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Started By
Message
Home Generator---
Posted on 11/12/16 at 10:28 pm
Posted on 11/12/16 at 10:28 pm
I am thinking about putting in a standby generator. I think I need a 20 kw or so.
There are several air cooled brands around $4500 dollars that run on either propane or natural gas. Trouble is natural gas is not available to me and I do not have a propane tank.
From what I read these gas fueled generators can use up to 3 gallons per hour under load. Thats a lot.
I would need a 300 gallon tank just to get through a 100 hours after a hurricane and then I bet delivery would not be available.
I am thinking diesel. I can haul 60 gallons in a transfer tank I have and most the generators have 35 gallon storage built in. They run less than 2 gallons per hour under load.
What do you think? Do you have a generator brand that you like?
There are several air cooled brands around $4500 dollars that run on either propane or natural gas. Trouble is natural gas is not available to me and I do not have a propane tank.
From what I read these gas fueled generators can use up to 3 gallons per hour under load. Thats a lot.
I would need a 300 gallon tank just to get through a 100 hours after a hurricane and then I bet delivery would not be available.
I am thinking diesel. I can haul 60 gallons in a transfer tank I have and most the generators have 35 gallon storage built in. They run less than 2 gallons per hour under load.
What do you think? Do you have a generator brand that you like?
Posted on 11/12/16 at 10:45 pm to I B Freeman
this is probably not what you are looking for, but if you do the math, generators are not nearly worth what they cost you.
when you take into consideration, the initial cost plus the cost to run the thing in a crisis, you can pay for a hell of a lot of hotel rooms.
when you take into consideration, the initial cost plus the cost to run the thing in a crisis, you can pay for a hell of a lot of hotel rooms.
Posted on 11/12/16 at 10:47 pm to Spankum
no doubt.
I like the idea of eliminating the short outages (had two this week--one when I was trying shower and go to work)
I like the idea of eliminating the short outages (had two this week--one when I was trying shower and go to work)
Posted on 11/13/16 at 12:02 am to I B Freeman
Get a propane tank yeah you can hide out in a hotel & loss all your meat in the freezer & refrigerator, do you have pets? hotel living with a few pets is a fricking treat if it's allowed! there is more to buying a generator than saving a few bucks when losing the electricity. Quality of life
This post was edited on 11/13/16 at 7:36 am
Posted on 11/13/16 at 2:10 am to Spankum
quote:
when you take into consideration, the initial cost plus the cost to run the thing in a crisis, you can pay for a hell of a lot of hotel rooms.
If you could be guaranteed availability of a hotel room that would be a valid point, but you can't. Also there is the consideration of the cost of stored food that may be lost, and potential damage to a house and contents from high temperature and humidity.
Posted on 11/13/16 at 7:33 am to EA6B
You are not going to get a new diesel 20kw for $4500.00.
Posted on 11/13/16 at 8:45 am to I B Freeman
Buy a Kohler 20KW Generator.
Buy an automatic transfer switch.
Buy a 250 gallon propane tank...hide it behind bushes or a white plastic fence barrier. Buy it from a a gas company...they will come out a refill as needed. You may be able to purchase complete package form a propane dealer. ~~ I have a 20 KW Kohler running on natural gas. Power goes off...less than 10 seconds I have power.
Buy an automatic transfer switch.
Buy a 250 gallon propane tank...hide it behind bushes or a white plastic fence barrier. Buy it from a a gas company...they will come out a refill as needed. You may be able to purchase complete package form a propane dealer. ~~ I have a 20 KW Kohler running on natural gas. Power goes off...less than 10 seconds I have power.
Posted on 11/13/16 at 8:51 am to I B Freeman
You could get a smaller one and just pick what you want to run
Posted on 11/13/16 at 8:52 am to LSU Tiger Bob
We have a generac guardian 20kw and I'll piggy back on saying they are not worth it unless you have money to burn. We have had ours for 4 years and have used it 1 time and that was in the winter (south la) and didn't really NEED it it was more the mystique of using it. In the last 4 years I've replaced a control panel and 2 12v batteries on the damn thing, and it's time for servicing again. Luckily we didn't pay for it, it was here when we bought the house, but for the 7-8k it cost installed, you could do a lot more with that money.
Posted on 11/13/16 at 9:26 am to gsvar2004
Highly recommend a manual transfer switch, especially if you already have a portable generator.
Manual Trans Switch
Pick 10 crucial circuits and use house internal wiring. I have 2 fridges, ceiling fans, lights and TV/wifi, and others hooked up. Best $400 I've invested in house, did install myself. Protects back feeding grid and hooks up in minutes.
Manual Trans Switch
Pick 10 crucial circuits and use house internal wiring. I have 2 fridges, ceiling fans, lights and TV/wifi, and others hooked up. Best $400 I've invested in house, did install myself. Protects back feeding grid and hooks up in minutes.
Posted on 11/13/16 at 9:49 am to gsvar2004
I'll just add...not to be argumentative...something smaller and portable is workable. However not knowing your layout...you have to have a place to store it. You have to go drag it out each time it's needed. If you are out of town or dead...could your wife manhandle a 300# generator...maintain it. (They all require some maintenance) etc. I have three portable generators...from large to small. They performed well during Katrina, but the hassle of extension cords all over the house and trying to keep them fed with gasoline was a pain in the arse...At the time I didn't have a safe way to connect one of them to the house. I remedied that right after Katrina to only later go with a 20 KW NG Kohler, transfer switch etc. It is costly...some would argue not worth it. For me it is/was an insurance policy. Insurance that if I was not here... my wife would only have to wait less than 10 seconds for power to be restored to the house. No wires, no chasing down gas at stations that didn't have any or no way to get it out of the ground if they did. Motels are nice...if you can find a room...if THEY have power. If you don't hunt, fish, garden, buy in bulk etc. Then leaving two or three freezers/ refrigerators to thaw may not be an issue for you. In the end it's your choice which way to go. Think it through. Good luck.
Posted on 11/13/16 at 10:56 am to hogdaddy
I like that 23kw on M&L's site.
I wonder if that can be bought less than $15K? I like that fuel burn--1.7 gallons per hour at 100% load. I can get more time with the 70 gallon tank that comes with it than I could with a 200 gallon propane tank and a Generac 20 kw.
In a long outage it will be easier to get diesel than to get propane delivered I think.
It's a lot of money and simply a luxury. I am going to think about it some more.
thanks for the link.
I wonder if that can be bought less than $15K? I like that fuel burn--1.7 gallons per hour at 100% load. I can get more time with the 70 gallon tank that comes with it than I could with a 200 gallon propane tank and a Generac 20 kw.
In a long outage it will be easier to get diesel than to get propane delivered I think.
It's a lot of money and simply a luxury. I am going to think about it some more.
thanks for the link.
Posted on 11/13/16 at 11:06 am to I B Freeman
Where do you live? Propane companies will provide a tank to you for a small yearly rental fee (30-50 bucks a year). They come out and fill it up upon request. Propane is cheap and will burn a lot cleaner.
I used to work in the generator business and now I work in the fuel business (including propane). I'd be happy to point you in the right direction on a propane or diesel provider in your area. You want to burn off road diesel in a generator if you go that route because you save .44 a gallon vs the on road diesel you buy at a gas station
I used to work in the generator business and now I work in the fuel business (including propane). I'd be happy to point you in the right direction on a propane or diesel provider in your area. You want to burn off road diesel in a generator if you go that route because you save .44 a gallon vs the on road diesel you buy at a gas station
This post was edited on 11/13/16 at 11:11 am
Posted on 11/13/16 at 11:08 am to I B Freeman
Also, you will never run your generator at 100% so look at the 50% and 75% usage as a more accurate fuel consumption
ETA: size you generator at 25-33% over peak load. You do not want to run your machine at 100%
I also disagree that it is easier to get diesel than it would be propane in a long outage. But that's just my opinion
ETA: size you generator at 25-33% over peak load. You do not want to run your machine at 100%
I also disagree that it is easier to get diesel than it would be propane in a long outage. But that's just my opinion
This post was edited on 11/13/16 at 11:12 am
Posted on 11/13/16 at 1:22 pm to redfieldk717
Posted on 11/13/16 at 1:31 pm to I B Freeman
quote:
In a long outage it will be easier to get diesel than to get propane delivered I think.
Wrong!
Posted on 11/13/16 at 3:40 pm to LSU Tiger Bob
Can you imagine the demand for propane delivery if we had another Katrina? A whole lot more people have generators than they did then.
Do you think the propane folks can keep up?
I have a diesel transfer tank that is about 80 gallons. I can keep the diesel rotated so it doesn't go bad. They just so much more efficient than those air cooled gas ones. Lot more up front though.
I have a small one now that ran my well and my frig and freezer and TV during Katrina. I actually have two. One an import diesel at 6000 watt and one a gas at 5000 watts. I keep the diesel on at the office. It burns less than half what the gasoline one does.
I have almost talked myself out of it BUT still interested.
Thanks for the feedback.
Do you think the propane folks can keep up?
I have a diesel transfer tank that is about 80 gallons. I can keep the diesel rotated so it doesn't go bad. They just so much more efficient than those air cooled gas ones. Lot more up front though.
I have a small one now that ran my well and my frig and freezer and TV during Katrina. I actually have two. One an import diesel at 6000 watt and one a gas at 5000 watts. I keep the diesel on at the office. It burns less than half what the gasoline one does.
I have almost talked myself out of it BUT still interested.
Thanks for the feedback.
Posted on 11/13/16 at 7:28 pm to I B Freeman
quote:
Can you imagine the demand for propane delivery if we had another Katrina? A whole lot more people have generators than they did then.
I would guess mostly small to medium size gas burners. Not propane, nor natural gas, or diesel...but I don't know.
quote:
Do you think the propane folks can keep up?
Have no clue. Go talk to local propane dealers about what your options are.
Good luck
This post was edited on 11/13/16 at 7:30 pm
Posted on 11/13/16 at 8:57 pm to I B Freeman
Houses in Baton Rouge run on natural gas. Propane demand in a city like that is relatively low.
Diesel generators will also cost you about double if nothing has changed in the last couple of years.
Diesel generators will also cost you about double if nothing has changed in the last couple of years.
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