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Clooney
03-10-2002 13:36:11
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Re: generators in reply to Willy, 03-10-2002 12:23:56
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Willy, the size you need depends on the added watts of the equipment you want to run "at once" plus the starting amps of the bigger appliances you have & how many are apt to start at once.
~I have a 6,500 watt (7,500 surge) that will run my household nicely, but I have to do some power management to keep everything from running at once. My well pump is deep & 2.75 horsepower & has a very high starting amp draw, my furnace has a big variable speed blower that has a fair starting draw & the furnace also has a second combustion blower. I also have 2 refrigerators & a freezer that don't require much to keep running but if they all start at once the generator will shake it's head pretty good. The air conditioner is also a 3 ton unit that takes a pretty good starting load as the furnace blower comes on at the same time. ~Basically I control the breakers to not allow the refrigerators/freezer & well pump to run at the same time , & also don't let the A/C & well pump come on together. I try to not leave any more lights on than needed & won't use the toaster when the well pump or A/C are running. ~I hook the generator to my household system in my front barn by turning off the main circuit breaker at the house breaker box & then feeding the house back through my 60 amp welding plug in the barn (works good & keeps the generator handy). I also have a 25 watt light bulb wired from one leg on the input side of my main breaker to ground so I can see when the power comes back on (that little addition is important so you aren't running the generator for no reason after the power comes back on)
~The generator I have is a constant RPM type with a 10 hp Briggs & Stratton I.C. engine that is hand start (not a problem for me as it starts on one or two pulls even after sitting for 6 months, but my wife can't pull the rope on the 10 hp engine), it has brushes that go in under little snap covers (takes about 30 seconds) but the original brushes have been in for over 12 years now without needing replacement (it probably gets about 50-100 hours use a year).
~The constant RPM is ok for continuous a working output but the fuel usage is quite high for the non-loaded times & of course the engine wear is probably higher than need be. The voltage isn't monitored & the frequency isn't probably as stable as it could be, but it will run all my computers, TV's & clocks & even the finicky electronic microwave marvel that my wife insisted on. The only thing it won't run is my wife's new fully electronic super wazo dishwasher (the best I can figure is the electronic circuit board in it won't stabilize when the pump tries to run)
~If I ever buy another generator it will probably be a Honda type that uses a voltage regulator & idles down during low power usages & probably more like 10,000 watts with 11,000 surge. When I bought the generator I have now (don't know the name) price was a big part of my purchase criteria & the usage was expected to be low. My power seems to be going out more in the last few years (probably because of more houses being built around me back in the trees, & the trees & lines are getting older).
~It will probably come down to price for you also, as you have seen there is a big difference in generator prices, mostly due to safety features, engine type & idle down functions. One thing that is important is fuel tank size, you don't want to run out to fuel it every 2-3 hours. Mine has a fairly small tank & will only run for 3-4 hours between fillings but for me that works out good as I can fill it at about 8 pm & when the lights go out at 11:30-12:00 I go to bed..... ...
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