Emergency generator(regular or inverter)?

I'm going to install an emergency home generator in preparation for the next Texas Ice storm black out/brown out. I've read where one needs an "inverter type generator" if one wants to safely power a computer. Inverter type generator costs about twice what a regular generator costs. Has anyone attempted to operate a desk top computer on a regular generator or is too risky?
Thanks for any replies, Jim

Im waiting for John T to respond on this one. I have a honda inverter for emergency. Brand new and never run. But im prepared.

Jim, I have run a desktop computer , TV, and TV dish system with a regular genny before. Power was out for 3 days. Maybe not a recommended practice, but no harm was done. Maybe I was lucky?? I dunno.

Buy a laptop as the inverter is in the charger, only DC to the laptop.

I'm hoping some official resident electricians such as John T & buickanddeere will respond.

I would rather invest my money in overkill on watts.

Where the problems come in is when the genset is undersized and can't keep up with the demand. Then you get undervoltage and under cycle, or the breaker trips.

I don't see typical home duty computer equipment being super sensitive to power purity. They are sold worldwide, who knows where they may end up, some 3rd world island that is lucky to have power at all!

I knew a man that had a hunting camp off grid. He found a diesel British military generator that was 50 hz, 100/200 volt. I never could figure out how to speed up the governor, so it ran that way for years. I don't know about a computer, but he ran a TV, radio, HVAC, microwave, refrigerator, etc. and never had a problem with any of it.

I will start with the advantages of an Inverter Generator

They are NOT RPM (equates to Frequency) dependent like a regular Generator to produce 60 HZ IE they
electronically produce steady 60 HZ regardless of RPM. A regular gennys frequency depends on its RPM and
that depends on the load and how well smooth n steady the RPM governor operates

Their voltage is fairly steady REGARDLESS of changes in load

They can be more efficient as when the load is small the engine can idle down

Regular Genny advantages THEY COST LESS you can get more Power for the money
Regular Genny DISadvantages their frequency and voltage is less steady and can vary with the load

THAT ALL BEING SAID I have used regular gensets for yearssssssssssssss to operate desktops, laptops,
charge cell phones, run microwaves or other sensitive elec kitchen appliances and NEVER had a problem.
HOWEVER if you're running any extreme sensitive elec devices and at the same time say a motor or AC OR
FRIDGE comes on line, there's a higher risk of damage versus if using an inverter generator.

Many (not all) elec devices step down the AC and rectify it into DC anyway so fluctuations in voltage or
frequency is not all that risky. Stick a cheap surge suppressor on the output may help !!!!!!!!!!!

BOTTOM LINES sure an Inverter has advantages and poses less risk while a regular gives you more power for
the buck WHAT ARE YOUR NEEDS and what types of tools appliances will you run ?????????

I would NOT fear powering a computer with a regular but I would use caution if other high power loads
(motors or AC or fridge) were on the same circuit and be cycling on and off a lot.

NOTE there are other engineers and techs on here who are more current and sharper than myself when it
comes to electronics (Im more into power distribution and old tractor electricals) SO SEE IF THEY AGREE
WITH MY ADVICE

John T Live in the RV from Avon Park Florida

I am not able to answer your question, but I do have some generator advice.
Owners manuals often recommend an oil change after the first few hours of
use. Most folks just check the oil and fail to change as suggested. Read your
manual and consider the best quality oil you can find. Don

I have an Onan 20 ES natural gas powered generator hard wired through a transfer switch and use it with no problems with anything in the house. My late wife ran her coumptrized embroidery machines hooked to a laptop with the gen set running also and said it never made any differece with them. Inverters are quiter and lighter but to have enough power during a power outage I will stick with my Onan generator.

I ran my house - water heater and kitchen range for a week with a Coleman Power Mate 4K continuous. Ran computer, router, fridge,deep freeze and well. Yea it is an older unit when listed watts was what they were called NOT starting watts

laptop and pc's all have switching power supplies... meaning that the dont CARE about the input voltage and frequency. As they convert them to 5 volt +- and 12 volts.... They have their own frequency oscillator and crystal to set the cpu buss frequency. SO a bit of over voltage, or under voltage does not effect them. A input frequency variation will not affect them. They were designed just for this problem, hence the reason for a total switching power supply that uses the input voltages to create brand new voltages.... Now an old analog clock is a whole different story.

(quoted from post at 19:43:38 02/04/23) I would rather invest my money in overkill on watts.

Where the problems come in is when the genset is undersized and can't keep up with the demand. Then you get undervoltage and under cycle, or the breaker trips.

I don't see typical home duty computer equipment being super sensitive to power purity. They are sold worldwide, who knows where they may end up, some 3rd world island that is lucky to have power at all!

I knew a man that had a hunting camp off grid. He found a diesel British military generator that was 50 hz, 100/200 volt. I never could figure out how to speed up the governor, so it ran that way for years. I don't know about a computer, but he ran a TV, radio, HVAC, microwave, refrigerator, etc. and never had a problem with any of it.

Click to expand...

Agree completely . The voltage drop , frequency drop and distorted wave form from an undersized and overloaded generator is what burns out electrical equipment .
Calculate the size of the generator and at least double the capacity .
Proper interlocked transfer switch instead of the double male suicide cord .

I did the same with my old Coleman 4000 watt. It coughed and sputtered for a week during winter in Mi. but kept my
hole place going including my barn and small farming operation. I just had to be careful what I was running at one
time. I had no after effects with computers or electronics which did amaze me. I did upgrade shortly after that
though.

Modern electronic stuff doesn't care where the voltage comes from.

The Inverter is very good for fuel economy, and to keep lights, refrigerator, freezer, heater blower motor running, but probably won't run your whole-house A/C. Also a lot less noise. Most, if not all, are portable, being lighter in weight, and are probably not designed for permanent installation.

The permanently installed units, when done CORRECTLY (a lot are not!) will give you enough power to run the whole house (other than electric heat) for an extended period of time. A larger size to run the whole house will not be very fuel efficient, however, under light loads.

PROPER maintenance is a key to reliable operation and longevity. Fuel choice is an issue, as well. LPG or natural gas is probably the preferred choice. LPG has no storage issues, but you have to calculate tank size for the amount of run time. A BBQ tank won't do here.

Natural gas depends upon your supplier; if they are having issues supplying the power grid providers, you are lower in the delivery que.

Gasoline and diesel have long-term storage issues. If there is a widespread power outage, most places from which gasoline or diesel is provided will not have any power to pump the fuel.

Sizing of your generator is dependent upon what you NEED to power when the grid goes down. What can you live without with no power, other than your generator.

Supplying that power to your house is an issue, as well. DO NOT - repeat - DO NOT use any type of double-ended (suicide) cord to provide power to your house by back feeding the stove or dryer outlet. You CAN severely injure or kill somebody doing that. The ONLY way to properly provide your house with power is using extension cords to the equipment (if a portable or not permanently installed set, or a properly installed transfer switch, be it a manual switch or automatic, A manual transfer switch can also be used with the portable unit.

I have been working on generators and installations since the 80's, so I have some knowledge about the subject. zuhnc

I use my portable welder as a generator which it is capable of. Is 8000 watt continuous use. I start things in a staggered use pattern meaning I turn all things off then ad them as they cycle so as to not over load the generator starting things. Usually with the well first then freezers and refrigerator and so on till all is on. Figuring all of it will not cycle at once. I have run the whole house on it just limit lights and things that can be limited like that. Did that for a week about 10 years ago now. everthing ran on it including computers with no problems. Computer is a desk top model.

I have a Miller bobcat welder with a 11000
watt generator. I have a long cord rolled
up outside the house like a water hose.i
just unroll it out to the driveway where I
park it on a trailer when the power goes
off

I wish to thank everyone for their replies. My daughter whom is a computer programmer brought up the thought of my needing an inverter type generator. I knew larger than calculated KW output generator is much better. I've calculated a 13 KW should be more than sufficient to power my 2 ton AC/heat pump, refrigerator & other necessary items. Unnecessary items such as water heater I can turn off until needed. I have a surge protector on several devices more especially my desk top computer I will have a regular generator on it's way to my place Monday.
Thank you ALL again for your replies. Jim

It is simply not true that you need an inverter generator to run a personal computer. In fact, a cheap inverter might put out dirtier power than a good conventional generator.

The main advantage of an inverter generator is noise. You and your neighbors will appreciate to low noise level of an inverter generator, and it's really the only kind you should use in town. The second advantage is fuel consumption. But both of those advantages disappear the more power you draw from the generator. A 6500 watt inverter will be about as loud and use about the same amount of fuel as a 6500 watt if they're both putting out 5000 watts. But most of the time you won't be running your generator near capacity and the inverter will be quieter and more economical.

Short answer: Get an inverter if noise bothers you or you have nearby neighbors. Otherwise, a conventional generator will be fine.

If you can't afford a power-related computer failure, get an uninterruptible power source. It will protect your computer all the time, not just when it's on the generator. Frankly, the odds are much greater that your PC will be zapped by grid power than by your generator.

I second the UPS (uninterrupted power source)
suggestion. If your computer is sensitive to abrupt power
removal , a UPS will keep it running long enough so you
can power it down properly before getting your generator
running or potentially keep it on while you get it running.

You're welcome Jim, best wishes and thanks for the feedback........As myself and others posted a non
inverter will work fine..

NOTE the other crucial considerations involve Grounding, Bonding, Safety and Method of Transfer (Auto or
Manual) but your electrician will know all that


John T