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Home backup power generator recommendations

K

K1200RS

Well-known member
After the power outage last night, I got to thinking that maybe it is time to get a backup power generator set. The choices are diesel, gas, or natural gas. Does anyone have any recommendations as to which fuel type to use?

Also, the diesel gen sets from places like Princess Auto (for around a thousand dollars) look ridiculously cheap. Does anyone have any experience with these Chinese-manufacture diesel gen sets?

I assume that the installation of a system would also require electrical switchgear (a transfer switch) to isolate the backup system from the grid (not a good idea to start frying lineman as I hear they are expensive to replace). I have a garage that is separate from my house. Is that the best place for it? If so, that would also require wiring to connect the garage to the electrical power in the house. I guess the transfer switch would also be best located alongside the mains breaker panel.

Another option I am considering is to install a solar panel set and batteries. The panels would charge the batteries and an inverter would take the battery power and convert it to household AC. Then, if I needed a backup generator, I could be looking at a smaller gen set that would be used solely to recharge the batteries (and that capacity would be based in part on how soon the mains power could be restored or when there would be sufficient light for the panels to use to charge the batteries).

Any advice or recommendations are appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
 
First, you have to ask yourself, do i wanna power my house in such a way as if the power was never out....aka, ac running, fridge, water heater if electric, furnace etc etc.

If not, then you are looking at power shedding to minimize load. If you are willing to power shed all but the most essential things, the cheapest solution is a 3K or so generator backfeeding through a plug to the main panel, where the main breaker was tripped to stop backfeeding the grid, at that point your house is technically powered, but you will only be able to run a few major things....3K @ 120V = 25A. That will power a fridge, lights etc. No microwave running, no power tools etc etc.

How big is your house? Size of the panel? What critical things do you want to run.

I have a small 800W genny that i pull out, put on the back porch and feed a power cable in to the fridge in case of emergencies.
 
I would say don't bother with purchasing a generator. Power outages don't last long enough for people to be severely impacted IMO.

If it ever comes to that then it'll be like an apocalyptic situation and you may steal it.

Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk 4 Beta
 
If you are buying a generator for infrastructure emergencies (like yesterdays flooding) don't get natural gas, a lot of houses had their gas turned off yesterday due to flooding.

I can't imagine the solar panel/battery system being cost effective. The batteries will probably need to be replaced every few years, which means that the one time they helped you out cost you something like $1000.

Personally, if I plan on maintaining the power while I am around, an EU2000 and extension cord is just about perfect. It starts every time, it's affordable and it has enough to run the fridge to keep the food safe.

If I want my home protected while I am away, then I would be into a generator with automatic transfer switch for way more money. This raises more fueling questions, go with liquid fuel (gas/diesel) and almost certainly only have enough for a day or two or go with gas and have infinite supply (assuming it doesn't get shut off), both have advantages and disadvantages.

The best solution is probably a sausage of propane for your generator, large supply (a month or more likely), hard for people to steal and the fuel doesn't go bad. This will also be the most expensive solution.
 
moarmoto said:
I would say don't bother with purchasing a generator. Power outages don't last long enough for people to be severely impacted IMO.

If it ever comes to that then it'll be like an apocalyptic situation and you may steal it.

Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...

I guess you can't remember as far back as 2003: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_blackout_of_2003

I wasn't in the country at the time, but friends tell me that they were forced to bbq everything in their freezer and drink all of their beer before it got too warm and went bad -- I can't imagine the horror! ;-)
 
http://www.generac.com/

I've got one of these for the cottage as it's a remote location and power outages are frequent (sometimes a day or 2 before it comes back on) and I need at least the sump/water pumps working. I have it attached to a 500lb propane tank (which I hook up to my bbq anyway). Yeah it's not the cheapest solution, but it works every time (even does a self test weekly to ensure it works). I have it just off the side of the house, behind a back deck and you can barely hear it running. Powers main lights, well/sump pumps and kitchen, the rest doesn't need power.
 
Regarding batteries that go bad = Edison batteries.

Regarding fuel supply, regular generator converted to run on propane. Keep a few 20lbs propane tanks ready and you're good to go. Propane keeps a lot longer than gasoline. Conversion kits are about $200.
 
There was a thread about this a while ago.
solar/battery works fine if your using it all the time, we had a cottage setup, was about 3k to install and was good, but required attention
diesel keeps a LONG time compared to gasoline and is very efficient but you need to have a place to burn the fuel about every three yrs when it needs changed. Plus you need a can of deisel sitting around.
Propane has benefit as you can BBQ with it and it keeps forever, but the 20lb tanks out date, and do you want a 100/200lb tank sitting around?

If you leave the fridge and freezer closed , you can go about 24hrs, then the freezer is just a cooler.

I grew up on a remote dead end road and we owned the power lines and poles that came in from the road about a 1/2k, longest outage in 30yrs was 24hrs.
I have had a backup gen now for 10yrs in Milton, its never been used to backup a power outage.
 
Generac 3250 genny. Gasoline powered. Dedicated 220 8/3 wire straight to the panel. Continue living like nothing has happened. Obviously won't power ac or hot tub, but no problems running fridge, freezer, furnace etc. depending on draw of course. Worst case cycle them. But full lights, Internet, tv etc. doubles as my track genny. Runs about 10 hrs at 1/2 load.
 
Diesel said:
I guess you can't remember as far back as 2003: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_blackout_of_2003

I wasn't in the country at the time, but friends tell me that they were forced to bbq everything in their freezer and drink all of their beer before it got too warm and went bad -- I can't imagine the horror! ;-)
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I mean. Time to go back to the basics and take a break from electrified society that we live in (ironically I work in the electricity/utility industry).

Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk 4 Beta
 
Transfer switch at the panel wired to the location of your generator. Your needs/budget determine what you can power....a 200 amp setup is going to be pricey.
Most importantly get someone who know what they are doing to install it. Make sure there is a permit or you could end up with a death trap.

Red_Liner740 said:
First, you have to ask yourself, do i wanna power my house in such a way as if the power was never out....aka, ac running, fridge, water heater if electric, furnace etc etc.

If not, then you are looking at power shedding to minimize load. If you are willing to power shed all but the most essential things, the cheapest solution is a 3K or so generator backfeeding through a plug to the main panel, where the main breaker was tripped to stop backfeeding the grid, at that point your house is technically powered, but you will only be able to run a few major things....3K @ 120V = 25A. That will power a fridge, lights etc. No microwave running, no power tools etc etc.

How big is your house? Size of the panel? What critical things do you want to run.

I have a small 800W genny that i pull out, put on the back porch and feed a power cable in to the fridge in case of emergencies.
Click to expand...

You suggest back feeding a panel through an extension cord?

Wow.

Like I said, someone who knows what they are doing.
 
01cbr said:
You suggest back feeding a panel through an extension cord?
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If using a small generator (say a EU2000) what do you think would happen if you didn't shut off the main breaker?

I am thinking the minute the power went to the line and the houses around you, the generator would trip it's own breaker... in a millisecond.
 
eastcoast_gsx said:
If using a small generator (say a EU2000) what do you think would happen if you didn't shut off the main breaker?

I am thinking the minute the power went to the line and the houses around you, the generator would trip it's own breaker... in a millisecond.
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Well how much current does it take to kill a person?

Also when your backfeeding the entire grid how do you expect to power anything in your own home?

BTW, breakers dont trip that fast. In the time it takes the average 15 amp breaker to trip you will see 100 + amps on a clamp meter....way more than that for a millisecond.
 
Selective reading i see, what part of tripping the main breaker isolating the house from the grid didnt you read?

I said in an EMERGENCY situation where that is the only option.

BTW my neighbour is a licenced electrican with his own company, we shot the **** for 2 hours, bouncing ideas around about how to feed the house during power outages.

HE was the one that said in an emergency, that is the fastest, simplest way to do it, but he said and i quote "For obvious reasons, only YOU should do this and nobody else should touch it"

Man i keep editing my post...

And another thing, where did i say to use an extension cord?

Read up on back up gennies, there are prescribed auxilary panel units that have a dedicated plug you run your genny output line to which is hardwired into your panel, it included main grid disconnect which as soon as it detects genny power trips the grid input.

You can get off your holier than thou horse now.
 
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Red_Liner740 said:
Selective reading i see, what part of tripping the main breaker isolating the house from the grid didnt you read?

I said in an EMERGENCY situation where that is the only option.
Click to expand...

That is NEVER legal.

When we back feed panels the feeds a disconnected.

A breaker is not a safe means of disconnect between two different power sources.
 
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Red_Liner740 said:
BTW my neighbour is a licenced electrican with his own company, we shot the **** for 2 hours, bouncing ideas around about how to feed the house during power outages.

HE was the one that said in an emergency, that is the fastest, simplest way to do it, but he said and i quote "For obvious reasons, only YOU should do this and nobody else should touch it"
Click to expand...

either this story is BS or your neighbor is an idiot.

Which plug are you going to backfeed from exactly? A standard 15A receptacle? There are reasons why this wont even work.

If hydro or ESA ever got wind of a setup like that they would pop your meter and ask you to schedule and inspection when your electrical will pass to get your power back.
 
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Red_Liner740 said:
Selective reading i see, what part of tripping the main breaker isolating the house from the grid didnt you read?

I said in an EMERGENCY situation where that is the only option.

BTW my neighbour is a licenced electrican with his own company, we shot the **** for 2 hours, bouncing ideas around about how to feed the house during power outages.

HE was the one that said in an emergency, that is the fastest, simplest way to do it, but he said and i quote "For obvious reasons, only YOU should do this and nobody else should touch it"

Man i keep editing my post...

And another thing, where did i say to use an extension cord?

Read up on back up gennies, there are prescribed auxilary panel units that have a dedicated plug you run your genny output line to which is hardwired into your panel, it included main grid disconnect which as soon as it detects genny power trips the grid input.

You can get off your holier than thou horse now.
Click to expand...

Its called a transfer switch.....you can stop back peddling now.

Thats a far cry from " backfeeding through a plug to the main panel, where the main breaker was tripped to stop backfeeding the grid,"

I dont need to "read up" on it....I have installed many....mostly commercial.

Just correcting your horrible advice.
 
Everything you assumed, you assumed in the worst way possible...

and btw, if me and my family are freezing due to a power outage, i'm sure to let them freeze to death because of legalities.

01cbr said:
Its called a transfer switch.....you can stop back peddling now.

Thats a far cry from " backfeeding through a plug to the main panel, where the main breaker was tripped to stop backfeeding the grid,"

I dont need to "read up" on it....I have installed many....mostly commercial.

Just correcting your horrible advice.
Click to expand...
 
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