Portable Generators

[buickanddeere]

My SIL has a generator with electric start, and rope start.
It is about 8HP.

He is glad it has electric start even though it has no battery.
He can pull start it, but, his wife can jump start it off the garden tractor
So, everybody is happy!!

Starting batteries are not prohibitively expensive . What does the generator's charging system do when there is no battery?

 

[4570Man]

Starting batteries are not prohibitively expensive . What does the generator's charging system do when there is no battery?

I have ran equipment without a battery. Once you get it started as long as the charging system is working it will run.

 

[CADplans]

Starting batteries are not prohibitively expensive . What does the generator's charging system do when there is no battery?

The charging circuit is a little flywheel alternator,, not much output.
It basically does nothing with no battery.
The charging circuit is nothing like a full blown alternator,, output is something like 3 amps.

 

[buickanddeere]

My point is that it's still not a good idea to open circuit the system .the battery is supposed to be there to absorb voltage spikes .

 

[CADplans]

My point is that it's still not a good idea to open circuit the system .the battery is supposed to be there to absorb voltage spikes .

I agree,, that is VERY true with a real charging system,, but, with only 40 watts of energy,,,
it is a non-issue.

I have had at least 6 engines with non-connected 12 volt supplies,, it has never been a problem.

Almost every lawn mower engine has such an output for lights,,,
most are never used.
Actually, if the lawn mower has lights, and they are not turned on,,,
it is the identical situation.

 

[dragoneggs]

Speaking of electric (key) start, I do really love me Honda EU3000is. But I learned long ago that you need to put a battery tender on it or you will be pull starting whenever you need it unless you use it very regularly.

 

[TheMan419]

Speaking of electric (key) start, I do really love me Honda EU3000is. But I learned long ago that you need to put a battery tender on it or you will be pull starting whenever you need it unless you use it very regularly.

Yeah I have a portable. It has a built in battery tender. Of course I did not plug it in.... so the one time I have needed it due to power outage I had to pull start it. It stays plugged in now.

 

[DieselBound]

Yeah I have a portable. It has a built in battery tender. Of course I did not plug it in.... so the one time I have needed it due to power outage I had to pull start it. It stays plugged in now.

I'm chuckling because I have a generator with a block heater, electric! It wasn't intended for backup [home] power, but that's what I'm going to be using it for.

 

[DieselBound]

I'm confused. Is this a Honda mfg. generator, or a generator with a Honda motor on it??

Lots of folks sell generators with Honda motors, but that doesn't make them a Honda generator.

SR

I've got an Onan/Cummins generator. It's got a Kubota diesel engine in it! Talk about confusion here when trying to get parts! (got it this past year; it was built in 1993) 7.5kw unit. Have yet to see how it does with my well pump (1/2hp).

 

[Pettrix]

Agreed, but he keeps calling it a "Honda generator" and I'm betting it's not up to the quality of a REAL Honda generator.

SR

It has a HONDA GX 390 engine and a NORTHSTAR GEN SET but the GENERATOR has oversized Brushless Copper windings and copper heads. The Generator is actually made in Italy. The generator comes with a 4 year warranty

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I bought a propane powered generator with a B&S engine. I can't imagine ever putting enough hours on it for the engine to be a problem. Propane derates the engine, which is rated at 13 hp propane. It's the same engine as the one on my riding mower that is rated at 17 hp burning gasoline. Propane does not shove acid into the motor oil, and does not contaminate the oil with partially burned hydrocarbons. It will never have a carburetor problem. I have been impressed with Honda gasoline engines. I used to work construction, and a 5 hp Honda on an Emglo compressor ran a whole construction crew's air nailers, impact wrenches and staplers for years with no problem. For home emergency power use though, I am perfectly comfortable with a propane powered Briggs and Stratton.

 

[dragoneggs]

I bought a propane powered generator with a B&S engine. I can't imagine ever putting enough hours on it for the engine to be a problem. Propane derates the engine, which is rated at 13 hp propane. It's the same engine as the one on my riding mower that is rated at 17 hp burning gasoline. Propane does not shove acid into the motor oil, and does not contaminate the oil with partially burned hydrocarbons. It will never have a carburetor problem. I have been impressed with Honda gasoline engines. I used to work construction, and a 5 hp Honda on an Emglo compressor ran a whole construction crew's air nailers, impact wrenches and staplers for years with no problem. For home emergency power use though, I am perfectly comfortable with a propane powered Briggs and Stratton.

Propane would be the way I go if I ever decide to go to a whole house gen setup. Mainly because I have the fuel already on site and easy to plumb.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Propane would be the way I go if I ever decide to go to a whole house gen setup. Mainly because I have the fuel already on site and easy to plumb.

Yeah, propane eliminates fuel storage problems. I have thought about getting a PTO generator for the tractor, but don't really need that much electricity. At the most, during a power outage we will run a generator about 4 hours a day, long enough to take hot showers and run the freezer for a while. We still have wood heat and low head gravity feed water, so the comfort level of our house is just fine with oil lamps and the coffee pot on the wood stove. I suppose with a PTO generator I could run the heat pump, but our power outages pretty much happen in the winter, unless wildfire takes out the transmission lines.

 

[CADplans]

About 5 years ago,, we switched to a propane kitchen stove.
A generator would have fits if the wife turned on a couple burners of the electric range, and the oven.
Now, the generator just needs to spark the igniter.

The other plus is the wife REALLY likes cooking on propane flame much better.

 

[dragoneggs]

About 5 years ago,, we switched to a propane kitchen stove. A generator would have fits if the wife turned on a couple burners of the electric range, and the oven. Now, the generator just needs to spark the igniter. The other plus is the wife REALLY likes cooking on propane flame much better.

Yes hard to back to electric, once one cooks with gas!

 

[Pettrix]

Yes hard to back to electric, once one cooks with gas!

Once you cook with INDUCTION ELECTRIC then you will never go back to gas. One can boil water in 70 seconds with induction. No carbon monoxide by-products like that with gas. No safety issues. No explosive gases.

 

[ultrarunner]

One would think... my friends retired Mom bought a home to be close to the Grandchildren and it came with an induction range and she had it removed... said she was not going to learn how to cook again.

 

[ultrarunner]

I was given a small winco natural gas genset with a 30 amp auto transfer that dated from 1980... ran good and started instantly... it was very loud single cylinder and they needed something not so loud so out it went.

Never did anything with it but should look into how to make the exhaust not so loud.... because it is much to loud for a residential area.

 

[Midniteoyl]

I was given a small winco natural gas genset with a 30 amp auto transfer that dated from 1980... ran good and started instantly... it was very loud single cylinder and they needed something not so loud so out it went.

Never did anything with it but should look into how to make the exhaust not so loud.... because it is much to loud for a residential area.

You need something like this to get the noise up and away.. : Amazon.com: Camco 44461 Gen-Turi Generator Exhaust Venting System: Automotive

There are sites that tell how to make on for much, much, cheaper: How to Make a Homemade RV Gen-Turi for Peace of Mind

 

[buickanddeere]

I agree,, that is VERY true with a real charging system,, but, with only 40 watts of energy,,,
it is a non-issue.

I have had at least 6 engines with non-connected 12 volt supplies,, it has never been a problem.

Almost every lawn mower engine has such an output for lights,,,
most are never used.
Actually, if the lawn mower has lights, and they are not turned on,,,
it is the identical situation.

High or low current capacity or not. It is the damage from high voltage spikes present when there is no battery to act as a filter and surge arrestor.