Generator for back up power? Which one?

BRS
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DDenny said:
I like the hondas but dang they are proud of them as well. If you take care of the regular generator they are just as reliable as a honda. I don't worry about fixing them either as I have been working on motorcycles and small engines including hondas with my dad since I could walk. Something breaks I fix it including replacing the short block if need be. I have had my two generators for over 8 years with no problems at all (maybe I'm the exception). I will agree to keep neighbors happy the hondas are the way to go but all my neighbors are running big noisy generators as well.
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I'm in New York so keeping it quiet is a must ;)
 
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Top Shelf Aquatics
DDenny said:
That is exactly what I plan on doing this summer. Already called my electrician to come take a look and give we a quote.
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Electrician here, and I have the manual transfer switch, inlet, with pony panel for critical circuits.
Ask your guy about this
http://www.generlink.com/generlink.html
Did my system a number of years ago and wish these were on market at the time. Makes things even simpler.
 
Tidal Gardens
Right now this is my emergency generator...
IMG_1099.jpeg


It has a lithium battery system that is the equivalent of 30 amp service with just over 10K amp hours of storage, which can be recharged by running the engine (among other ways).

It also sleeps 3, has a kitchen, bathroom and propane for heat, hot water and cooking. Have not yet figured out how to include a reef inside though...
 
This is what we got a couple years ago to run our food trailer refrigeration and other equip for events we put on. It sometimes runs for days & days (weeks) at a time & not a hiccup. Pretty good on gas too. I've had to change the spark plug and the oil. I was in disbelief with how quiet it is.

We also use it to run the house during outages through one of those 10 circuit manual transfer switches from Lowes ($300ish). Roll it out the back door, plug it in, push start and go flip the switches. It's heavy but balanced well and easy to roll around. Runs everything but the ovens.

We were going to get a Honda because it had to be as quiet as possible but we could've bought 2 or 3 of these for the same money. They do make smaller and larger versions which I would expect to work just as well.

Whatever you get just make sure to get a fully enclosed one 'cause all the open frame models are stupid loud. We also have a Generac 10k open frame type - loud. Not even close to this one.

Looks like they went up a bit. We paid a few hundred less 2 years ago. 5 star rating though. :cool:
Powerhorse 7500i Quiet 6500/7500W Inverter Generator: User Review & Deals (generatorbible.com)
 
Orphek OR3 reef aquarium LED bar
moreef said:
Wondering about one of these. Have you used it and what did it power? I would need to run return pump and either fans or heaters and maybe 1/2 powerheads. Plus the refrigerator or my wife would divorce me lol. Is it worth it for few more hundred to get larger model? Really don’t know much about generators so appreciate any advice on minimum watts needed etc. Thanks
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Just calculate your maximum load during a power loss (may not want to run lights, e.g.) to size generator. Above runs 2 Sicce return pumps, 2 wave makers, a skimmer, a refugium pump and light, 2 100 watt heaters, a uv sterilizer and 2 Hydra 26 lights. I also hook up a cell phone or two.
I haven't calculated extra load a refrigerator would add, but easy to do I imagine; we just keep door closed and eat out, lol.
 
In terms of cheap portable gas powered generators I would say the most important thing is not the brand of features, but keeping it maintained. A generator you last ran three years ago and left full of gas is probably going to give you all sorts of issues when you do need it. Use stabilizer, but also start it up and run it at least every 6 months. If you have dedicated gas tanks you store for filling it... empty those into your car every 6 months and refill them with fresh gas.
 
Deltec
mdb_talon said:
In terms of cheap portable gas powered generators I would say the most important thing is not the brand of features, but keeping it maintained. A generator you last ran three years ago and left full of gas is probably going to give you all sorts of issues when you do need it. Use stabilizer, but also start it up and run it at least every 6 months. If you have dedicated gas tanks you store for filling it... empty those into your car every 6 months and refill them with fresh gas.
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I store the generator with non-ethanol gasoline that's now fairly easy to obtain and store regular gas in cans. The cans get poured into a car every year and filled with fresh gas. The non-ethanol gas doesn't cause any issues and the generator starts on the first try every time I remember to test or need it otherwise.
 
BZOFIQ said:
I store the generator with non-ethanol gasoline that's now fairly easy to obtain and store regular gas in cans. The cans get poured into a car every year and filled with fresh gas. The non-ethanol gas doesn't cause any issues and the generator starts on the first try every time I remember to test or need it otherwise.
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Non-ethanol is all I use in any small engine.
 
Tidal Gardens
Adamantium said:
I so badly wish I could get some. Apparently, no gas stations in the NY Metro area are allowed to sell it :/
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Not sure where you're located but this is very close to me in Edison NJ. A lot of the big boy toys (motorcycles, quads, etc) stores carry it in sealed 2 or 5 gallon drums. It's slightly more pricey than what you pay at the pump but well worth it IMO.

1616681060806.png
 
BZOFIQ said:
Not sure where you're located but this is very close to me in Edison NJ. A lot of the big boy toys (motorcycles, quads, etc) stores carry it in sealed 2 or 5 gallon drums. It's slightly more pricey than what you pay at the pump but well worth it IMO.

1616681060806.png
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Really appreciate it, but that's about an hour and a half away. It's almost worth it, but not quite.

I'll look into getting it at a hardware store, but I think I did in the past, and it was surprisingly expensive.

Edit: Yup, I'm looking at like 25 bucks for a gallon, on the low end.
 
Deltec
Adamantium said:
Really appreciate it, but that's about an hour and a half away. It's almost worth it, but not quite.

I'll look into getting it at a hardware store, but I think I did in the past, and it was surprisingly expensive.

Edit: Yup, I'm looking at like 25 bucks for a gallon, on the low end.
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Yep, the little containers are expensive. That place I showed you was like 5 Gallon for $26 or $28 if I remember correctly. I consider that fair. For me, it was far cheaper than sourcing the 1L metal containers at home depot for like 6 bucks for the various equipment I use.

It is my understanding that a lot of the marinas might have non-ethanol fuel. I remember nearly every gas station lower than Miami, FL was all ethanol free but I don't see myself hauling 15 Gallons worth of gasoline when I travel there. Folks outside of Tri-State are lucky to have much better access to that stuff.
 
Right now, I have a Generac GP2500i. It is cheap, powerful, portable and does the job it was intended for. My current tank is small (Marine X 60.2), so I can run all that equipment, as well as other electronics in the home in the case that we have an outage. In the not too distant future, I’ll be upgrading to a whole-home natural gas generator through Generac.
 
www.dinkinsaquaticgardens.com
All you need is Stabil. Use it 100% for generators, chain saws, weed wackers, etc...
The two BIG mistakes people make with generators:
1. They do not use Stabil
2. When the power comes back on they just turn the generator off and store it

Both of these cause the carb to gum up. If you use Stabil all the time, and when the power comes back on.
Instead of turning the generator off, shut off the gas supply valve. Let the generator continue to run till it sputters out. This takes just a few minutes and makes sure that all the gas is removed from the carb. Next time you need the generator it will start right up.

Other mistakes are:
not checking the oil
Not testing the generator by running it. I do this twice a year
 
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