Generator Thread ....When the power goes out...

[ReloaderBen]

Hopefully won't need it and mine turns out to be a huge, wasted expense

I bought my first generator back before 1999 ended and the dreaded year 2000. I was in IT at Georgia Power/Southern Company at the time and they had us concerned that most of our software would crash because it couldn't handle a year date as 00 and all those plants would shutdown. So I bought a generator in case it happened.

Long story short, it was 8 years before I actually needed it. LMAO Kinda like a type of rabbits foot. But the Generac I currently have has been called into service several times.

 

[Don231s]

I was fairly well situated for this last outage due to Zeta. I did have to move some frozen items to my cousin's house, as he has a permanent Generac set up and his chest freezer was empty. I just bought a Sportsman 4000, so I'm good now. I'm also on gas. Even when power is out and central heat is down, the water heater and a small gas wall heater still operate. Range is electric, so I cooked on my gas grill that also has a single burner eye.

Nostalgia kicked in this time though. During the outage I broke out the two working oil lamps I have. Talk about making the house feel all warm and cozy. I'm on a roll with it, too. Dad saved my grandmother's 1930-1950s Aladdin Model B mantle lamp. It had been collecting dust since she died in the early 90s. I'm now on a mission to restore it. It's going to take about $150 to bring it completely back using the existing brass, and a new shade & support, chimney, mantle, and wick, but it's going to be sweet when it's finished.

It's funny, but the older I get, the more I miss the past.

 

[Comanche]

Bigger the better with generators.
A small one under 5000 watts won’t run your whole house.

Gonna need 10-15,000 watts to run hot water heater and several appliances.

 

[Miatadude]

Anyone use dual fuel generators? Propane/Gas? How long does a tank of grill propane last?

I have a Generac 5500LP (propane only). It has 6250 surge, 5500 continuous. With a load of 2 freezers, 2 fridges, some lights, some TV, a 20 lb grill cylinder will last 10-12 hours. It is not large enough to run an 3.5 ton AC unit.

 

[SKEETER25]

Check out the dual fuel kits from Motor snorkel. Put one on my Champion 8750 and it's jam-up!
Propane doesn't go bad like gasoline does. Yes, you lose a bit of generator efficiency but totally worth it.

 

[Leveraction44]

Check out the dual fuel kits from Motor snorkel. Put one on my Champion 8750 and it's jam-up!
Propane doesn't go bad like gasoline does. Yes, you lose a bit of generator efficiency but totally worth it.

And propane burns much cleaner. If you use gasoline be prepared to use gas stabilizer and still change out the gas every 2 years or so.

 

[10thmountain]

I dig the dual fuel possibilities.

 

[mountainmoped]

I have a Sportsman 2,000 watt generator that I have had for 7 years I have used it several times for a total about 9 hours. It has always started with one or 2 pulls and has been 100% reliable--not bad for a $175 generator. I have always used non-ethanol gas with Stabil and change the oil annually.

 

[ReloaderBen]

I have a Sportsman 2,000 watt generator that I have had for 7 years I have used it several times for a total about 9 hours. It has always started with one or 2 pulls and has been 100% reliable--not bad for a $175 generator. I have always used non-ethanol gas with Stabil and change the oil annually.

Besides the non-ethanol gas and regular oil changes. I have always done with my generators is run them monthly. And hook up a light or some other load to it so you can be sure it is making juice.

 

[alleycat]

Black Friday deals.

Hoping that using propane is easier than storing and treating gasoline. 4000 watt Only $289

The little one is incredibly quiet and was only $179...1000 watt