Generator Help requested..

[thatguy]

We are having our first extended power outage tonite in 6 yrs.. We are sitting here with tv, satellite box, a fan and a lamp running of the generator...

I have a Honda eu2000i and when I plug in my freezer it wont even try to start up - and this was with the 'eco' mode OFF.. 7 yrs ago it ran the same freezer but really grunted when it started up.. This was the only thing i was running at the time.. And yes i made sure the outlet was working

The gen will run the fridge with a slight grunt but then settles down and purrss away..

Is the freezer realizing there isnt enough juice to start up and just not even trying?

suggestions??

Brian

 

[samandmax]

I would hook up the freezer by itself. The load to start it may be too much. Start ups will draw alot more watts than when running.

 

[thatguy]

I would hook up the freezer by itself. The load to start it may be too much. Start ups will draw alot more watts than when running.

That is what I tried at first.. After it was not coming on I gave up and unhooked it and hooked up the fridge and then added the other stuff

brian

 

[kenmac]

unless something is wrong with the freezer or generator it should run the freezer with nothing else connected

 

[thatguy]

Power finally came back on last night around 3am.. The freezer started back up as soon as it did..

Gonna play with the generator this morning and see if i did something wrong yesterday.. The only thing I think could be wrong was that I did have 2 power cords coming off the generator - but one was not being used..

I am also using the thicket gauge extension cord available - i thinks its a 12 gauge or maybe 14..

brian

 

[thatguy]

I ran this morning just fine off of the generator.. BUT I just realized that I had a table lamp running at the same time last night.. Undoubtly that was just enough that it wouldnt power it up..

ANOTHER QUESTION - From looking online a deep freeze should be ok for 24 to 48 hrs without power - if you dont open the door.. How long would a deep freeze need to run on a generator to get cold enough again? Any minimum suggestions/thoughts?

thanks

Brian

 

[jonyyuma]

You are crowding that poor gen-set with a freezer. You should be certain that you use a #12 ga ext cord as short as possible. Coils in the cord also cause problems. Maybe you should buy a larger set, and split the load up so you can have lights too? you could try 4 hrs running, you need a remote thermometer, so you can tell without opening the door. Plus, IMHO, you are risking damage to the freezer with the starting of it? 10 cents worth.

 

[JB4310]

You mentioned you had eco mode off, I would think eco means economy and would use less power??

So maybe eco mode on would be better ?? just a thought

That is a fairly small generator for running household appliances, as mentioned start-up is a b**ch.

JB

 

[grsthegreat]

That gen set is 2000 watts max and rated at 1600 watts. A freezer should run around 500 watts, but an older freezer will run alot higher than a newer generation unit. Also the start up can be high on either one. Freezers actually use less power than most refrigerators. The average new refer runs at about 800 watts.

A #12 cord will be best to use with the loads. Personally, i don't like to use less than 5000 watt generators to protect the equipment starting loads.

 

[ctbigman]

From the Honda website, start-up wattage for an Energy Star freezer is 2200 watts. Older ones take more. Running watts are about 500.

 

[ctbigman]

JB4310, "Eco" in Honda means that as the draw by appliances is reduced, the generator RPM's slow down for fuel economy.

 

[radioman]

hmm, doesnt the freezer have a timer and thermostat? the freezer might be cold enough it didnt need to kick in yet. Only way to tell is call your manufacter of your freezer and ask.

 

[grsthegreat]

From the Honda website, start-up wattage for an Energy Star freezer is 2200 watts. Older ones take more. Running watts are about 500.

Thats would make sense why hes having problems with the freezer then...not enuf power. As Tim Taylor would say.....He needs MORE POWER.....:licking:

 

[JB4310]

JB4310, "Eco" in Honda means that as the draw by appliances is reduced, the generator RPM's slow down for fuel economy.

Oops, I thought he meant the eco mode was on the freezer.

I just helped a customer get his 2 Coleman 20 year old, 4500 watt gennys started after sitting, one for 10 years, which had the fuel left in it. The carb was a mess. but we got it running smoothly after some cleaning.

The other was in the original box, never used, put oil and fuel in it and it fired right up. He's worried about his sump pump. he has a 1/2 hp pump that is rated at 1500 watts, but start up could be 3 times that.

He is an older guy and feels he is all set now. I warned him he still has some challenges, he has to be able to move the thing around and be able to start it. plus he only bought 3 gallons of fuel, I told him he will need alot more than that if the power is out for any extended period of time.

I've got a hodgepodge of 4 generators from a 2200 portable Honda, to a 10 KVA pto driven.

JB

 

[George2615]

Your lucky you got by with a 2000W generator as long as you did. I have a 5KW generator that would run everything in the house (fridge, freezer, lights, well pump, etc.) but when power goes out on a hot day its nice to have A/C and my 5KW was sold to a neighbor and I bought a 10KW Bobcat welder/generator. That will run everything in my house including 2 window A/C's. The surge amps of a freezer or fridge compressor on start up has probably pushed the limits of your 2KW. A TV, satellite box, fan and light won't have a problem.
My opinion is its time to upgrade to a larger generator.

 

[grsthegreat]

Your lucky you got by with a 2000W generator as long as you did. I have a 5KW generator that would run everything in the house (fridge, freezer, lights, well pump, etc.) but when power goes out on a hot day its nice to have A/C and my 5KW was sold to a neighbor and I bought a 10KW Bobcat welder/generator. That will run everything in my house including 2 window A/C's. The surge amps of a freezer or fridge compressor on start up has probably pushed the limits of your 2KW. A TV, satellite box, fan and light won't have a problem.
My opinion is its time to upgrade to a larger generator.

Yup...fully agree. I didn't include my heat pump/ac to my gen panel due to its ridiculously large start up amperage (80 - 100 amps recorded for extremely short time). But my gen set runs my entire house lighting load, gas igniter's (gas cook-top, gas water heater, gas furnace backup to heat pump), entertainment center, micro, refrigerator and deep freezer, and for some reason my Christmas lights. so we stay comfy during the many blackouts we get here in the pacific northwest.

 

[thatguy]

hmm, doesnt the freezer have a timer and thermostat? the freezer might be cold enough it didnt need to kick in yet. Only way to tell is call your manufacter of your freezer and ask.

you can hear the freezer humming quite loudly all the time.. and you really dont hear the compressor cut in/out running on household current..

This morning I could hear the freezer humming when running off the generator - I can only assume that having 2 cords plugged into the generator (the other cord was running a table lamp with a CFL bulb ~20watts) last night somehow kept it from running the freezer..

Brian

 

[thatguy]

Long term I will inherit (or can borrow) my dad's eu2000... IF i had thought of it i would have gotten his last night (he had borrowed mine so we met so i could get mine back) and the parallel kit..

With both of them I could run the freezer and fridge without issues....

Brian

 

[Lloyd_E]

More power is better.
Just filled the gen with fresh gas and ran it for about 15 minutes.
It's a Hyundai 7250 watt electric and manual start. It is wired to house with a manual
conversion switch. We can run entire house with this unit but it still grunts occasionally.
Especially with a coffee marker(1500watts). Tomorrow we will start to get organized for Irene`s arrival - knowing her attitude - if she was a relative I would turn her away!

We run the following:
well pump, furnace, fridge, a few outlets on main floor plus 2nd floor including lights(we switched over to low wattage bulbs years ago)computers, tv, lights, stereo, microwave etc. Freezer is hooked in separate - dedicated line. Our kitchen range is gas/propane.

You definitely need more power...

 

[Financegal]

More power is better.
Just filled the gen with fresh gas and ran it for about 15 minutes.
It's a Hyundai 7250 watt electric and manual start. It is wired to house with a manual
conversion switch. We can run entire house with this unit but it still grunts occasionally.
Especially with a coffee marker(1500watts). Tomorrow we will start to get organized for Irene`s arrival - knowing her attitude - if she was a relative I would turn her away!

We run the following:
well pump, furnace, fridge, a few outlets on main floor plus 2nd floor including lights(we switched over to low wattage bulbs years ago)computers, tv, lights, stereo, microwave etc. Freezer is hooked in separate - dedicated line. Our kitchen range is gas/propane.

You definitely need more power...

I have a 7000watt/8750 Briggs & Stratton that pretty much runs the whole house also. The coffee pot reference is funny. Last time I was hooked into the transfer switch, I figured why tempt fate, so now keep a jar of Maxwell House instant coffee onhand. Water can be heated up in the microwave - not ideal but . . . can't do w/o it and hey, coffee, any coffee is better than nothing!