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#1
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Generator Thoughts
I need a small generator for use at an isolated outside storage building.
The power demand is 1,000 watts or less and the generator only needs to run for an hour or two at a time. The generator will only be used occasionally, but, like most things, needs to work when I need it. FYI, I've looked at Honda generators, but their units are too pricey for my needs. I simply can't justify the cost, regardless of how nice the Honda generators are. At the other end of the spectrum, there are $99 generators on Ebay (2 strokes), but those scare the stuffing out of me, because I don't recognize the brand and because, after all, I need the darned thing to work when necessary. Any thoughts for a reliable, low cost generator that'll fit the bill? |
#2
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Generator Thoughts
Kyle Boatright wrote:
I need a small generator for use at an isolated outside storage building. The power demand is 1,000 watts or less and the generator only needs to run for an hour or two at a time. The generator will only be used occasionally, but, like most things, needs to work when I need it. FYI, I've looked at Honda generators, but their units are too pricey for my needs. I simply can't justify the cost, regardless of how nice the Honda generators are. At the other end of the spectrum, there are $99 generators on Ebay (2 strokes), but those scare the stuffing out of me, because I don't recognize the brand and because, after all, I need the darned thing to work when necessary. Any thoughts for a reliable, low cost generator that'll fit the bill? Presuming you GOT to this shed via a vehicle, consider a convertor that runs off the vehicle's electrical system. |
#3
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Generator Thoughts
"Kyle Boatright" wrote in message . .. I need a small generator for use at an isolated outside storage building. The power demand is 1,000 watts or less and the generator only needs to run for an hour or two at a time. The generator will only be used occasionally, but, like most things, needs to work when I need it. FYI, I've looked at Honda generators, but their units are too pricey for my needs. I simply can't justify the cost, regardless of how nice the Honda generators are. At the other end of the spectrum, there are $99 generators on Ebay (2 strokes), but those scare the stuffing out of me, because I don't recognize the brand and because, after all, I need the darned thing to work when necessary. Any thoughts for a reliable, low cost generator that'll fit the bill? You have a lot of contradictions in your post. First, get your priorities straight. You state: needs to work when I need it. I simply can't justify the cost, regardless of how nice the Honda generators are a reliable, low cost generator Most of us know that reliable and low cost don't go together very well. |
#4
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Generator Thoughts
Kyle Boatright wrote: needs to work when I need it. Translation: Honda needed FYI, I've looked at Honda generators, but their units are too pricey for my needs. Translation: New Hondas are pricier than less robust brands and I really don't care all that much about reliability. I simply can't justify the cost, regardless of how nice the Honda generators are. Translation: I want a free lunch there are $99 generators on Ebay (2 strokes), but those scare the stuffing out of me, because I don't recognize the brand and because, after all, I need the darned thing to work when necessary. Translation: I'm too impatient to do an eBay search for Honda and wait for something in my price range to come along and now I've changed my mind about reliablility. There are dozens of sources for generators, so just gather info for a while, then decide. Check out Northern Tool, Harbor Freight, and of course, Froogle. Good luck. Joe |
#5
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Generator Thoughts
Kyle Boatright wrote:
I need a small generator for use at an isolated outside storage building. The power demand is 1,000 watts or less and the generator only needs to run for an hour or two at a time. The generator will only be used occasionally, but, like most things, needs to work when I need it. FYI, I've looked at Honda generators, but their units are too pricey for my needs. I simply can't justify the cost, regardless of how nice the Honda generators are. At the other end of the spectrum, there are $99 generators on Ebay (2 strokes), but those scare the stuffing out of me, because I don't recognize the brand and because, after all, I need the darned thing to work when necessary. Any thoughts for a reliable, low cost generator that'll fit the bill? The Generac units are generally perfectly reliable in light duty service as you indicate. I have a 5kw that has done more than light duty and never had a problem other than one carb clog when it go shutdown and stored without running it dry. It has to be near 20 years old now and I just used it a couple months ago to power a hammer drill while doing an electrical upgrade. For such a light load however, I'd really consider scraping up the $1k for a Honda EU2000i or if your load really is under 1kw a Honda EU1000i ($700). Sure they cost more than cheapos, but they will be a lot more reliable and long lasting. Get that no name $200 unit and the fifth time you go to use it and spend an hour trying to get it running you'll be kicking yourself for not getting the Honda. The Honda will also be a lot quieter, lighter and use less gas. Pete C. |
#6
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Generator Thoughts
You are not very clear.. How many hours will it run in 5 years. A
cheapy might get you 250-350 hrs till it starts to burn oil . A midgrade 5000w OHV engine might get you 2-3000 hrs. A 1000w is a big load on a little Honda to get maxiumum life but you might get 2-4000+ hrs. I just saw a little chinese OHV 2000w unit that had stabile power for maybe 250$ All I know is it was blue. With the real cheap imports you take your chances, who knows. The little Honda inverter is realy a clean output power unit, not necessary for power tools. |
#7
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Generator Thoughts
"Kyle Boatright" wrote in message . .. I need a small generator for use at an isolated outside storage building. The power demand is 1,000 watts or less and the generator only needs to run for an hour or two at a time. The generator will only be used occasionally, but, like most things, needs to work when I need it. I agree with everyone else, but will go further. What are you going to use the generator for? Lights? Electronics? Pumps? And if it doesn't work, how much does it matter? Its a little like saying you want to buy a car, but can't afford a Honda; what should you get? Well, that all depends on what you want to use it for, doesn't it? |
#8
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Generator Thoughts
In article ,
"Kyle Boatright" wrote: Any thoughts for a reliable, low cost generator Yeah: You've posed a textbook oxymoron. I paid $1k for a Honda EU2000i http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/M...elName=eu2000i two years ago. I have probably put 10-15 hours on it when "dry" camping. One can stand DIRECTLY over it while it is running under FULL load and hold a reasonably "normal" conversation. Every time I pull the starter cord, it starts. It runs perfectly. I like the security of knowing I can power my new gas furnace during a protracted outage - all night if need be - without ****ing-off my neighbors with noise. I've heard the Yamaha line of quiet generators are as good and may even be slightly less expensive. You get what you pay for. -- JR |
#9
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Generator Thoughts
I paid $1k for a Honda EU2000i Every time I pull the starter cord, it starts. It runs perfectly. Do you keep gas in it? How often do you change it? Mine is maybe 5 years old. It kept my furnace, refrigerator, and freezer going for 5 days during an outage; and you literally couldn't hear it from the street. My one complaint is that it is hard to start, on old gas. I am just wondering what you do to get it to start on the first pull. Changing the gas is a pain, but certainly makes starting easier. I start it once a month just to keep everything moving. |
#11
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Generator Thoughts
In article , kboatright1
@comcast.net (Kyle Boatright) says... I need a small generator for use at an isolated outside storage building. The power demand is 1,000 watts or less and the generator only needs to run for an hour or two at a time. The generator will only be used occasionally, but, like most things, needs to work when I need it. FYI, I've looked at Honda generators, but their units are too pricey for my needs. I simply can't justify the cost, regardless of how nice the Honda generators are. At the other end of the spectrum, there are $99 generators on Ebay (2 strokes), but those scare the stuffing out of me, because I don't recognize the brand and because, after all, I need the darned thing to work when necessary. Any thoughts for a reliable, low cost generator that'll fit the bill? I have a little 2-cycle 1200 watt cheapie that I bought at Coastal Farm Supply for $149. I assume it's the same as the eBay $99 specials. I use it on hunting trips, mostly to charge up the travel trailer battery. It has a 12 volt output that is pretty worthless, because a dead battery will trip the breaker, but the 120v outlet will run the trailer's battery charger. It will run for about 4.5 hours on a gallon of gas. The voltage is pretty unstable. It uses an ignition interrupter to prevent over-voltage on light loads, so lights attached to it will flicker until you get about 500 watts load. Then it does pretty good up to 1000 watts load, when the voltage starts to sag. It's down 10% at 1200 watts. On the up side, it has been very reliable. I don't leave gas in it, ever, even though there is a gas line shutoff. It is pretty quiet. If I set it on the other side of my pickup, you can barely hear it inside the travel trailer. The trailer furnace 12v blower makes a lot more noise, and that furnace blower is the primary reason I need a generator in the first place. |
#12
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Generator Thoughts
for occasional use, take a look at Harbor Freight: from $ 239 to $ 7,000
http://da.harborfreight.com/cpisearc...ator&Submit=Go -- Walter www.rationality.net - "Kyle Boatright" wrote in message . .. I need a small generator for use at an isolated outside storage building. The power demand is 1,000 watts or less and the generator only needs to run for an hour or two at a time. The generator will only be used occasionally, but, like most things, needs to work when I need it. FYI, I've looked at Honda generators, but their units are too pricey for my needs. I simply can't justify the cost, regardless of how nice the Honda generators are. At the other end of the spectrum, there are $99 generators on Ebay (2 strokes), but those scare the stuffing out of me, because I don't recognize the brand and because, after all, I need the darned thing to work when necessary. Any thoughts for a reliable, low cost generator that'll fit the bill? |
#13
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Generator Thoughts
In article , "Toller"
wrote: Honda EU2000i Every time I pull the starter cord, it starts. It runs perfectly. Do you keep gas in it? Yes. How often do you change it? I never CHANGE it, per se. I run the tank dry at the end of the camping season. Mine is maybe 5 years old. It kept my furnace, refrigerator, and freezer going for 5 days during an outage; and you literally couldn't hear it from the street. That is certainly encouraging. There is no doubt that I paid extra simply for the name "Honda" and also for the apparently considerable R&D that made the unit so quiet. I would buy the same model again. My one complaint is that it is hard to start, on old gas. I am just wondering what you do to get it to start on the first pull. Admittedly, it does NOT start on the FIRST pull when starting it for the FIRST time after being stored for a couple of months or so. However, in this case, it takes no more than two or three pulls. Subsequent restarts require an almost-slight SINGLE pull. Changing the gas is a pain, but certainly makes starting easier. Like I said, I've never CHANGED the gas other than to RUN the thing dry. I'm glad you replied, though. I'll make an even greater effort to ensure I don't gum it up with old gas. I start it once a month just to keep everything moving. I'll probably now start doing that over the winter. Thanks. -- JR |
#14
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Generator Thoughts
I echo the other poster who suggested if you drive to the shed get a 12
volt to 120 converter, really a inverter. For a couple hundred bucks or less you have it availble not only for shed detail but other activities, no generator wouldnt start hassles, compact and light weight, absolitely quiet as your vehicle. Best thing in a power outage you can use it at your home, no stale gas issues. etc etc. If you can drive to shed a inverter is a no brainer..... I have one and use it for all sorts of wiierd stuff, dont tell your friends you have one or they will be asking for help too.... |
#15
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Generator Thoughts
I think the Coleman Powermate runs 1,000 watts. I did a froogle
search, and this was the closest I found http://power-tools.hardwarestore.com...or-632696.aspx which is $609, and is 1800 watts. What equipment do you want to run? Motors, lights, heaters, what? -- Christopher A. Young You can't shout down a troll. You have to starve them. .. "Kyle Boatright" wrote in message . .. I need a small generator for use at an isolated outside storage building. The power demand is 1,000 watts or less and the generator only needs to run for an hour or two at a time. The generator will only be used occasionally, but, like most things, needs to work when I need it. FYI, I've looked at Honda generators, but their units are too pricey for my needs. I simply can't justify the cost, regardless of how nice the Honda generators are. At the other end of the spectrum, there are $99 generators on Ebay (2 strokes), but those scare the stuffing out of me, because I don't recognize the brand and because, after all, I need the darned thing to work when necessary. Any thoughts for a reliable, low cost generator that'll fit the bill? |
#16
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Generator Thoughts
" wrote:
I echo the other poster who suggested if you drive to the shed get a 12 volt to 120 converter, really a inverter. For a couple hundred bucks or less you have it availble not only for shed detail but other activities, no generator wouldnt start hassles, compact and light weight, absolitely quiet as your vehicle. Best thing in a power outage you can use it at your home, no stale gas issues. etc etc. If you can drive to shed a inverter is a no brainer..... I have one and use it for all sorts of wiierd stuff, dont tell your friends you have one or they will be asking for help too.... One warning on that though - a 1 kW inverter can *not* be operated from your cigarette lighter outlet, it will melt. Inverters running over about 250W sustained output need to be directly wired to the vehicle's battery. If you don't want to permanently install the inverter you can install one of the heavy DC quick connects as sold for detachable winches. These are nice since you can go all out and have an inverter, a winch and a jumper cable that all plug into this DC outlet when needed. As for the previous posters comments about gas, get a bottle of Stabil fuel stabilizer. With it a tank of gas in the generator should be in useable condition even after up to a year of storage. By adding it to every tank of gas it will also help prevent clogged carbs. Pete C. |
#17
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Generator Thoughts
Kyle Boatright wrote:
I need a small generator for use at an isolated outside storage building. The power demand is 1,000 watts or less and the generator only needs to run for an hour or two at a time. The generator will only be used occasionally, but, like most things, needs to work when I need it. FYI, I've looked at Honda generators, but their units are too pricey for my needs. I simply can't justify the cost, regardless of how nice the Honda generators are. At the other end of the spectrum, there are $99 generators on Ebay (2 strokes), but those scare the stuffing out of me, because I don't recognize the brand and because, after all, I need the darned thing to work when necessary. Any thoughts for a reliable, low cost generator that'll fit the bill? Buy a genuine GI surplus unit for about four hundred dollars. Coleman's surplus is one vender that has them all the time. -- Tom Horne "This alternating current stuff is just a fad. It is much too dangerous for general use." Thomas Alva Edison |
#18
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Generator Thoughts
Stormin Mormon wrote:
I think the Coleman Powermate runs 1,000 watts. I did a froogle search, and this was the closest I found http://power-tools.hardwarestore.com...or-632696.aspx which is $609, and is 1800 watts. What equipment do you want to run? Motors, lights, heaters, what? -- Christopher A. Young You can't shout down a troll. You have to starve them. Two problems with that: 1) I've heard very bad things about the Coleman branded generators from a professional generator service guy. 2) You can get a Honda EU1000i for $699 from Northern. Pete C. |
#19
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Generator Thoughts
According to Pete C. :
One warning on that though - a 1 kW inverter can *not* be operated from your cigarette lighter outlet, it will melt. No, you'll blow the fuse. Inverters running over about 250W sustained output need to be directly wired to the vehicle's battery. Inverters rated at 200-300W and up usually come with heavy alligator clips for direct battery connection - cigarette lighter fuses usually are only 15A. My inverter (300W + 400W surge) has two sets of detachable cables - one a alligator set, the other a lighter socket set. -- Chris Lewis, Una confibula non set est It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them. |
#20
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Generator Thoughts
Chris Lewis wrote:
According to Pete C. : One warning on that though - a 1 kW inverter can *not* be operated from your cigarette lighter outlet, it will melt. No, you'll blow the fuse. That's the theory, however I have seen quite a few cigarette lighter plugs that made such poor contact that they heated and melted the plug at currents below the fuse rating. Inverters running over about 250W sustained output need to be directly wired to the vehicle's battery. Inverters rated at 200-300W and up usually come with heavy alligator clips for direct battery connection - cigarette lighter fuses usually are only 15A. My inverter (300W + 400W surge) has two sets of detachable cables - one a alligator set, the other a lighter socket set. I have the same inverter, it does a good job. 1 kW inverters draw to high a load for alligator clips to be reliable, on the order of 83A not counting inefficiencies. Currents in that range require hard connections and/or connectors rated for high currents. The DC connectors used for the winches typically are 175A continuous rated. Pete C. |
#21
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Generator Thoughts
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#22
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Generator Thoughts
Dear Pete,
That is a concern. I do have a Coleman generator, and curious what problems you've found. I bought it used, about 1998 or 99. Would have to check the paper work, see what was the manufacture date. It is a 2200 watt, with 5 HP Briggs. Pleased for any information you have. -- Christopher A. Young You can't shout down a troll. You have to starve them. .. "Pete C." wrote in message ... Two problems with that: 1) I've heard very bad things about the Coleman branded generators from a professional generator service guy. 2) You can get a Honda EU1000i for $699 from Northern. Pete C. |
#23
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Generator Thoughts
Stormin Mormon wrote:
Dear Pete, That is a concern. I do have a Coleman generator, and curious what problems you've found. I bought it used, about 1998 or 99. Would have to check the paper work, see what was the manufacture date. It is a 2200 watt, with 5 HP Briggs. Pleased for any information you have. Recall short brush life (buy a few extra pairs) and issues with loss of field and needing to be "repolarized" with a car battery. At the time the Coleman's were all green and I recall him saying if he sees someone bringing a green one towards the front door he'd retreat out the back door. Pete C. |
#24
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Generator Thoughts
I'm too tired to go check, but I think mine is black. Doubt it will
get enough use to go through a set of field brushes. But lost field in the armature is possible. I really oughta run the beast more often. -- Christopher A. Young You can't shout down a troll. You have to starve them. .. "Pete C." wrote in message ... Stormin Mormon wrote: Dear Pete, That is a concern. I do have a Coleman generator, and curious what problems you've found. I bought it used, about 1998 or 99. Would have to check the paper work, see what was the manufacture date. It is a 2200 watt, with 5 HP Briggs. Pleased for any information you have. Recall short brush life (buy a few extra pairs) and issues with loss of field and needing to be "repolarized" with a car battery. At the time the Coleman's were all green and I recall him saying if he sees someone bringing a green one towards the front door he'd retreat out the back door. Pete C. |
#25
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Generator Thoughts
"Stormin Mormon" wrote in message ... I think the Coleman Powermate runs 1,000 watts. I did a froogle search, and this was the closest I found http://power-tools.hardwarestore.com...or-632696.aspx which is $609, and is 1800 watts. What equipment do you want to run? Motors, lights, heaters, what? Extremely occasional use at an airport location without electricity. I need to run a 250w engine pre-heater 10 times a year for a couple of hours. Concurrent with that, I'd probaby run a battery tender which would have a very low draw. I figure spending a few hundred bucks on a generator will be cheaper (but less convenient) in the long run than running power to the hangar and paying an electricity bill (and meter charge) every month. KB -- Christopher A. Young You can't shout down a troll. You have to starve them. . |
#26
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Generator Thoughts
Kyle Boatright wrote:
"Stormin Mormon" wrote in message ... I think the Coleman Powermate runs 1,000 watts. I did a froogle search, and this was the closest I found http://power-tools.hardwarestore.com...or-632696.aspx which is $609, and is 1800 watts. What equipment do you want to run? Motors, lights, heaters, what? Extremely occasional use at an airport location without electricity. I need to run a 250w engine pre-heater 10 times a year for a couple of hours. Concurrent with that, I'd probaby run a battery tender which would have a very low draw. I figure spending a few hundred bucks on a generator will be cheaper (but less convenient) in the long run than running power to the hangar and paying an electricity bill (and meter charge) every month. KB Sounds well within the capability of a $60 inverter. Run it off your car / truck and never worry about getting a generator started, carrying a gas can, noise, etc. Pete C. |
#27
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Generator Thoughts
According to Pete C. :
Stormin Mormon wrote: Dear Pete, That is a concern. I do have a Coleman generator, and curious what problems you've found. I bought it used, about 1998 or 99. Would have to check the paper work, see what was the manufacture date. It is a 2200 watt, with 5 HP Briggs. Pleased for any information you have. Recall short brush life (buy a few extra pairs) and issues with loss of field and needing to be "repolarized" with a car battery. During the great ice storm, a number of colemans caught fire. A variety of issues. One of them was that US Colemans (they imported thousands in a big rush) didn't meet CSA specs, and had to be modified before resale, and sometimes they got it wrong. Apparently, the instructions said that they already had oil, but they didn't, or people simply weren't used to handling 4 stroke engines. Mostly, however, it was simply a matter of trying to run a light duty generator for too many days at a time. -- Chris Lewis, Una confibula non set est It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them. |
#28
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Generator Thoughts
On Thu, 10 Aug 2006 21:08:09 -0400, "Kyle Boatright"
wrote: I need a small generator for use at an isolated outside storage building. The power demand is 1,000 watts or less and the generator only needs to run for an hour or two at a time. The generator will only be used occasionally, but, like most things, needs to work when I need it. FYI, I've looked at Honda generators, but their units are too pricey for my needs. I simply can't justify the cost, regardless of how nice the Honda generators are. At the other end of the spectrum, there are $99 generators on Ebay (2 strokes), but those scare the stuffing out of me, because I don't recognize the brand and because, after all, I need the darned thing to work when necessary. Any thoughts for a reliable, low cost generator that'll fit the bill? I've no doubt Honda units are very quiet, long lasting etc. I've brought a couple of the el-cheapo generators. I don't have a requirement of regular use, just for emergency use. Nor am I looking for 1000's of hours of use. I've always got them to start quite easily once I kept their fuel tanks dry until I wanted to use them. Keep the fuel in a sealed container until needed. It is a good idea to start them every now and again just to check them (and also you too), otherwise you can forget silly things like fuel cock positions, motor kill switches, etc. It is important to note, that like all small engines/small fuel tanks, fresh fuel is a real _must_ for good starting. Fuel in small tanks seems to go bad quite easily and fairly quickly too. Fuel in 16-20 gallon tanks seems to be fine even after years of not being used, just not in tiny tanks like for unused outboards or unused small generators or unused chainsaws. Me, I'd try a cheapy and see if it will do the job for you. You can only lose just a few dollars doing this. I've got the inverters that run off a 12V car battery too. These are fine for emergencies too. If you use them too regularly on a car battery and deep cycle the battery, then car batteries don't cope well with regular deep cycling and will fail fairly quickly under such use. Ross (To get email address ROT 13) |
#29
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Generator Thoughts
"Pete C." wrote in message ... Kyle Boatright wrote: "Stormin Mormon" wrote in message ... I think the Coleman Powermate runs 1,000 watts. I did a froogle search, and this was the closest I found http://power-tools.hardwarestore.com...or-632696.aspx which is $609, and is 1800 watts. What equipment do you want to run? Motors, lights, heaters, what? Extremely occasional use at an airport location without electricity. I need to run a 250w engine pre-heater 10 times a year for a couple of hours. Concurrent with that, I'd probaby run a battery tender which would have a very low draw. I figure spending a few hundred bucks on a generator will be cheaper (but less convenient) in the long run than running power to the hangar and paying an electricity bill (and meter charge) every month. KB Sounds well within the capability of a $60 inverter. Run it off your car / truck and never worry about getting a generator started, carrying a gas can, noise, etc. Pete C. Yes, but... Parking a car at the airport and waiting around for a couple of hours while the aircraft engine heater runs off of the car invertor isn't a viable option... |
#30
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Generator Thoughts
You own a plane, but can't afford a grand for a good generator?!?!?
Kyle Boatright wrote: "Stormin Mormon" wrote in message ... I think the Coleman Powermate runs 1,000 watts. I did a froogle search, and this was the closest I found http://power-tools.hardwarestore.com...or-632696.aspx which is $609, and is 1800 watts. What equipment do you want to run? Motors, lights, heaters, what? Extremely occasional use at an airport location without electricity. I need to run a 250w engine pre-heater 10 times a year for a couple of hours. Concurrent with that, I'd probaby run a battery tender which would have a very low draw. I figure spending a few hundred bucks on a generator will be cheaper (but less convenient) in the long run than running power to the hangar and paying an electricity bill (and meter charge) every month. KB -- Christopher A. Young You can't shout down a troll. You have to starve them. . |
#31
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Generator Thoughts
"rickandroll" wrote in message oups.com... You own a plane, but can't afford a grand for a good generator?!?!? Yep. Unless you've got unlimited money (I certainly don't), you choose the places to spend and the places to save. That lets me fund the things that are priorities to me, such as flying. FYI, my car has 220k miles, and I'm in no hurry to replace it... It'll become a priority if/when it becomes unreliable. KB Kyle Boatright wrote: "Stormin Mormon" wrote in message ... I think the Coleman Powermate runs 1,000 watts. I did a froogle search, and this was the closest I found http://power-tools.hardwarestore.com...or-632696.aspx which is $609, and is 1800 watts. What equipment do you want to run? Motors, lights, heaters, what? Extremely occasional use at an airport location without electricity. I need to run a 250w engine pre-heater 10 times a year for a couple of hours. Concurrent with that, I'd probaby run a battery tender which would have a very low draw. I figure spending a few hundred bucks on a generator will be cheaper (but less convenient) in the long run than running power to the hangar and paying an electricity bill (and meter charge) every month. KB -- Christopher A. Young You can't shout down a troll. You have to starve them. . |
#32
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Generator Thoughts
Can you preheat your engine with propane, or some other means? Sounds
like a LOT of work to heat a motor. As the other fine person suggested, an inverter and run off the vehicle motor while the vehicle is running. Filament heaters should run just fine off an inverter. -- Christopher A. Young You can't shout down a troll. You have to starve them. .. "Kyle Boatright" wrote in message ... Extremely occasional use at an airport location without electricity. I need to run a 250w engine pre-heater 10 times a year for a couple of hours. Concurrent with that, I'd probaby run a battery tender which would have a very low draw. I figure spending a few hundred bucks on a generator will be cheaper (but less convenient) in the long run than running power to the hangar and paying an electricity bill (and meter charge) every month. KB |
#33
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Generator Thoughts (and some painfully learned wisdom)
Can't remember, but I think mine may have a low oil shutdown. I know
my sisters did, and that gave them trouble. Ran for a full second, and then died. It had oil the dipstick, but they didn't know why it was dying. So, they went and bought another one. Gave me the old one. I added four ounces oil, and it ran fine. Of course, I did change the oil, and some other maint. Traded the generator to my Dad, who left the gas in. A "helpful" neighbor sprayed ether into the spark hole. Which dried the cylinder walls. It set up and threw a piston rod through the side of the engine. It's OK to spray ether on the air filter, I've done that enough times. When my carb gaskets are all dried out. -- Christopher A. Young You can't shout down a troll. You have to starve them. .. "Chris Lewis" wrote in message ... During the great ice storm, a number of colemans caught fire. A variety of issues. One of them was that US Colemans (they imported thousands in a big rush) didn't meet CSA specs, and had to be modified before resale, and sometimes they got it wrong. Apparently, the instructions said that they already had oil, but they didn't, or people simply weren't used to handling 4 stroke engines. Mostly, however, it was simply a matter of trying to run a light duty generator for too many days at a time. -- Chris Lewis, Una confibula non set est It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them. |
#34
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Generator Thoughts
Yeah, and he center posts.
-- Christopher A. Young You can't shout down a troll. You have to starve them. .. "rickandroll" wrote in message oups.com... You own a plane, but can't afford a grand for a good generator?!?!? Kyle Boatright wrote: "Stormin Mormon" wrote in message ... I think the Coleman Powermate runs 1,000 watts. I did a froogle search, and this was the closest I found http://power-tools.hardwarestore.com...or-632696.aspx which is $609, and is 1800 watts. What equipment do you want to run? Motors, lights, heaters, what? Extremely occasional use at an airport location without electricity. I need to run a 250w engine pre-heater 10 times a year for a couple of hours. Concurrent with that, I'd probaby run a battery tender which would have a very low draw. I figure spending a few hundred bucks on a generator will be cheaper (but less convenient) in the long run than running power to the hangar and paying an electricity bill (and meter charge) every month. KB -- Christopher A. Young You can't shout down a troll. You have to starve them. . |
#35
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Generator Thoughts
One thing to think about is fuel storage - if it's a gas powered generator, you need to run the carb and fuel lines dry , put stabilizer in the gas, and even then you should occasionally swap out the gas. Since most people don't do this, seldom-run gas generators are unlikely to start reliably for more than a year or two. If you really need reliable intermittent generator power, look at nat gas or propane powered units. |
#36
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Generator Thoughts
One thing to think about is fuel storage - if it's a gas powered generator, you need to run the carb and fuel lines dry , put stabilizer in the gas, and even then you should occasionally swap out the gas. Since most people don't do this, seldom-run gas generators are unlikely to start reliably for more than a year or two. If you really need reliable intermittent generator power, look at nat gas or propane powered units. |
#37
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Generator Thoughts
"MDT at Paragon Home Inspections, LLC" wrote:
One thing to think about is fuel storage - if it's a gas powered generator, you need to run the carb and fuel lines dry , put stabilizer in the gas, and even then you should occasionally swap out the gas. Since most people don't do this, seldom-run gas generators are unlikely to start reliably for more than a year or two. If you really need reliable intermittent generator power, look at nat gas or propane powered units. Nat. gas or propane for a 1 kW *portable* generator????? On what planet is that practical? Pete C. |
#38
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Generator Thoughts
If you really need reliable intermittent generator power, look at nat gas or propane powered units. Nat. gas or propane for a 1 kW *portable* generator????? On what planet is that practical? Pete C. you can buy natural gas and propane small generators, pricey because theres little demand, the regulator and mixing valves arent a big deal. derate gasoline generators about 20% when run on natural gas or propane since they have less energy than gasoline |
#39
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Generator Thoughts
" wrote:
If you really need reliable intermittent generator power, look at nat gas or propane powered units. Nat. gas or propane for a 1 kW *portable* generator????? On what planet is that practical? Pete C. you can buy natural gas and propane small generators, pricey because theres little demand, the regulator and mixing valves arent a big deal. derate gasoline generators about 20% when run on natural gas or propane since they have less energy than gasoline I'm well aware that you can get small generators in multi fuel though I've never seen it on one below about 5kW. The point is that the small multi fuel generator might be portable, but the nat. gas or propane are not. Sure you could drag along and manifold a couple 20# BBQ propane tanks, but that doesn't fit my definition of portable. Certainly not compared to the ~55# complete Honda EU1000i for about $700. Pete C. |
#40
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Generator Thoughts
Pete C. wrote: " wrote: If you really need reliable intermittent generator power, look at nat gas or propane powered units. Nat. gas or propane for a 1 kW *portable* generator????? On what planet is that practical? Pete C. you can buy natural gas and propane small generators, pricey because theres little demand, the regulator and mixing valves arent a big deal. derate gasoline generators about 20% when run on natural gas or propane since they have less energy than gasoline I'm well aware that you can get small generators in multi fuel though I've never seen it on one below about 5kW. The point is that the small multi fuel generator might be portable, but the nat. gas or propane are not. Sure you could drag along and manifold a couple 20# BBQ propane tanks, but that doesn't fit my definition of portable. Certainly not compared to the ~55# complete Honda EU1000i for about $700. Pete C. Well they tend to be multi fuel, take to a job site run on gasoline. Put oputside your home, connect natural gas or propane hose to quick disconnect that at other times might be used for gas grill. Natural gas burns clean, doesnt gum up when unused either. Its really simple to conver even a small gasoline engine to natural gas. I have a friend who has done that but he runs his car and jeep on CNG at 1500 PSI. |