well at least 10 feet or so from house. We put tons of people in hyperbaric chambers every year for carbon monoxide poisoning....even doctors families when you think they would know better.

 

[joyah]

we've run the well, the house freezer and fridge, and a couple of lights and fans off of extension cords with a 5000 watt. The well has to be hard wired and we have to go to the basement and plug unplug boxes. Obviously they all aren't kicking on at the same time. We have a bigger one I think 8000 watts that we used this last hurricane (irene). The electrician was supposed to come and finish this yrs ago but that never happened. One day that will get finished. talk to an electrician and they can tell you what size you'll need. The A/C might be pushing it.

 

[ToddyLu]

Be sure you plan for extra fuel it will need and be perpared. Also you need to think about putting it on something that has wheels since they are very heavy. Somehow DH put ours on a dolly type cart thingy with wheels.

 

[4HOLIDAYS]

With the well you will need a decent size generator and an electrician. Ours is 15,000 but 5000 would be ok I think. The well is a hard wired item, so you can't just plug it in. we have a friend who is an electrician and after fter Wilma with 2 wks no power, water... we redid panels, wiring...so we can just plug and go,so to speak.

You have to ck and run a gen every yr, otherwise you go to start it up and may find it won't work from sitting, gunk inside...

This is my simple take away of my DH much more complex answers.

 

[kirstenb1]

we have a 5000kw generator. It runs the well, some lights and the fridge. I don't think we can run the a/c with it (or if we can, it's like Green Acres, and we'd have to flip everything else off). In the winter, we can run the blower on the gas fireplace, so we have heat. During prolonged outtages, we can run the washer, again, turning other things off. Anyway, we've had it 10 yrs. DH goes out and starts it once a month. It was a cheap one, around 500 bucks. DH swears the next one will have a push button start, like a Honda. Ours has a pull cord like a lawnmower, and it's a pain.

We always keep a few 5 gallon containers of gas handy right before any bad storms are forecast.

We probably use it 4 times a year. Maybe 3 times in the winter and once during summer storm season.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

we have a 5000kw generator.

This might be a bit of overkill, and definitely will not be portable!

 

[ronniewms]

I sell them in my store. I offer the Honda quite running type. They are a little higher in cost, but the noise reduction does wonders. The Eu6500is Super Quite is awesome. It costs around $4500. 14 hrs on 4 1/2 gallons of gas. It will run a RV a/c and a good bit of household appl.

Honda is the way to go. http://powerequipment.honda.com/generators

 

[mrodgers]

This might be a bit of overkill, and definitely will not be portable!

A 5000 watt generator is not very physically large. All portable generators that I have seen have 2 large wheels to maneuver them. You don't pick up and carry a portable generator, you lift 1 end and move it about it's wheels.

Lowes has a 17,500 watt portable generator with a handle and wheels to move it around. A 5000 watt is relatively inexpensive, around $600-700.

 

[kirstenb1]

Although you didn't ask...ours is technically portable, in that it has wheels. But dh put it about 12 ft away from the house and poured a little concrete pad to sit it on. Then he built a 3 sided shelter for it. The slanted roof helps keep snow etc off it in the winter, but you still have plenty of ventilation.

 

[pat fan]

We have a Generac 5500 (5500 running watts, 6875 start up watts) and have it hooked up to a select amount of things. Had to be rewired (don't ask me how, my DH did it) in the fuse box so when the power is out, you shut off the main breaker and turn the other one on so just the things on that panel will get power. We have the fridge, chest freezer (really everything in that room works which includes one tv) and the well pump so we have water & toilets.

I believe the rule of thumb we were told to use was figure out the watts you need then add up a little because the start up watts are more than the running watts blah blah blah. Just get one a little bigger than you think you need

I think ours cost around $600, or at least in that ball park. Then you need will need a panel and what not. If you/hubby are not VERY good with electricity, get an electrician to set it up for you. You can just run off extension cords (not for the well pump though) but you have to be careful when the power comes back on, so it's not advised.

As PP said, do NOT have it inside, anywhere! Not the basement, not the garage, not the enclosed porch. OUTSIDE! Luckily for us we have a carport where we put it for now, but we are in the process of building a shed behind/attached to the carport so it has a permanent home. We also fill about 5 gas cans at the start of each season and just leave them with it. That way, when the power goes out, no running to the gas station only to find out they don't have power either! Gas doesn't last forever though (thanks big Govt.!) so at the end of each season we dump it in vehicles and get fresh gas for the next season. Good luck!

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I always see portable generators in pawn shops, maybe you can get one cheaper there?!

 

[kirstenb1]

This might be a bit of overkill, and definitely will not be portable!

good one, you got me!! type faster than I think!!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

A 5000 watt generator is not very physically large. All portable generators that I have seen have 2 large wheels to maneuver them. You don't pick up and carry a portable generator, you lift 1 end and move it about it's wheels.

Lowes has a 17,500 watt portable generator with a handle and wheels to move it around. A 5000 watt is relatively inexpensive, around $600-700.

But the post that I quoted said 5000 kilowatts, not 5000 watts or 5 KW. 5000 kilowatts equals five Megawatts.

 

[mrodgers]

But the post that I quoted said 5000 kilowatts, not 5000 watts or 5 KW. 5000 kilowatts equals five Megawatts.

Ah ha, I do see it now. Missed the "k" the first time around.

 

[rock_doctor]

A day or two after the power comes on make a mad dash to your local homedepot with a 10% lowes coupon (from the post office) and get the biggest generator you can get your hands on 10kw preferably but no smaller then 5 or 6kw. Usually they get a ton of returns after a storm that they now have to clearance out as used... Once you do this you will need to get an electrician to install an interlock switch and a outlet outside to plug your generator into. So when the power goes out you plug you gen into the outside outlet and flick a few switches on the panel and you are good to go. Just to remind....that generator is as loud as a lawnmower so they are subject to "being borrowed" (permanently) in the middle of the night... plus it is going to burn 5 or 6 gal of gas in a 8-10 hr period. So you can crank though quite a bit of fuel in a week. I have a 5kw with a 8.6kw serge gen that i wired up myself (wire my house so i know how to do it) and it does work find for those necessaries. Since you are on a well that may mean you are not horrible close to your neighbors and that is to your advantage. Do some serious research and decide what will work for you. If you do have.... 6 or 7 grand to spend you can get a very nice permanent diesel setup that will run for days and carry the whole house. Don't let your husband see this he will not sleep for a week... It is a guy thing...

 

[North of Mouse]

This might be a bit of overkill, and definitely will not be portable!

Trust me, it is not overkill, and ours is portable (at least to where we need it from our outdoor garage). We have a 5,000w also, and it has wheels. We use it for our well, freezer, refrigerator, selected outlets and lights, also blower for our fireplace heater (for winter). We had our electrician wire our home so we could shut down one panel, and then plug the generator in. We would never try to run an AC though. To me now, that is overkill . Fans are very welcome, and sufficient in a pinch.
Also, my dh does start it often and runs it awhile. It's the best "insurance" we've ever purchased

 

[EMAW_KSU]

Trust me, it is not overkill, and ours is portable (at least to where we need it from our outdoor garage). We have a 5,000kw also, and it has wheels. We use it for our well, freezer, refrigerator, selected outlets and lights, also blower for our fireplace heater (for winter). We had our electrician wire our home so we could shut down one panel, and then plug the generator in. We would never try to run an AC though. To me now, that is overkill . Fans are very welcome, and sufficient in a pinch.
Also, my dh does start it often and runs it awhile. It's the best "insurance" we've ever purchased

A 5000 kw generator would power 2000 to 4500 homes.

 

[shortbun]

This might be a bit of overkill, and definitely will not be portable!

pretty sure they meant 5000watts, not kilowatts. 5000kw would be a small power plant, ;O