- Thread starter David G
- Start date
The neighbor across from me has one hooked to the gas line. Trying to remember if it was three or four years ago when we had the last long term outage. I just ran one of my little ones for fridge and stuff. His was on for 45 hours straight. All he did was change the synthetic oil a few days latter and check the filters. Now have three more neighbors with auto start units hooked up. Also have two with full blown solar roof deals too. I had the FIRST generator in the neighbor hood about 2005. I used it a couple of times and was nice and happy. There are a whole lot more gen-sets around now !! Anymore you gotta be crazy not to have a good size generator AND a dashcam in your vehicle. Won't go into the rest of the supplies that we know you should have.
john in la
Well-known Member
I have a 5500 watt portable generator.
It is 12 years old.
When I first brought it home it ran for 15 days 24 hours a day.
Think I have used it once since then for 1 or 2 days.
If the electricity is off for a few hours I do not even bother hooking it up.
So that means it has cost me about $50 per day of use it not including the gasoline to run it.
And this is for a portable unit.
Not to be rude but I can not understand the cost to use factor on a standby unit.
It is 12 years old.
When I first brought it home it ran for 15 days 24 hours a day.
Think I have used it once since then for 1 or 2 days.
If the electricity is off for a few hours I do not even bother hooking it up.
So that means it has cost me about $50 per day of use it not including the gasoline to run it.
And this is for a portable unit.
Not to be rude but I can not understand the cost to use factor on a standby unit.
john in la
Well-known Member
And I can understand that.
All the dairy farms around here have PTO gen sets.
Some stores have stand by units.
Even have a stand by unit next to the water tower for those on city water.
Lot to lose when you have a business to run and the electricity is off.
I was talking these $4k units you see next to a house.
All the dairy farms around here have PTO gen sets.
Some stores have stand by units.
Even have a stand by unit next to the water tower for those on city water.
Lot to lose when you have a business to run and the electricity is off.
I was talking these $4k units you see next to a house.
K Effective
Well-known Member
The folks across the street from me put in an auto stand-by unit. Right after they found out how often the two sump pumps in their basement run during Spring storm/snow melt season and how high the water gets in the finished basement when the pumps don't have power. The answer was about four feet. Generator was cheap compared to the hassle/cleanup.
Wonder why there never was a house there before and most of the neighbors have crawlspace or slab?...
Wonder why there never was a house there before and most of the neighbors have crawlspace or slab?...
MarkB_MI
Well-known Member
- Location
- Motown USA
Here in SE Michigan, the power is unreliable enough that we use our generator once or twice a year. It's a portable unit, so I don't usually start it up until power has been off for an hour. Power outages of several hours are common, and every few years we have multi-day outages. Why? TREES!
Texasmark1
Well-known Member
Mine is a Generac 11kW. It runs 15 minutes once a week, automatically. Had my propane tank filled for the season and added 10 % of a 250 gallon tank to put it back to 80%. I guess that's 25 gallons for the year for that plus the outages we had. It's paying it's way for sure. Some of the best money I ever spent.
We’ve always kept our generators handy and close by in case we loose power.
When Hurricane Sandy came through it tore certain areas around us apart, left others untouched, for whatever reason we never lost power and other areas were out for up to 12 days. Gas stations that had power had no gas, ones that had no power had gas of course. Diesel Fuel was never a problem to get and we always have at least 500 gallons for the farm.
When Hurricane Sandy came through it tore certain areas around us apart, left others untouched, for whatever reason we never lost power and other areas were out for up to 12 days. Gas stations that had power had no gas, ones that had no power had gas of course. Diesel Fuel was never a problem to get and we always have at least 500 gallons for the farm.
I agree, I also do not understand how many people(dare I say most) do not include value of their time in performing maintenance tasks, whether it be a generator, subject of this thread, or a car or truck or motorcycle or any other equipment that requires routine maintenance or repair.
I pay a professional mechanic, so it's easy for me to see that cost. I "could" do it myself, but why, when I can make more money doing what I do professionally in the same amount of time.
To me, ignoring the value of your time is like thinking of yourself as a worthless individual
Billy Shafer
Well-known Member
If you are going to get a standby unit. Get a name brand unit. Not one made by some radiator company in China.When I retired Onan and Kohler were the top line units. Generac was called Genajunk for a reason. There home standby units were junk still are.They do make some good industrial units at 1800 rpm. The China units can get you in trouble. I tried to order parts for one. Got a letter from the Govt. Telling me I could not order parts for a unit. That was not legal for use in the US.
Traditional Farmer
Well-known Member
- Location
- Virginia
I have 2 generators and a couple welders that serve as generators if needed.Why? Even though my farm is in a rather suburban area we have lost power for 5+ days three times in the last 5 years once in the Summer and twice in the Winter,we're near the end of this company's line and our power gets cut on last most times.
I have a 20KW Kohler whole-house backup gen set that is about four years old.
I programmed it to exercise for 20 minutes every other week (couldn't set it for less frequent exercises). The factory setting is each week but I find that wasteful of both fuel and run time. I nearly always turn it off every other 2 week exercise time so that it only exercises once each month.
We had one 23+ hour outage the same summer that I installed it and it ran for hours before I found out what caused the outage and when it would be back up. I then shut it down because I really did not need the power for the remainder of the expected outage.
My unit had a total of about 30 hours run and exercise time until I changed the controller this past spring. The battery charger is built into the controller and mine was overcharging the battery, causing a new DEKA $120 battery to fail in three years (just out of warranty). I swapped out the controller with a new model. In the process I had Kohler move all of my parameters from the old controller (which I kept) into the new controller. Everything made it except run time which was 0. It's now showing about 1 hour.
I change the engine oil and filter religiously each year.
Dean
I programmed it to exercise for 20 minutes every other week (couldn't set it for less frequent exercises). The factory setting is each week but I find that wasteful of both fuel and run time. I nearly always turn it off every other 2 week exercise time so that it only exercises once each month.
We had one 23+ hour outage the same summer that I installed it and it ran for hours before I found out what caused the outage and when it would be back up. I then shut it down because I really did not need the power for the remainder of the expected outage.
My unit had a total of about 30 hours run and exercise time until I changed the controller this past spring. The battery charger is built into the controller and mine was overcharging the battery, causing a new DEKA $120 battery to fail in three years (just out of warranty). I swapped out the controller with a new model. In the process I had Kohler move all of my parameters from the old controller (which I kept) into the new controller. Everything made it except run time which was 0. It's now showing about 1 hour.
I change the engine oil and filter religiously each year.
Dean
fixerupper
Well-known Member
I haven't needed a generator for 35 years, knock on wood! Our local REC has done a good job at keeping lines and poles up to date. Also, we haven't had big ice for 35 years, some small to medium ice but nothing debilitating.
That said, I now have an old military generator sitting in the shop waiting to be caressed back to life and put to use. I have a hunch we are running on borrowed time in my area and the chances of being hit by the big one are getting better so I plan to get it set in place and hooked up sometime this fall.
That said, I now have an old military generator sitting in the shop waiting to be caressed back to life and put to use. I have a hunch we are running on borrowed time in my area and the chances of being hit by the big one are getting better so I plan to get it set in place and hooked up sometime this fall.
Goose
Well-known Member
I have a 10kw portable that I've never had to use for real. (Knock on wood). I live on an acreage where I can be snowed in for a couple of days occasionally. The owner's manual on my generator says it will run 11 hours on the 7 gallon tank. I always keep 20 gallons extra stashed. I figure that gives me about 40 hours running time. And before the comments start, I DO use additives in the gas. Then in the spring use the gas in lawn mowers and tractors.
Briar Hill Brittanys
Well-known Member
- Location
- Near Jasper, MO
"Not to be rude but I can not understand the cost to use factor on a standby unit."
Hard to put a cost analysis on piece of mind.
After an ice storm in '07, and another in 08", we installed a 20kW unit, with SE rated auto-transfer switch. The power was off in '07 for 12 days. In '08 it was off 6 days. The genset has performed flawlessly. It has accumulated 220+ hours of run time. Several outages during the time it's been in operation, including a weekend long outage after a thunderstorm, but I couldn't tell you how many of those hours were exercising, or how many were operational hours.
I can still remember the NOAA weather radio reports leading up to the '07 storm..."historic and catastrophic". Words you don't forget. When the power goes off, and the genset starts restoring power, the look on SWMBO's face is priceless.
Hard to put a cost analysis on piece of mind.
After an ice storm in '07, and another in 08", we installed a 20kW unit, with SE rated auto-transfer switch. The power was off in '07 for 12 days. In '08 it was off 6 days. The genset has performed flawlessly. It has accumulated 220+ hours of run time. Several outages during the time it's been in operation, including a weekend long outage after a thunderstorm, but I couldn't tell you how many of those hours were exercising, or how many were operational hours.
I can still remember the NOAA weather radio reports leading up to the '07 storm..."historic and catastrophic". Words you don't forget. When the power goes off, and the genset starts restoring power, the look on SWMBO's face is priceless.
Texasmark As posted above some folks seem to think Genrac is junk but had a 20KW installed when we built this house 8 years ago. Propane use is very little . Just like yours ours runs 15 minutes once a week. Have had several three day outages and I think now it is showing 434 hrs total run time. One of the best things I ever done , sure is nice not to have to worry about being in the dark or without water. Change the oil once a year and check it over. May blow up tomorrow but so far a good investment. Three farms they went thru two kohlers before going to Genrac.
Mine is a generic 20kW air cooled unit with ATS, the engine was replaced under warranty a year into it, the new one seems to be OK. I had a hard time getting anyone to handle the warranty claim, so would put in a Kohler if replacing, but this one is paid for. I know there is a lot of complaining about the life of a 3600 RPM air cooled, but I would not want the hassle or price of liquid cooled for 10 hours per year of service.
I also have a 21kW PTO unit, but travel a lot so this autostart is for the family.
I also have a 21kW PTO unit, but travel a lot so this autostart is for the family.
Billy Shafer
Well-known Member
Depends on if you get lucky or not. One in my town installed in June this year. Now busted and Generac and installer now fighting over the warranty.
Destroked 450
Well-known Member
- Location
- Harned, Ky
We have a 75kw Katolight backup genset for our poultry operation with automatic transfer switch installed in 2007.
It now has over 700 hrs on the meter, it cycles for 35 minutes each week, 30 minute load,5 minute cool down.
During the 2009 ice storm it run for 11 days and was only shut off twice for a few minutes in order to check the oil level. Most of our outages are storm related but we do have the occasional brown out during hot summer days when the grid is overloaded.
During hot weather without proper ventilation and cooling the birds will die from heat stress within a hour after the power goes out, so a automatic backup generator is a must have piece of equipment.
We have a small portable 5500kw Generac unit for operating the essentials in the house during outages. Purchased in 2003 it's given good service on many occasions and is used to provide power for tools, welders and pumps in our farming operations.
The big generator is serviced every 100 hours or after a long run time when shutting it down for service is not an option (265 continuous hours during 09 ice storm). The Generac doesn't have a hour meter so gets oil changed when it looks dirty or after a long outage, probably every 25-50 hours on average.
About 32-33 years ago, I got looking at my electric rate schedule and discovered that for the amount I use, and the kwh/hr that I use it at, I was paying more at a Residential rate than I would at a General Service rate. The caveat, is a demand meter rather than a regular kwh meter, and a huge surcharge in the rate if I exceeded 5kwh. in total, I have saved over $25k in electric bills. But moreso, I have the average monthly demand and peak demands on my bill. When it came time to buy a backup generator, I knew my peak demand, The generator I chose was very small, but large enuf so that the average demand was 50% load. A 4600 watt/6250 peak Coleman, has a 11hp Tecumseh. 6 gallon fuel tank. I can run my whole house 16 hours on a tank of fuel. I have it wired into a 100 amp double throw blade switch. Only time I hear the engine work at all is very momentarily when my water pump kicks on.
I bought it thru Northern Tool back in the early '90s after Hurricane Bob when my power was out 5 days. Probably got 1500 hours on it, still runs as good as new. My only complaint, is that it is noisey. If it was much more than emergency backup, I'd own a Honda
I bought it thru Northern Tool back in the early '90s after Hurricane Bob when my power was out 5 days. Probably got 1500 hours on it, still runs as good as new. My only complaint, is that it is noisey. If it was much more than emergency backup, I'd own a Honda
Billy Shafer
Well-known Member
They do make a few good units. But overall they are considered junk units. Just like the one in my town. Installed in June made it to August. Now down while they fight over repairs.
I've had a 7 KW (13 KW peak surge) portable Generac since 2000. Have about 70 hours run time, some of that powering an electric chain saw, as I hate the pull start needed for a gas saw.
The engine on the gen set had a weak valve pushrod that collapsed at about 50 hours. Fairly easy fix (got new pushrods from Oscar Wilson (?) company in St Louis area and gen has worked fine since.
I don't exercise it regularly, but periodically
The engine on the gen set had a weak valve pushrod that collapsed at about 50 hours. Fairly easy fix (got new pushrods from Oscar Wilson (?) company in St Louis area and gen has worked fine since.
I don't exercise it regularly, but periodically
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