Lessons from this year's snowmageddon

[LittleBill21]

@RalphVa do you have a amp meter to determine actually amperage? is the .67 out of spec for consumption? how many hours on it? why not a 50 gallon barrel and have a truck come deliver? how often do you go through this much fuel?

 

[TheMan419]

@5030

Idk if you realize this since people love this "screamer comment" Inverter generators can rev up and over 4k rpm, to meet demand at their top load. they rev lower only when loads are very low.

they use a dc alternator and a inverter board to create power. and when my inverter generators are at full load ( dual 2200 units), they are almost as loud as my built in 3600 rpm onan screamer. lol

I sure don't get the "screamer" comments either. I have a 3600 rpm generator. It is situated such that I don't relaly hear it running when the power is out. Also it is a sweet sweet sound when the power is out because it measn I have power.

 

[JethroB]

I’ve only used a generator once at home. It was after Hurricane Michael passed in 2018 west of me and I lost power for four days. It was October so the weather was decent the first 3 days then the heat and humidity returned. A friend had loaned me his spare 3600 rpm Craftsman ‘screamer’ with a 25 ft heavy cord. I was very grateful to have it but it sure was nice to shut off at bedtime.

 

[hosspuller]

We were out of power for 5.5 days... The longest outage in 24 years. Our power line from road was down. Power was restored at the road, but the storm took out a lot of customers, so we were among the last to be restored. Used a Honda 3000I to power TV, computer, internet, lights, refrigerator & freezer. Most of the time the Honda was part load, so the hum wasn't noticeable.
Originally bought the Honda for camping at horse events. Noise is critical there. The Honda is expensive but quiet.

The Honda inverter produces clean power suitable for delicate electronics like the TV. The Generac 4000 is noisy, produces dirty power but also produces 240 volts. The Honda doesn't. Need it for the well pump.

This is a "good what if " exercise for everybody on the forum. Consider what one does for cooking, heating, cooling, communication, entertainment, drinking, civil unrest, etc. Can one get out to the main road if driveway is blocked by downed trees, snow drifts, flood water etc. Power outages used to be rare. Seems the power grid is more fragile these days. And we're more dependent on electricity.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

@5030

Idk if you realize this since people love this "screamer comment" Inverter generators can rev up and over 4k rpm, to meet demand at their top load. they rev lower only when loads are very low.

they use a dc alternator and a inverter board to create power. and when my inverter generators are at full load ( dual 2200 units), they are almost as loud as my built in 3600 rpm onan screamer. lol

That's why generators are such a nuisance. Who wants to hear a generator running during or after a heavy snowfall? Even traffic noises fall silent if cars can't get down the road. One of the things I love about my home is the hours when the only sounds are the water in the creek, the wind in the trees, and the occasional bird or animal cry.

I sympathize with people in the South where the heat during an outage can be life threatening.

 

[LittleBill21]

That's why generators are such a nuisance. Who wants to hear a generator running during or after a heavy snowfall? Even traffic noises fall silent if cars can't get down the road. One of the things I love about my home is the hours when the only sounds are the water in the creek, the wind in the trees, and the occasional bird or animal cry.

I sympathize with people in the South where the heat during an outage can be life threatening.

Ironically, I find the inverters more annoying, when running 2 of them ( needed on average for me) they get "out of sync" with their tones, think of what a harley sounds like. because they rev up and down independently(loads are not perfectly shared), there is a bit of resonance, to which I actually find more irritable, tie that with potential constant rev changes (different loads coming on), I actually notice them more then my 8k, its significantly louder, but seems to be easier to tune out (if you have to listen to it).

That said I agree with Larry, my stuff gets turned off as soon as possible, or not pulled out unless a very long outage (not a easy flip over to generator)

 

[Jstpssng]

That's why generators are such a nuisance. Who wants to hear a generator running during or after a heavy snowfall? Even traffic noises fall silent if cars can't get down the road. One of the things I love about my home is the hours when the only sounds are the water in the creek, the wind in the trees, and the occasional bird or animal cry.

I sympathize with people in the South where the heat during an outage can be life threatening.

Try visiting a remote campground, the da$$ed things are everywhere, usually pointed directly at my tent because they respect other generator users. WTH would you go remote camping if all that you want to do is watch the ball game?

 

[cqaigy2]

We did pretty much as Larry said. LED lamps, one fluorescent camp lamp and propane camp stove. Also have 1000 gallons up the hill from us. One Aladdin, not used anymore because of wood stove and gobbs of wood to burn. Dual fuel, propane, gasoline generator that gets run intermittently. Worked fine for 2 1/2 weeks no power, 1 week before getting all the trees and power lines out of the way to make it into town for some soda and some snacks.

 

[RalphVa]

I advise against using a 0W-30 oil designed for passenger car DPF engines. Your recommended oil is 10W-30, Specifications ACEA E6, E9, API CK-4, CJ-4, CI-4 Plus, SN

The Napa oil filter # should be 1334.

Zerex G-05 is a good coolant to use.

M1 0w30 ESP is for gasoline and light diesel engines. Our tractors would qualify as light diesel engines. ACEA C3

 

[CADplans]

Thinking about getting a pallet and some bolt-on pallet forks (maybe get pallet forks with new tractor planned for this year). Put sides on the pallet. Use grounding straps at service station to put on each 5 gallon container on the pallet to ground to metal on the truck while fueling in bed of the truck. Use pallet forks to lift out of back of truck and carry to fence where generator is. Use 12v or hand pump to transfer from containers to diesel tank. LOTS less expensive than buying anything else.

If you price cheapo 5 gallon jugs, this is not much different in price, from Amazon,,

A couple of these tanks, and forget handling any more 5 gallon jugs!!