A small generator would be useless for use in a home during a power outage. It only puts out 1.1 kW, so you couldn’t run much of anything off of it. Plus, it runs on gasoline, which creates a storage problem. Diesel or kerosine would be a better fuels, since they have a longer storage life and are safer to store.
There are better choices for whole house back-up power, including models that run on natural gas (no fuel storage). They are much more expensive, but better for running things that you want to keep on during a power failure, like the refrigerator and furnace.
Here’s one buyer’s guide from a newspaper, with links to manufacturer’s sites.
I live in Los Hideous. Although there were power outages last year brought about by corporate greed, I use city power which was not subject to blackouts. Power due to natural causes outages are rare here. It used to be that every time it rained my power would go out, probably because someone crashed a car into a part of the system. I solved the problem by collecting Coleman lanterns. As expected, as soon as I got the lanterns, power outages stopped except for two occasions (once, during a rain; and the power came back just as I lit the lantern; and once during the Northridge earthquake in 1994). We had high winds a month or so ago and the power went out. It went out because I’d put my lanterns in storage. Since I bought another one, this should virtually guarantee no more outages.
My grandparents lived about 14 miles out of Applegate, Oregon. There was no electricity on their side of the mountain, so grandpa used generators. He had a variety, inculding one that was run by an old Willys “Go-Devil” Jeep engine (flathead L-134). Usually he used a 5 h.p. unit. He would fill the gas tank, which I believe was about a half-gallon capacity, and start it up at dusk. The generator would power the 110v. system (basically just lights, as the refrigerators ran on natural gas which was stored in a large tank outside that was filled once or twice a year) and also charge the 12v. system that ran auxilliary lights when the generator was off. When the generator ran out of fuel, it was time to think about going to bed.
Back in the 1980s I remember seeing a Chinese diesel generator advertised on the back cover of Mother Earth News. Seemed like a good deal, as it was fairly inexpensive.
But will you be wasting your money? As I said, I live in a city in a region that has exceptionally boring weather. You have to ask yourself: How often does your power go out? How often would you use it? How big a hardship is it to be without electricity? If your stove is electric, do you mind cooking with a camp stove? If it’s cold out, can you put the contents of your refrigerator in a shed to keep them from spoiling? How much is it worth to you to be able to run your television and computer? How much will it cost to operate it? If you want a generator should you get one that’s gasoline-powered, or diesel-powered? (I think diesel stores better, but I’m not sure.)
If I lived in a rural area, I would buy a generator just for the convenience of having power if I need it. Living in a city, I can always pull out the Coleman lanterns for light and the Coleman, MSR or Svea stove for cooking or (more importantly) making coffee. If I wanted to watch TV I always have the Watchman. I’d miss the computer. But I have plenty of excellent books that want reading.
Definitely IMHO material. Only you can judge if generator is worth the money to you. The fundamental thing is that you understand what it can and what it cannot do and that you know how to use it safely. Then consider how often you may need to use it. Weigh everything and then decide.
Johnny, I lived in S Cal for many years (Sylmar, N Hollywood, Fillmore) and went through the Northridge Quake. After that I got the hell outa Dodge and move here to NC, two days before Hurricane Fran. hit. I felt like that guy on L’il Abner with the cloud always hanging over his head! Anyway I’d like to talk to you about it is in LA sometime. (Believe it or not I miss It. KindaSorta.)
I do have a definite need for a generator here in NC. Thunderstorms in the summer and snow and ice storms in the winter are just a tad much for this Califorinia boy. (I’m glad I missed the brownouts) :eek: Anyway I found a better deal at Home Depot and think I’m going for it. (3000 KW, 6 HP Briggs, 375.00 and free shipping!
The first one you mentioned sounds like one of those very light ones you can carry around. They are very light as they generate at much higher frequency and then have an electronic converter. The second one wyou mention sounds like a regular motor-generator. They are very different in many ways. If you do not need to move it and it will just sit in place then the second one is cheaper and more powerful but it will also have poorer frequency regulation. In any cae, make sure you understand it all well. Do not plug the thing into your home wiring as this can send power down the line. Read, understand and follow all directions.
Interesting. Grandpa’s generator was a B&H 5 h.p. I don’t think I ever saw him use the Jeep engine. He ran them just about every night until they ran out of gas, and they lasted for decades! They moved to their place around 1960 or 1961 and lived there until about 1990. I don’t know when they got the generators, but I remember seeing them in the early 1970s when I was a lad. Grandpa did routine maintenance, as anyone would with a lawnmower engine, and the B&H lasted and lasted and lasted. YMMV, I guess.
I hate it here. Absolutely hate it. The sooner I’m out of here, the better. If my company doesn’t lay me off and make with the severence package soon, I’m going to buy a house and abscond to northern Washington! (Where it almost never gets hot, and there is rain, rain and more rain! Lovely rain! Cold rain! Frigid mornings! Green! Water! Oooohhhh!)
It would be very useful if I could find a generator that was crystal controlled to run at precisely 60hz. They make them for filmmaking, but they tend to be large and expensive. Does anyone know if there is a small (about 6,000 watts) generator that maintains precisely 60hz.?
Johnny, the Northwest is beautiful! My Sister lives there. If I had a choice I’d be there now. Do you remember what WEATHER is really like? Seasons and such? It’s great!!!
Here in NC it actually rains off and on almost year long. (If I remember LA gets rain in Feburary, March. Depends on LaNina)
Hot here in the summer and cold in the winter. I hope you can escape LA soon.
Johnny, I’m getting a feeling we’re getting off the subject and the Gods (I mean Mods) are peering at us. Give me an email. BTW She’s single. And over 60
The Honda type I mentioned have an electronic inverter and so have a very stable frequency output but I think they do not make them bigger than 1.5 Kw although you can connect them in parallel. http://www.mayberrys.com/honda/generator/models/eu1000i.htm
