Emergency Home Generator

I've been looking into buying a generator for home use in power outages. I'm looking at the 5KW to 7KW range with enough power to run my well pump, oil burner, kitchen refrig, and a couple of lights in the house. There seems to be all kinds of stuff out there with prices from about $700-$1700 new. There also seems to be tons of used ones out there also. What do some of you suggest? Whats is desirable and what to stay away from? Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

I just asked that same question to a guy I know who is an electrician. I'd say you're probably right on size wise. I have a portable that I use here that's 6K surge 5K continuous. I'm thinking of upgrading to a hardwired unit that starts automatically and runs on LP. LP costs less than gas and doesn't go bad and clog the carb. They're a little pricey to buy and install, but no custom cords or other non compliant "procedures".

I've got a 7000watt 12500watt surge with electric start.  Genrac brand 11hp B&S.  Keep the gas tank dry and you won't have any carb problems.  I pull mine out one time a year and put a quart of gas it in then let it run until it's out of gas then change the oil and put it back in storage.  If you get an electric start make sure the battery has a trickle charger on it as you don't want a dead battery when it's time to use it for real.  Get the biggest tank for it you can find.  Mine has 8 gallons and will run 12 hours on a tank.  Keep 15 gallons of gas on hand at all times either in a tractor or in cans.  I keep three five gallon cans full and use it for the mowers to keep it cycled through and fresh.  I've had mine for 10 years and needed it three times for a few days each.  If you are going to use it for long periods very often then maybe go for a high dollar one with a Honda engine but for occasional use like mine a $1000 unit is just fine IMHO. For load mine will run two full size refrigerators, all the lights, microwave, furnace, ceiling fans, TV's and hot water heater. 

Edited by Stan IL&TN - 01 Nov 2011 at 9:03am

I would go with a Generac outside unit,hook to propane tank,transfer switch,all automatic,10,000 watt about $2800.

I have a 50s vintage Onan with a Continental Y-91 engine (21 hp). This week I'm working on getting it set on a platform with casters so I can move it around in the shed for easier maintenance but can move it to take up less space when not used. I've had it more than 30 years. I replaced the mechanical gas pump with an electric for much easier starting on gasoline. Its a dual fuel, will run on propane, natural gas, or gasoline, even coal gas. The engine is way over sized so it will run full load on coal gas of poor quality. It came from the county hospital and the inside was as clean as the pictures in the manual from running on natural gas some 30 years.

I have modified the carburetor a bit, it had a fixed high speed jet and would burn a couple gallons gasoline per hour even at no load. I dropped a thermocouple down the exhaust pipe after making an adjustable high speed jet and leaned to raise the exhaust temperature about 450 F and now it gets along at just over 1/2 gallon per hour.

Its 120 only, so the electric stove and the dryer didn't work where I last used it. And I unplugged the hot water heater. Then it ran furnace, water pump, and lights. While its good for continuous service and I have run it 24 hours for ham radio Field Day, my procedure was to run it and the furnace with the the furnace thermostat set for 80 F. When the furnace caught up with the thermostat, I shut down the generator, and went to a kerosene lamp (Alladin) for reading or went to bed. When the house got down to 40 F, I cranked up the generator and repeated the cycle. Wasn't as comfortable as having line power, but extended the fuel on hand. I did gather the materials to plumb it to propane but haven't yet accomplished that and by all rules need a couple new regulators to make that safe.

The new place is much better insulated and in the two years I've owned it, few power outages have been long while I was home. It can go hours without too great a temperature drop, but came with a built in transfer switch and underground cable to the shed. I also have a Honda 2000 which is quite portable that I have used on occasion as a "gasoline" extension cord for using power tools around the yard and I have made up a cable that will connect it to the transfer switch cable if I need it.

Keeping fuel on hand is vital to the benefits of the standby generator and its important to rotate gasoline. Often when the outage is extended its over a large area and the roads are drifted with snow so even if I could drive, the nearby stations don't have power to pump gas. Propane would be very handy in that situation.

Over the last 41 years that I've lived outside towns, the quality of rural power in Iowa has improved considerably. There are more substations and so they expose fewer miles of distribution to failure when a tree limb takes down the power and those substations gradually got closer to the house accompanying urban sprawl.

Gerald J.

Why is this in the Farm Equipment:
Everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment forum.

After each outage, my wife is in the mood to get a backup generator.  I will need at least 8KW because we have to pump water.  Am trying to leverage it into a Combo Welder-Generator.  Nice thing is it will get a lot of use and not be "stale" when the outage comes.

  I have a Generec 10000 natural gas.  I believe this is the way to go.  It is automatic and exercises itselft each week for 12 minutes.  Built in battery charger.  Cost is about 3000 plus plumbing for gas (or propane) and electric work.  About 4000 when all done, but if you look at any other, with any kind of auto hookup, plus if a gas engine, you have to keep a lot of gasoline around, the Generec looks the best to me.  If you are older, as I am, I can not go outside when it is cold and wrestle a generator around, and be sure I have enough galoline.  Auto switchover is needed to be sure that you do not have a hookup that is illegal and may electrocute a lineman. 

My Honda 2500 (yes it is small) specifically said the warranty was no good if you stored it WITHOUT gas in the carb!  So, I buy 5 gallons at a time, mix in some Stable, and store it tank full!

I bought a 13kw pto generator to run my house, deep well, geo-thermal unit portable welder and so on. I can run my whole house with my CA. Now that I have it, I hope I dont need it.  Leon B MO

i have a 90,000 watt Kohler for sale!!

90,000???

Good to know.
I'll be watching for the rod to fly out of the Briggs engine on my generator I bought at Home Depot.

Nobody in the state could touch their price.
Campbell Hausfeld 6000w with a 10hp Briggs.
Sticker $879.00 Sale Price $549.00

That will do it.

DMiller wrote: I can backfeed through a conventional welding outlet for up to 50amps service flow.

Not legally! Guys working on power lines have gotten killed by people doing this and forgetting to disconnect the main breaker.