Portable Generators
Mar 21, 2024 11:42:16 #
Texas George wrote:
If I won the lottery I would probably get a Tesla whole house battery backup. I like the idea of instant changeover when power goes out. Generac has a delay before switching and I have to pull my portable generator out of storage to use it. What I don’t like about the Tesla unit is how to recharge it if the power is out for several days and it’s cloudy and snowing. There’s no perfect solution.
We used our Generic one time for 4 days without any problem.
BTW, Our Generic switches over almost instantly when there is a power failure.
Mar 21, 2024 12:18:59 #
jerryc41 wrote:
If you are going to buy a portable gas/propane generator, be sure you know what you are buying. You probably want one that provides both 110 and 220 volts, but many provide only 110v. When I bought mine over ten years ago, I didn't give a thought to 220v, assuming it provided that. And it does.
Got myself a little generator a while back. Powers the house and shop quite nicely...
bwa
Mar 21, 2024 13:16:26 #
RKastner
Loc: Davenport, FL
jerryc41 wrote:
If you are going to buy a portable gas/propane generator, be sure you know what you are buying. You probably want one that provides both 110 and 220 volts, but many provide only 110v. When I bought mine over ten years ago, I didn't give a thought to 220v, assuming it provided that. And it does.
Also...be sure that you have a fuel source for it. The companies that make these like avoid mentioning this in their ads. Maybe they assume everyone has Natural Gas access to their home. Not everyone does these days. We don't. Our community is all electric. So, to run a portable generator we'd need a huge propane tank or a lot of gasoline.
Mar 21, 2024 13:43:08 #
Mar 21, 2024 13:43:32 #
bwana wrote:
Got myself a little generator a while back. Powers the house and shop quite nicely...
bwa
bwa
For the size of it I thought you may have said "Powers my cell phone"...
Mar 21, 2024 13:46:44 #
charles tabb wrote:
We have Natural Gas.
Beano will fix that.
Mar 21, 2024 14:10:04 #
Longshadow wrote:
For the size of it I thought you may have said "Powers my cell phone"...
Barely...
bwa
Mar 21, 2024 14:54:02 #
Mar 21, 2024 16:26:16 #
Texas George wrote:
While there are some industrial applications that use 240v the average house in the USA uses 110 volts. The term 220 refers to having two 110 line inputs used by air conditioners, dryers and other high usage home equipment.
My well, stove, pool heater, and large air conditioner all use 220. The rest 110.
Mar 21, 2024 16:29:55 #
Harvey wrote:
Many years ago when we bought our first generator ... (show quote)
"Electric start?" How when the electricity is out?
Mar 21, 2024 16:33:10 #
jerryc41 wrote:
If you are going to buy a portable gas/propane generator, be sure you know what you are buying. You probably want one that provides both 110 and 220 volts, but many provide only 110v. When I bought mine over ten years ago, I didn't give a thought to 220v, assuming it provided that. And it does.
No appliances in North America actually use 220 volts. They are all 2 phase 110 volt. Some industrial equipment actually uses 220 volt and 440 volt power.
bwa
Mar 21, 2024 16:34:04 #
jerryc41 wrote:
If you are going to buy a portable gas/propane generator, be sure you know what you are buying. You probably want one that provides both 110 and 220 volts, but many provide only 110v. When I bought mine over ten years ago, I didn't give a thought to 220v, assuming it provided that. And it does.
Well, I've used a portable many times but it's now very hard to bring it out and get it going. Considering an automatic one. Somebody said $5k. More like $10k down here off the Catskills.
Mar 21, 2024 16:34:10 #
revhen wrote:
"Electric start?" How when the electricity is out?
(Battery)
Mar 21, 2024 17:20:22 #
Most homes today have two-phase power which is usually split at your breaker panels into two separate circuits. Bridging the two circuits gives you the 208 to power your stove, a/c units, and clothes dryer. If you have a generator providing only 110, only half of your home will receive power. You can also burn out appliances requiring 208 volts. So, choose wisely!
Mar 21, 2024 17:34:49 #
Dean37
Loc: Fresno, CA
revhen wrote:
"Electric start?" How when the electricity is out?
With the on board battery. Most have a pull rope starter, if the battery is not charged.
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