Another generator question

[carolgelt]

Getting ready to make the big move to paradise (in the icestorms of the midwest) and want to purchase a decent generator and necessary accessories to run everything when the power goes out for long periods of time. SO I've got a few questions:

1. When calculating the load requirement, do I tally up all the appliances and electrical things that we have or just what we absolutely will need to survive (well pump and press tank, fridge, etc.)?

2. Do I need to get a switch over thingy (can't remember the name of the device that automatically kicks the power from the grid to your generator) and how hard is that to install?

3. What else do I need?

After all these ice storms, hope there are generators left out there!

Thanks

[bee_pipes]

The simple answer is to just worry about essentials. We have a refrigerator and freezer that need to be kept in operation, though not constantly. They can both be switched back and fourth. The well pump is also something that's not in constant use.

Depends on how you plan to arrange operations - will you only be running one appliance at a time? If not, combine the loads you will be running in a worst case scenario. That's your target.

The answer to your other question - switch over - depends on how much work you want to do - rewire outlets? Or just plug the appliance in and move the generator around to where it's needed. We have two 2,000 watt generators. The are small generators and easily moved. The only accommodation I have made is a small shed to hold the generator when it's being used, to keep it out of the weather. We snake thick extension cords to the generator to run whatever appliance needs to be run.

We heat with wood and have a few items of coleman camping equipment for cooking and light. Our biggest hassle is heating water on the wood stove for sponge baths.

We found the generators on the internet at a place that had free shipping.

Regards,
Pat

[Gibbonboy]

I'd just calculate what you need to run to keep everything going, unless you move somewhere where a long (week-plus) outage is a possibility. I currently run my few items off an inverter and a bank of batteries, as outages in my area very very rarely last more than 2 hours.

Unless you are going to plug everything directly into the generator, you absolutely need a transfer switch! Without it, and if your genset is wired into your panel, you will backfeed voltage out to the commercial lines, possibly injuring or killing a utility worker. Trust me, if they see it hooked up wrong, they will let you know, and you won't be making new friends. If you are uncomfortable wiring in the panel, hire a licensed and qualified electrician, not just "Uncle Joe that knows about 'lectricity". You will save yourself many headaches in the long run, especially if anything damaged by improper wiring causes a homeowner claim.

Personally, I'm holding out for a "Listeroid" powered genset, rated for constant duty and able to burn veg oil. Generators that you buy at Lowes or elsewhere are only rated for emergency duty. We used to work far off the grid, burned up two Lowes generators before we broke down and bought a real constant-duty unit. Like they say, "buy the best and only cry once". Best of luck.

[WRTN]

Welcome to BHM from a fellow "Noobie" Carol.

Pat gave you some good information. *

I would add that it is very important to properly ground the generator if possible. *Not all generators have grounding provisions but if it does........ground it. *

Most hardware stores carry grounding rods and associated hardware if your generator does not come with any. *

The grounding rod will have to be bought locally as they are about 8 ft. long and must be driven into the ground. *

An alternate to installing your own grounding rod is to look in the vicinity of your electric meter for the grounding rod for the house or another alternate is use the ground cable on one of the electric utility poles. *Another is to use the ground for an electric fence if you have one. *

The generator will appear to work fine without a ground unless there is an electrical short or other similar problem. *With no ground on the generator, the possibility of being shocked/electrified is substantial in the event of an electric problem. *

In 1993 we had a REALLY bad ice storm in Tennesse, at least in the Land Between the Lakes area where we were living at the time. *After the storm hit, you could not buy a generator or a chainsaw for want of love or money. *I waited several months after things had recovered and purchased a Generac 6500 watt generator and a Stihl O-66 chainsaw. *Since purchasing these items; I has used the heck out of the chainsaw and NEVER once had a use for the generator. * ;) *Go figure. * ;D

Be sure to properly preserve the generator by changing the oil after the last use as well as treating the gas with Stabil DOUBLE strength and running the treated gas through the generator for 5 to 10 minutes to ensure the carb is full of treated gas. *The treated gas should be OK for upto 2 years. *An alternate means of preserving the fuel system is to run the fuel tank down to a very low level, remove the air filter from the carburetor and run the fuel tank dry. As the generator engine starts to stumble from fuel starvation, continue to run the generator with a spray can of WD-40 by spraying just enough directly into the carburetor to keep the engine running. *This will purge the carburetor and fuel system of any gas that will evaporate and gum up/foul the carb. *A few minutes of running the generator on WD-40 should be long enough. *Put the airfilter back on and she is ready for storage. *

Sorry for the lengthy how to procedure but it is VERY IMPORTANT to do this as MANY find their generator will NOT start after sitting in storage for extended periods when they really need them in an emergency. * Some owners prefer to start and run the generator for a half hour or so monthly to ensure the gennerator is good to go. *

What size generator did you have in mind? *Are you wanting a portable or stationary generator. *Do you have a tractor? The possibility of a PTO driven generator may be practical in some cases.

[DM]

I'm thinking, if your not going to spend the couple thousand to get a really good genset and hook it through a "transfer switch", then use extension cords.

With an extension cord you can get by with a smaller gen set, something like 2,000 watt will run many of the things in your house, as long as you run them "one at a time".

Personally, when it comes to gensets, i'm with the tractor and pto generator crowd... I love mine!

For gas gensets, i like the Honda inverter generators... They are very quiet and fuel efficient...

DM

[Gibbonboy]

Forgot to mention the ground, I've been juiced enough times that I should remember, too. Another reason to enlist the help of someone that is at least very familiar with electrical safety.

One thing that helped me, and saved me from buying a generator that I'd not keep long, was a Kill-A-Watt. This device plugs into an outlet, then your equipment plugs into that. It will give you information about how much electricity that device actually uses, not just what the manufacturer "claims". They're under 30 dollars online, I use mine all the time, and loan it out to friends as well. Can't use it for things like electric water heaters, furnaces, and other equipment that's "hard wired", but I've had it hooked to everything else. Disproved some "wives' tales" about electric use for myself. The most important feature of such a device, though, is that it makes you an informed consumer of electricity, and fully aware of what devices are costing you money, perhaps needlessly. I found that I can make do with a battery bank and inverter until I save enough to buy a Lister diesel and generator.

Another vote for Honda inverter generators- you can literally hold a conversation over top of one while it's running.

[machinemaker]

Gibbonboy,
I like your idea of powering a generator from a listeroid engine. You might want to look at rebuilding a military generator as an option. Have you ever looked at www.govliquidation.com? every once in a while I see listeroid engines and regular diesel generators. I bought a coulple gensets from them this year with the idea that I would rebuild them this winter, time allowing.
kent