Portable propane generators

[distrovol]

Is an Emgen one of the permanently-installed generators? I'm looking at the portables (assuming that 60 lbs is portable for folks in their 70's.) The figures I've seen on dual-fuel do list higher figures for gasoline than propane, if that's what you mean. I'm going with those figures (the lower ones.)

Emgen is just a trade shorthand for emergency generator. And yes, using propane fuel on an equivalent generator will yield a lower KW capacity since it isn’t as efficient combustion fuel as gasoline.

 

[VolNExile]

Emgen is just a trade shorthand for emergency generator. And yes, using propane fuel on an equivalent generator will yield a lower KW capacity since it isn’t an efficient combustion fuel as gasoline.

Pros and cons to both, of course.

 

[tntar heel]

With the setup working this am.

 

[tntar heel]

2

 

[VolNExile]

With the setup working this am.

Nice! So is the first pic here the permanent access to your panel? I can't remember if you have the transfer switch. If so, this means that you just unplug it from the house, so to speak, when it's time to put it away, right?

It's so weird trying to figure how this is all set up when the manufacturers assume a ton of prior knowledge that I don't have.

How far from your windows etc. do you set it up when you're preparing to run it? The 20' I keep seeing seems like a number that a lot of people "naw, dawg" in practice.

 

[VolNExile]

Anyone installing a plug for a generator take this advice and be sure to install the switch to prevent back feeding into the grid.

I had a friend/ acquaintance back in my South Knox county days, a dad of two girls in my Girl Scout troop. He was a former (note "former") KUB lineman missing multiple fingers from a back feeding incident. (Don't know the cause.)

The switch is number one priority.

(Not to mention avoiding a half-dozen extension cords snaking all over the place.)

 

[hog88]

I had a friend/ acquaintance back in my South Knox county days, a dad of two girls in my Girl Scout troop. He was a former (note "former") KUB lineman missing multiple fingers from a back feeding incident. (Don't know the cause.)

The switch is number one priority.

(Not to mention avoiding a half-dozen extension cords snaking all over the place.)

We did a whole house Generac in 2020. I swear it fixed the entire grid in our neighborhood, went from at least 3-4 outages a year to nothing once we put that thing in.
Finaly paid off after the Dec 2023 tornado.

 

[tntar heel]

We did a whole house Generac in 2020. I swear it fixed the entire grid in our neighborhood, went from at least 3-4 outages a year to nothing once we put that thing in.
Finaly paid off after the Dec 2023 tornado.

since installing. This is the first real time using in 2 years other than I test run it quarterly.

 

[VolNExile]

2

This bad boy is currently showing as out of stock wherever I look, alas.

We had generally decided on a Honda (yes, we know about the prices), until I found that (1) it's really hard to search on their site for a dual (or three) fuel generator and (2) they don't include the size and options we want. So onward to the Chondas!

I'm having a hard time finding the right combination of features for a Firman. Anyone know anything about the reliability of Champions? One thing that looks attractive is the option for parallel hookups. Honda has this but requires that the added gen be the identical model to the first. Champion just says "any inverter" (this needs further research, of course.) I do like the option of growing the system, especially when it's not a couple thousand plus a pop.

 

[hog88]

since installing. This is the first real time using in 2 years other than I test run it quarterly.

It wasn't more than a month after we had it installed that the power company started upgrading the poles/lines and trimming trees. Pretty much eliminated our outages, I think my neighbors should have slipped me some cash.

 

[VolNExile]

We did a whole house Generac in 2020. I swear it fixed the entire grid in our neighborhood, went from at least 3-4 outages a year to nothing once we put that thing in.
Finaly paid off after the Dec 2023 tornado.

If you don't mind my asking, how much total did the Generac (installation and all) run? I'd feel pretty stupid if after all is said and done, one of these wouldn't have been that much more.

As for payoff, until we fully restock the freezer, I don't have a specific figure to cover it, but the food lost in the freezer will probably cost $800-1,000 to replace, and then there's the fridge. To me, that's payoff right there.

 

[hog88]

This bad boy is currently showing as out of stock wherever I look, alas.

We had generally decided on a Honda (yes, we know about the prices), until I found that (1) it's really hard to search on their site for a dual (or three) fuel generator and (2) they don't include the size and options we want. So onward to the Chondas!

I'm having a hard time finding the right combination of features for a Firman. Anyone know anything about the reliability of Champions? One thing that looks attractive is the option for parallel hookups. Honda has this but requires that the added gen be the identical model to the first. Champion just says "any inverter" (this needs further research, of course.) I do like the option of growing the system, especially when it's not a couple thousand plus a pop.

Check out Champion generators. Good product and reasonably priced, you can also find them at almost any RV dealer. After the Dec tornado when all the hardware stores were out our son went to Camping World and they still had a good supply.

 

[hog88]

If you don't mind my asking, how much total did the Generac (installation and all) run? I'd feel pretty stupid if after all is said and done, one of these wouldn't have been that much more.

As for payoff, until we fully restock the freezer, I don't have a specific figure to cover it, but the food lost in the freezer will probably cost $800-1,000 to replace, and then there's the fridge. To me, that's payoff right there.

It was right at 10k for a 24kw (I think) unit. It's the largest air cooled Generac made at the time. The 10k was all in, machine and installation plus a 7 year warranty if you contact Genrac directly and let them refer a dealer.

 

[VolNExile]

It was right at 10k for a 24kw (I think) unit. It's the largest air cooled Generac made at the time. The 10k was all in, machine and installation plus a 7 year warranty if you contact Genrac directly and let them refer a dealer.

Thanks! That is very useful for taking this option off the list.

We don't (yet) have enough multi-day outages to make that a good purchase. We are now at the ages (74 and 70) where we try not to pay a lot for things that will outlive us. lol

 

[hog88]

Thanks! That is very useful for taking this option off the list.

We don't (yet) have enough multi-day outages to make that a good purchase. We are now at the ages (74 and 70) where we try not to pay a lot for things that will outlive us. lol

Makes sense.

 

[tntar heel]

Nice! So is the first pic here the permanent access to your panel? I can't remember if you have the transfer switch. If so, this means that you just unplug it from the house, so to speak, when it's time to put it away, right?

It's so weird trying to figure how this is all set up when the manufacturers assume a ton of prior knowledge that I don't have.

How far from your windows etc. do you set it up when you're preparing to run it? The 20' I keep seeing seems like a number that a lot of people "naw, dawg" in practice.

The first picture is the inlet box. Think of it like a normal outlet but instead of having a female receptacle it is a male receptacle. This prevents you from carrying a live plug if you don't follow instructions and plug into the generator first.
The inlet box has three wires that run over to main breaker box and is attached to the breaker with the yellow sticker. The metal piece slides up when I flip the main power switch to off.once I move the line breaker to off and slide the metal piece up, I am then able to turn on the generator breaker. Close the box and start the generator. I then plug in the yellow cord to the generator and the inlet box. I then turn on what breakers I want to run in the breaker box in the garage. Oh yeah first step is to turn all breakers off in the breaker box.
The process is just done in reverse to disconnect from generator power and return to main power grid.

 

[tntar heel]

Pretty good explanation on why I chose propane.

 

[VolNExile]

I'll watch it later (22 minutes! ), but yeah, I want propane, or at any rate dual fuel, because among others:
- gasoline generators don't like ethanol
- stabilizing gasoline
- gunking up the carb and jets
- I'd rather store plenty of propane than multiple cans of gasoline (ka-boom)
- it took FOREVER to get gas stations open here this time
- if they had had power, and if all four interstates had been blocked, they would have run out immediately
- I hope never to have power+water outages again, but spilled gasoline on hands with Purell as a clean-up option; ugh

I found this a couple of days ago and thought it was pretty helpful: Benefits and Drawbacks of Propane as Generator Fuel Source - Midwest Generator Solutions

 

[tntar heel]

This is a decent explanation of the difference between interlock and manual transfer switch.

 

[tntar heel]

I'll watch it later (22 minutes! ), but yeah, I want propane, or at any rate dual fuel, because among others:
- gasoline generators don't like ethanol
- stabilizing gasoline
- gunking up the carb and jets
- I'd rather store plenty of propane than multiple cans of gasoline (ka-boom)
- it took FOREVER to get gas stations open here this time
- if they had had power, and if all four interstates had been blocked, they would have run out immediately
- I hope never to have power+water outages again, but spilled gasoline on hands with Purell as a clean-up option; ugh

I found this a couple of days ago and thought it was pretty helpful: Benefits and Drawbacks of Propane as Generator Fuel Source - Midwest Generator Solutions

Actually the first 4 minutes or so explains the difference of fuels.

 

[tntar heel]

I'll watch it later (22 minutes! ), but yeah, I want propane, or at any rate dual fuel, because among others:
- gasoline generators don't like ethanol
- stabilizing gasoline
- gunking up the carb and jets
- I'd rather store plenty of propane than multiple cans of gasoline (ka-boom)
- it took FOREVER to get gas stations open here this time
- if they had had power, and if all four interstates had been blocked, they would have run out immediately
- I hope never to have power+water outages again, but spilled gasoline on hands with Purell as a clean-up option; ugh

I found this a couple of days ago and thought it was pretty helpful: Benefits and Drawbacks of Propane as Generator Fuel Source - Midwest Generator Solutions

Seems you understand already. Sorry if I was mansplainin.

 

[UT_Dutchman]

Check out Champion generators. Good product and reasonably priced, you can also find them at almost any RV dealer. After the Dec tornado when all the hardware stores were out our son went to Camping World and they still had a good supply.

This is what I was going to add, I have a Champion dual fuel that I have used for the last few years. 3500 max, 63 Db's , runs about 10hrs on 20lb propane tank and 14 hrs on 5 gal of fuel.

 

[VolNExile]

Seems you understand already. Sorry if I was mansplainin.

No, not at all! (I’ve been mansplained at, lol, and this definitely wasn’t it.) My knowledge so far is the equivalent of book-learning, so all this is very, very helpful!

 

[distrovol]

It was right at 10k for a 24kw (I think) unit. It's the largest air cooled Generac made at the time. The 10k was all in, machine and installation plus a 7 year warranty if you contact Genrac directly and let them refer a dealer.

Did you go propane or petrol?

 

[hog88]

Did you go propane or petrol?

Natural gas. They hooked it into our house NG supply line. It comes on automatically after the power is out more than a minute.