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Re: Back up generators? Thoughts, Experiences ?? [Re: Underthinker] #2996667
12/19/21 10:00 AM
12/19/21 10:00 AM
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 13
USA
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Underthinker Offline
member
Underthinker  Offline
member
U

Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 13
USA
Omaha Craigslist has a couple on there also!

Re: Back up generators? Thoughts, Experiences ?? [Re: Underthinker] #2996675
12/19/21 10:51 AM
12/19/21 10:51 AM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,511
AZ
Mike P Offline
pro stock
Mike P  Offline
pro stock

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,511
AZ
Just a few thoughts/experiences with my generators.

I’ve got an older portable 8K gasoline backup Generac that’s hooked up to our old house (my daughter and grandkids are living there now). It’s enough to run the essentials like the swamp coolers, refrigerator, microwave etc. The house in on natural gas so it works out ok. Our power out here is pretty reliable, (we only loose power about once a year so) it doesn’t get used that much. I keep 20 gallons of fuel in cans on hand for it and run it about every 6 months to exercise it and make sure it’s good to go if needed.

Biggest problem is fuel. It burns about a gallon an hour under load. Besides the 20 gallons I figure I can usually pull another 80 gallons out of the vehicles around here if needed. I don’t trust the fuel in the cans to stay good much longer than 6 months so I usually pour it into one of the trucks and refill the cans every 6 months. When I shut it down I cut the fuel off so the carburetor drains and then drain the gas tank to make sure there is no stale gas in it when I go to start it. It’s a PIA but it gets us by when the power goes out.

My wife and I moved into a smaller (1000 sq ft) house a couple of years ago that’s all electric. I’m currently hooking up an 18K whole house standby generator to that house. I went propane for a couple of reasons…..the gas company not wanting to run a new service for just a standby generator made the decision pretty easy though (LOL). Propane has a couple of advantages. It doesn’t go bad and if what ever caused the power failure affects the NG supply I’ll still have power. Running propane also allows the 18K to put out the full 18K power. If I was running NG I would have needed a 20 or 22K generator as the 22K power rating drops to around 19.5K when run on NG.

Our new generator is set to automatically start when the power goes off which I opted for as the wife and I aren’t getting any younger.

Something else to think about when picking a generator is if you will be if you or your wife will be able to get it going in a few years. When my mom started going down hill several years ago we originally set her up with a portable generator. She lives in the mid west and it worked great but someone had to come over and get it started. The first bad winter storm she had it took 2 hours before someone made it there. That’s when we upgraded her to a whole house generator with the auto startup.

Just my 2 cents.


1957 Plymouth (Hemi, Dual Quads, A833 4 Speed 9 1/4 w 4.10) Sold
1937 Dodge Pickup (Hemi, 6X2 intake, 46RH, Dana 60 w 4.56) Sold
1968 Plymouth Valiant 2dr sedan (354 HEMI, 46RH w/4.30 gears)
Re: Back up generators? Thoughts, Experiences ?? [Re: Mike P] #2996868
12/19/21 10:45 PM
12/19/21 10:45 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,338
Omaha Ne
T
TJP Offline OP
I Live Here
TJP  Offline OP
I Live Here
T

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,338
Omaha Ne
It would be a lot simpler if the idiots that built this place had taken up the local utility company on their offer when they ran the gas lines through the area. I've been told by the neighbors they offered to run the line for free if you signed a contract to have at least ONE gas appliance for 10 years. that was a no brainer IMO. The biggest hog is the heat pump/AC unit.

I may give them a call to see if there is any current "deal". The way the property is laid out, aesthetically it's going to be enough of a challenge to locate a unit much less a Propane tank. I'm assuming they need reasonable access to fill it shruggy In addition, not sure how fond the driveway would be of a loaded propane truck frown

Just a side note, we're a good 700 ft off the street. thanks for all the comments and suggestion so far. wink

Re: Back up generators? Thoughts, Experiences ?? [Re: TJP] #2996880
12/19/21 11:13 PM
12/19/21 11:13 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,759
A collage of whims
topside Offline
Too Many Posts
topside  Offline
Too Many Posts

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,759
A collage of whims
When I had propane, the tank was behind the house, and the truck had something like 100 feet of hose.
Tank was at least 80 feet from the closest they could get the truck, until I did a semi-circle gravel driveway around the house.

Agree, that natural gas offer WAS a no-brainer.

Re: Back up generators? Thoughts, Experiences ?? [Re: topside] #2996940
12/20/21 08:49 AM
12/20/21 08:49 AM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,511
AZ
Mike P Offline
pro stock
Mike P  Offline
pro stock

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,511
AZ



Came across this that might be food for thought.

https://smoenergy.com/blog/5-ways-to-conceal-your-propane-tank/


1957 Plymouth (Hemi, Dual Quads, A833 4 Speed 9 1/4 w 4.10) Sold
1937 Dodge Pickup (Hemi, 6X2 intake, 46RH, Dana 60 w 4.56) Sold
1968 Plymouth Valiant 2dr sedan (354 HEMI, 46RH w/4.30 gears)
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