Since I have a 475 ft well and when power fails so does water, I would like to get a emergency standby generator. Honestly grid power has pretty good, but it is a rural area and if there is a major storm it could be several days before it is restored here. So I would like to be able to make my own power when needed.
As for fuel, I have a 100 gal (LP) propane tank, uses for cooking and hot water, usually it never goes below 50 gal before refilling. I also have a 275 gal kerosese tank (k2 Kero - not K1), which I understand will run in a disel engine - I also assume that using home heating fuel for power generation would not violate the road fuel tax issue. And there is also gasoline, which it not a good fuel for such applications due to fuel gumming up if it is allowed to sit too long.
I have heard that (LP or nat) gas is the ideal fuel for such standby applications, I assume kero is not bad either.
I would need 220 V at 20 amps to run the pump (pump is on a dual 20 breaker), so I’m looking at a 4400 Watt generator.
Right now I have seen some portable gasoline models that are about the $500 range that would fit the bill. It would be the crudest solution and most likely the least dependable. Then we have the high end LP standby generators with auto transfer swtich, but the pricetag of about $2500 just for the item then the instalation cost could add as much as anothor $2000 on top if it makes getting 2 $500 generators (one just incase the other fails) look like a good option.
I have also heard about converting a standard gasoline to LP, or buying an new one that was converted as an option.
I have not found a disel generator for this size, if you know of them please let me know as well.