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Message
Portable Generator for Home Backup
Posted on 5/8/21 at 10:19 am
Posted on 5/8/21 at 10:19 am
Having trouble pulling the trigger on a portable generator to use in longer sustained power outage situations.
Some background:
- House is mostly gas, except for A/C - and not interested in trying to spin off a 5-ton unit
- I have installed a commercial 200 amp 3-pole manual transfer switch between the meter and the main panel and a 50 amp receptacle (I have a 50-to-30 amp adapter)
- My goal is to find a portable gasoline generator with 8-15kw running wattage and a low THD (<5%)
The front runners seem to be Honda (top of the line, but super expensive) or Generac (mostly reliable, but some issues reported as of late).
I am seeing advertisements for DuroMax, DuroStar, Champion and Predator - but I really don’t know anything about these brands.
I think I am leaning towards the Generac XC8000E:
LINK
- Rated for 8kw running, 10kw starting
- Electric and recoil start
- 11 hour runtime at 50% load
- Says it has a <5% THD
Reviews are mixed, hard to find a source that isn’t slanted towards a brand.
For the price of the Honda or Generac, I could buy two of some other brands I’ve seen, and keep one as a standby.
Any other suggestions? Are any of these other brands worth considering, or should I stick with a name brand?
Some background:
- House is mostly gas, except for A/C - and not interested in trying to spin off a 5-ton unit
- I have installed a commercial 200 amp 3-pole manual transfer switch between the meter and the main panel and a 50 amp receptacle (I have a 50-to-30 amp adapter)
- My goal is to find a portable gasoline generator with 8-15kw running wattage and a low THD (<5%)
The front runners seem to be Honda (top of the line, but super expensive) or Generac (mostly reliable, but some issues reported as of late).
I am seeing advertisements for DuroMax, DuroStar, Champion and Predator - but I really don’t know anything about these brands.
I think I am leaning towards the Generac XC8000E:
LINK
- Rated for 8kw running, 10kw starting
- Electric and recoil start
- 11 hour runtime at 50% load
- Says it has a <5% THD
Reviews are mixed, hard to find a source that isn’t slanted towards a brand.
For the price of the Honda or Generac, I could buy two of some other brands I’ve seen, and keep one as a standby.
Any other suggestions? Are any of these other brands worth considering, or should I stick with a name brand?
7
Posted on 5/8/21 at 10:29 am to hollowpoint
Look at the Westinhouse sold at Home Depot. I got a similar setup. Plug in connected to panel, lockout switch to kill main. I got the 12. 5_9.5 kw 50amp model
This post was edited on 5/8/21 at 11:02 am
Posted on 5/8/21 at 10:30 am to hollowpoint
quote:
8-15kw running wattage with a low THD (<5%)
Ive been looking for the same thing, but I want it to run off natural gas. Ended up giving up on anything over 8kw running on natural gas due to prices. Natural gas de rates the output by 15-20% and low THC big generators are pricey. Thanks for the Generac link as I hadn’t seen that one.
Westinghouse makes one that is 8kw running and Winco makes one that’s 10kw running with low THC . Winco is $$$ and a lot are back ordered. Have you looked at how much gas 8-10k running suck down?
Posted on 5/8/21 at 10:45 am to ABucks11
Does a higher than 5% THD matter if you don’t plug electronics directly into the generator? I have a 30amp plug in by my breaker box with interlock switch setup.
I’m looking to upgrade from my 5000w to 7500w or 9500w.
I’m looking to upgrade from my 5000w to 7500w or 9500w.
Posted on 5/8/21 at 11:09 am to hollowpoint
I have a Champion 7500, 9375 surge that I ran for 3 weeks after Michael, wired into the house panel so I could run my well pump. House is electric and we didn't try to cook with it but I did run the water heater with it once or twice a day and the well pump was kicking on and off in addition to a normal house load, so it got a workout. Three weeks isn't exactly a torture test but I was very happy with it.
If power outages were a normal thing I'd probably add a 2kw inverter for those temporary outages that just last a few hours, but I don't see the need for my situation.
If power outages were a normal thing I'd probably add a 2kw inverter for those temporary outages that just last a few hours, but I don't see the need for my situation.
Posted on 5/8/21 at 1:01 pm to Tiger 79
quote:
Look at the Westinhouse sold at Home Depot.
Westinghouse WGEN12000DF
I think this is the route I am going to go. It’s at least easier to find than the Generac and has more output (12kw/15kw). I may not need that much today, but I’d like a little headroom in case my loads change in the future.
This model also does not have GFCI protection on the built-in connections, which is one less thing to break in the future.
Looks like I’ll have to buy off of Amazon though, neither Lowe’s or HD have it in stock.
Posted on 5/8/21 at 1:11 pm to Butta
quote:
Does a higher than 5% THD matter if you don’t plug electronics directly into the generator?
THD is a measure of how clean the power is and will be calculated at the output of the generator head - so yes, the THD would be the same across all outlets on the generator, even if you connected directly to a panel using one of the larger 240v 30a/50a outlets.
I’m a little more worried about THD because I have a number of UPS devices and some can be fickle with a THD >5%. I want to make sure the batteries are able to charge and produce power.
Posted on 5/8/21 at 1:48 pm to hollowpoint
I had an electrician wire me up a transfer switch and 50amp receptacle a few months ago. He’s running the same setup at his house with this Champion. I haven’t purchased it yet as I’m considering going with one of the Duromax dual fuel generators. Haven’t been able to pull the trigger.
Champion 9200
Champion 9200
Posted on 5/8/21 at 1:57 pm to GCTigahs
I like that champion or the Westinghouse dual fuel 9500. I’ll probably swap my 30 amp plug in to a 50 amp plug in with whichever one I get.
Posted on 5/8/21 at 2:36 pm to hollowpoint
We have run the predator in a camp situation and for the price IMHO it is the best. I have a graveyard of them at the camp(including a Honda) and overall the predator was the best due to cost. We had spent up to 3k and were getting around 750-1500/hrs year TOPS. Finally went with a commercial series after doing a lot of research and problem solved. Cost went WAY up but when you find them with tens of thousands of hours it’s not so bad. I still use a predator for the house cause they just are not built to last long term and they are so cheap compared to most.
Posted on 5/8/21 at 2:37 pm to hollowpoint
HF has a new Predator 9500w inverter generator, I don't know about the THD but it checks all the other boxes for $1800. Most of them are Honda knock offs
Posted on 5/8/21 at 8:08 pm to Butta
quote:
Does a higher than 5% THD matter if you don’t plug electronics directly into the generator? I have a 30amp plug in by my breaker box with interlock switch setup.
Doesn’t matter where it is plugged in, and almost every refrigerator, electric or gas range, microwave, many washers and dryers, and window AC units made in the last 15 years have a microprocessor based control board which is sometimes almost as expensive to replace as buying a new appliance.
Posted on 5/9/21 at 5:13 am to hollowpoint
I have a CAT2000 which I think is a great product. I put it to good use this year. It is easy to set up and use. You get a long run time on a single tank of gas; it is very quiet. Everything I have read compares it to the Honda, but it is several hundred dollars cheaper.
Posted on 5/9/21 at 7:19 am to Barneyrb
I have their 3500 inverter.
7 gallons of gas per 24 hours run.
Ran two fridges, two window units, some lights, and a tv.
Worked fine for us. Work gave us ten gallons a day for fuel during Laura so we were doing fine fuel wise.
Liked it so much bought a spare. Can hook together if needed. Still in a box.
I did do the charcoal canister delete and installed ngk spark plugs.
7 gallons of gas per 24 hours run.
Ran two fridges, two window units, some lights, and a tv.
Worked fine for us. Work gave us ten gallons a day for fuel during Laura so we were doing fine fuel wise.
Liked it so much bought a spare. Can hook together if needed. Still in a box.
I did do the charcoal canister delete and installed ngk spark plugs.
Posted on 5/9/21 at 8:27 am to thejudge
Posted on 5/9/21 at 8:29 am to thejudge
After the hurricanes last year I installed a gen interlock kit on my house.
My Generator: LINK
Interlock kit was purchased from https://www.geninterlock.com/
When the power goes out I simply shut off the main, then turn on the generator breaker. I also shut off all the 220 breakers in the panel. Then plug in the cord to the wall, plug in cord to generator & crank it up. I can run all the 110 stuff in the house. I can turn on the 220 breaker for the hot water heater as needed too.
My Generator: LINK
Interlock kit was purchased from https://www.geninterlock.com/
When the power goes out I simply shut off the main, then turn on the generator breaker. I also shut off all the 220 breakers in the panel. Then plug in the cord to the wall, plug in cord to generator & crank it up. I can run all the 110 stuff in the house. I can turn on the 220 breaker for the hot water heater as needed too.
This post was edited on 5/9/21 at 4:30 pm
Posted on 5/9/21 at 8:43 am to LSUdude3756
quote:
Been looking at this one
Doesn’t look like the link is working.
Posted on 5/9/21 at 8:44 am to LSUdude3756
Link is dead.
I saw northern tool. If it's their blue brand stay away. Bad reviews.
I saw northern tool. If it's their blue brand stay away. Bad reviews.
Posted on 5/9/21 at 8:45 pm to LSUdude3756
Holy shite. That's a big damn push around generator.
In that price range is buy a big Honda inverter. Super quiet and will run everything but your central. Maybe even that if you install a soft start on your central unit
In that price range is buy a big Honda inverter. Super quiet and will run everything but your central. Maybe even that if you install a soft start on your central unit
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