Gasoline powered welder/generator for back up power

Whichester1 · Jan 27, 2013

Does anybody use a gasoline powered welder/generator for back-up power?
The ice storm today made me think about it.
Concern with a generator only is the cost for something that may only be used once every couple of years and it is easy to "forget" a generator you seldom use and may not be able to get it started when it is needed.
Would need something large enough to operate the blower on the furnace, refrigerator, lights, etc.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Bill.

bo · Jan 27, 2013

Miller Roughneck....welder generator. 3500 watt...use it for welding and used it once for generating electricity. Juice went out for over 36 hours, house got cold, I fired it up and ran fridge, furnace, lights, tv and other stuff...not all at once. Start it once a year and service it.

unclemerle · Jan 27, 2013

Have a Hobart Titan 8 just for that reason. Works good for when we have a large welding job when we need the amps(250 cont.). Plus we are an all electric home and has just enough amps (8000) to run everything in the house. Bought it used and works good for me. Merle

Whichester1 · Jan 27, 2013

Thanks, after the ice melts I'll stop by the local welding supplier and look. Need a welder from time to time anyway. The odd welding job will keep it exercised.
Want an established brand such as Miller, Hobart or Lincoln. Cheap stuff ends costing more in the long run.

Greg_Ky · Jan 27, 2013

I am getting ready to pull the trigger on a miller #907502

Brad Buchanan · Jan 27, 2013

Hey Bill.

I have had experience with powering a home during an ice storm in northern NY for 2 weeks.

I had a plain jane pull-start Homelite 5500 watt 11hp gen on my service truck and used it to power my home.

I found that the major issue was finding fuel for the gen. I burned more than 260 gallons of gas. I changed the oil out halfway through and replaced with synthetic and used about 30% less fuel.

I found that 5500 watts was more than plenty of power if you watched what was running at the same time. will run furnace, fridge and electric water heater but not all the same time.

Good luck,

Brad

moresmoke · Jan 27, 2013

I have a Miller trailblazer that I use for that. Wanted a newer welder and the generator capability allowed me to convince the household accountant that it was a good idea. The house is set up with a transfer switch so all I have to do is plug a cord in the welder and flip the switch. Have enough power to run most things, need to run oil backup furnace instead of electric, and you can't shower and use the oven at the same time.

I happened to get a good deal on the welder as a rental return from a local dealer. I don't really need as fancy as it is, but the price was right.

buickanddeere · Jan 27, 2013

Good to see you are planing ahead instead of freezing in the dark looking for a generator and fuel after the storm.

notjustair · Jan 27, 2013

I have a 19 K diesel backup, not a welder. Power out this far is iffy any old day.

Check with a furnace man. I had a new unit installed that has a variable motor. Not only will the unit probably not run on anything but line power (it senses fluctuations), but your warranty is void if they find out you did.

I obviously have no problem running the whole farm with mine even during summer with the A/C on (with the old unit that didn't have the new style blower). I have three large space heaters to plug in if I need to use it in the winter and I just throw the breaker on the heating unit.

Walt Davies · Jan 27, 2013

I have a 5500 watt portable but if I was going to spend a lot I'd get a diesel driven built in with auto controls.
Walt

Ultradog MN · Jan 27, 2013

I have an older Miller welder powered by a 2 cyl Onan. Had it since 1980 or so. Rebuilt the engine once.
In addition to welding power it will put out 110 or 220V AC - I think about 3.5 KW. Not all that efficient considering it's about 16 hp but in a pinch it would keep the furnace, a couple of lights and of course my computer running.

caterpillar guy · Jan 27, 2013

Well I have had a miller trailblazer of about 14years now. Works good for both, and has the little Kubota engine in it. Don"t really use it enough to justify but sure is handy. I use it for a welder more than a power unit.

Huskers86 · Jan 27, 2013

(quoted from post at 15:06:57 01/27/13) Does anybody use a gasoline powered welder/generator for back-up power?
The ice storm today made me think about it.
Concern with a generator only is the cost for something that may only be used once every couple of years and it is easy to "forget" a generator you seldom use and may not be able to get it started when it is needed.
Would need something large enough to operate the blower on the furnace, refrigerator, lights, etc.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Bill.

I ran a 5500/6500 surge winpower from menards 9 days through the ice storm in 06. House was a propane furnace and we ran that and the dish/tv and a refrigerator. We would alternate power between the frige and freazer and then shut off everything when we needed the well to run for water or microwave. It got you good at knowing what things took for juice but it was never cold inside. Later I took the thing and put it on my service truck and found many uses for it.

rick165 · Jan 27, 2013

i purchased a new miller bobcat 225 last summer a day after 4th of july storm power was gonna be off for 7/10 days.it has a 11000 watt generator runs the whole house central air and everything.had a miller trailblazer nt51 only had a 8000 watt gen it wouldnt run the central air conditioner unless the rest of the house was shut off.
RICK

Gasoline powered welder/generator for back up power

Whichester1

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bo

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unclemerle

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Whichester1

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Greg_Ky

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Brad Buchanan

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moresmoke

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buickanddeere

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notjustair

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Walt Davies

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Ultradog MN

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caterpillar guy

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Huskers86

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rick165

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