Cheap vs expensive, generator edition

[Schulks]

High winds are a coming so I am buying a generator for my aquarium. I want the Honda 2200 watt inverter but it is $1100 and I could go to harbor freight and get their predator 2000 watt inverter for $600. This will only be for emergencies so should I just get the predator?

 

[Justfebreezeit]

I have used the non interverter predator generators for a long time with no real issues.

 

[FishTruck]

Just make sure to get the heavy duty extension cords so they don't get hot

 

[Malcontent]

I like inverter generators that can run on natural gas out of the box.

 

[bobnicaragua]

I wanted a Honda also, but went with Champion due to price.

I’m in Texas, and lost my tank in the big freeze of 2021. I now have two generators, one for the family and one for the tank.

We are big cowboy rebels here, so we don’t need to be attached to the national power grid or keep our grid up to standards!

 

[AetherealKnight]

I like inverter generators that can run on natural gas out of the box.

Agreed, very handy during power outages. Just needs to be hooked to your gas line.

 

[wrasse man]

EcoFlow DELTA 2 Portable Power Station | EcoFlow

EcoFlow DELTA 2 equips modern families with backup power for any emergency. Incredibly fast charging: 0%-80% in 50 min. Be prepared, always.

us.ecoflow.com

Get something like this. They have larger whole home set ups a well with auto transfer switches. Buy a smaller one based on your load drawn that can easily run life saving equipment for extended periods. Just buy a system that will carry the load until the grids is back up, you can also recharge these type of systems if the grid is down for longer periods. You only need to run the generator for recharge periods, not the entire time.

It bumps up the total cost with a battery system, but you can under buy on the generator. The battery will run silently at night, if you have space you could have it connected directly to your aquarium system and it will backup instantly, or keep it charged in your garage or wherever and hook it up when needed.

 

[Malcontent]

I'm pretty much sold on this generator unless something better comes out.

 

[BristleWormHater]

Yesterday I bought a 12v 400w inverter and 12v 35ah battery for $128 luckily I haven't had to use it yet, I most likely won't because helene already passed Georgia. It's a cheaper option, but it can only supply my tank with power for around 20 hours or so, 12v inverters have a limited ammount of outlets but just enough for the essentials (pumps & heater). Just thought I'd throw that out there hope it helps someone

 

[PharmrJohn]

I've found in all my decades that lesser quality equipment has a greater degree of early failure. With something like this, I'd hop onto Consumer Reports and take a look. I look up anything over the $300 mark and just follow their advice.

 

[Schulks]

I picked up the predator but I am going to leave it in the box and return it if the power stays on. I'll try and wait for a holiday sale.

We have 2 people talking about their champion generators and they are cheaper than the predators. hmm.

EcoFlow DELTA 2 Portable Power Station | EcoFlow

EcoFlow DELTA 2 equips modern families with backup power for any emergency. Incredibly fast charging: 0%-80% in 50 min. Be prepared, always.

us.ecoflow.com

Get something like this.

If the power goes out It could rain the next few days. I'm worried it wouldn't charge without much sun.

 

[Doctorgori]

I cop’D a three fuel generator from Costco (NG, LP, & Gas)
…never know which is gonna be hard to get in a emergency and tanks have a longer shelf life than gas (assuming no leaks) …also it’s nice to hook it up to NG if power is out

 

[wrasse man]

I picked up the predator but I am going to leave it in the box and return it if the power stays on. I'll try and wait for a holiday sale.

We have 2 people talking about their champion generators and they are cheaper than the predators. hmm.



If the power goes out It could rain the next few days. I'm worried it wouldn't charge without much sun.

I don’t use solar to recharge, I could if I had to, but I have a Honda generator. I have a larger eco flow home unit with a transfer switch acting as a universal backup system. I have 18kwh battery backup, which by the math works 6 days of power running my whole home with limited air conditioner use. But I can recharge the system quickly. The company says with solar you could recharge a 6kwh battery in about 1 hour, but I don’t have solar so I have no personal experience with that.

It’s an expensive system but it works for the whole house and when power is down, I don’t have to run the generator all night which always paranoid me.

Just saying that there are small battery backup’s that will get most people through decent length outages, that can sit charged and be ready to deploy even if you are in an apartment. We spend thousands of dollars on our aquariums, to me spending money on keeping it alive and thriving is baked into the cost of the hobby.

 

[Reefering1]

I suggest spending the 600-1000$ on a 5000-7500w generator. Something big enough to run your tank, fridge, lights, microwave, a/c, etc. If you take care of it, a decent one will last many years.. worth having on hand, at the drop of a dime

 

[tsharpe291]

High winds are a coming so I am buying a generator for my aquarium. I want the Honda 2200 watt inverter but it is $1100 and I could go to harbor freight and get their predator 2000 watt inverter for $600. This will only be for emergencies so should I just get the predator?

I have the predator 3500 inverter. it runs when I need it [which isn't much in my area]with no complaints.

 

[Rjramos]

I picked up a 9000k predator at Harbour freight for around $600-700 about 7 yrs ago. Never used. Down in south Florida we’ve been lucky, about 7 yrs no major hurricanes. Go big, power the tank, a 120 v unit A/C, refrigerator and other equipment. It always happens, that you and family want to add on and with a smaller generator, your limited.

 

[PharmrJohn]

I suggest spending the 600-1000$ on a 5000-7500w generator. Something big enough to run your tank, fridge, lights, microwave, a/c, etc. If you take care of it, a decent one will last many years.. worth having on hand, at the drop of a dime

I have something like a 7500/12000. That bad boy can power one freezer, two refrigerators, microwave, little portable oven and whatever else I want to put on it. Bigger the better, man.

 

[Schulks]

I have something like a 7500/12000. That bad boy can power one freezer, two refrigerators, microwave, little portable oven and whatever else I want to put on it. Bigger the better, man.

The power only goes out maybe once a year here. I was thinking the induction generator sounded nice because it is quiet, takes a lot less fuel, and people say it has cleaner power. Maybe in an emergency those things don't matter. I am in a suburb so I am not sure I could run it all night.

But I might have found a larger generator from a relative for cheap. I could get that and an Ecoflow unit to power at night and run generator during day. I am not sure how many kWh my system would need to run for 12-24 hours (Depending on price).

radions = 200 w
kessil = 40w
heaters = 150w
Skimmer =30w
return pump = 72w (runs default at 70%)
Flow pumps =40w (both run around 50%)
hydros System + misc plugins = ?? maybe 20 watts?

These watts are just what the product pages say. I'd unplug my UV and maybe I don't need lights? Would be nice to just not interrupt the system at all though.

How long could 1kWh last me? Then what if I added 400w fridge/freezer.

@wrasse man I might try out the battery option.


Edit: I guess I can get the 1kwh if I just run the return pump and skimmer at night/without power then turn everything back on during the day with a generator. 1kwh would also run the return and skimmer for a really long time until I can get the generator online if needed.

 

[Johnd651]

Champion 7800w dual fuel gas/propane here. Run it monthly and then when needed. Starts on first pull every time.

 

[PharmrJohn]

The power only goes out maybe once a year here. I was thinking the induction generator sounded nice because it is quiet, takes a lot less fuel, and people say it has cleaner power. Maybe in an emergency those things don't matter. I am in a suburb so I am not sure I could run it all night.

But I might have found a larger generator from a relative for cheap. I could get that and an Ecoflow unit to power at night and run generator during day. I am not sure how many kWh my system would need to run for 12-24 hours (Depending on price).

radions = 200 w
kessil = 40w
heaters = 150w
Skimmer =30w
return pump = 72w (runs default at 70%)
Flow pumps =40w (both run around 50%)
hydros System + misc plugins = ?? maybe 20 watts?

These watts are just what the product pages say. I'd unplug my UV and maybe I don't need lights? Would be nice to just not interrupt the system at all though.

How long could 1kWh last me? Then what if I added 400w fridge/freezer.

@wrasse man I might try out the battery option.


Edit: I guess I can get the 1kwh if I just run the return pump and skimmer at night/without power then turn everything back on during the day with a generator. 1kwh would also run the return and skimmer for a really long time until I can get the generator online if needed.

Yeah, I think I'm at Max 1440W. But I've since decided on not using certain equipment, so probably more like 1200W. I'll have an electrician come in and do some stuff. I want a direct plug in to my generator as a wall socket. And I want to run on 2 GCFI circuits. It'll cost money, but who cares. I just want it done right.