Emergency standby back up generators...

Kind of long...

In 2015 my wife and I decided to research and buy a back up generator for our home. We did not want to go the permanent gen route due to the expense involved. After lots of research and reading reviews and familiarity with the reliability with Honda product we opted for a Honda gen. The one we bought is the EU 7000 IS. It's a fuel injected model, electric start and gives up approx 30 amps of power. It run our has nat heat, nat gas hot water, a nat gas Xtrodinaire fireplace, 2 freezers and 2 frigs/freezers, our 3 garage door openers. This is not a whole house generator, but for our needs this portable does all we need it to do.
I can run it approx 18 hrs on a 5 gal tank of fuel on a quarter load. Keeping in mind we won't be running full load 100% of the time. It's super quiet. I have 60 gallons of gas stored and rotated through seasonally using stabil additive. The service on this unit is very simple and well thought out by Honda.
We had an electrician install a basic lockout switch in our 200 amp panel and a gen plug in box opposite the panel exterior.
We have never had to use it for back up yet. But with the recent storms passing through it is a piece of mind knowing we won't loose what is in our freezers, and we will have power for a week or more. This gen will not run our 4 ton A/C unit. But we have plenty of ceiling fans throughout to keep air moving. We would have had to buy a 10-12 kilowatt natural gas permanent unit for this. We like the portability of the Honda, if we ever move which is doubtful it's moving with us. Again super crazy quiet unit.

With the generator, electricians county code install of a box and lockout switch and 30 amp 25' power line, Gentent cover for generator, I am all in for about $5000.00. The Gentent will withstand pretty severe winds and snow coverage. It's gotta a Velcro flap which pulls back for refueling. Model specific and again well thought out. Ya gotta keep a generator from getting soaked..they are not invincible or water proof.

Having said all this....this generator setup works excellent and provides everything we need. Keep in mind you cannot run every electrical appliance in your home. But during a power outage who does? It will provide enough power to get you through as along as you have fuel.

My biggest concern is an eventual attack on our aging power grid. It's ancient. I guess we'll have lights, heat and food for several weeks anyway. Had this unit drop shipped from Generatorsdirect.com total 5 stars. Came on a wood pallet in a large Honda boxed crate, perfect. The delivery guy used a floor pallet jack and placed it in my garage. Happy...

Anyone invested in portable back up power?



Lockout switch- keeps gen power from a deadly back feed into your road main and potentially killing a lineman. A must have. Forces you to shut off standby generator switch to turn main power back on. Simple but extremely safe. I think it was like $200 installed mostly labor. The switch is not expensive.


Exterior box where my 30 amp power cable plus into interior
panel above. The lock keeps honest people honest lol.

 

Haven't had a chance to look into backup power myself, but as soon as the doc and I settle down and buy a house at our FINAL moving place, I'm definitely looking into this!

Where we're planning on ending up (Baton Rouge, La right next to my hometown) is known for hurricane hits and the occasional tornado warning. After Katrina, I was without power for a week or two. Luckily my uncle had three (yes, three) generators that ran EVERYTHING in his house (needless to say we stayed there). I'm not that keen on spending 15K for a week or two of total comfort at a time. I'd rather 5K for the necessities, and let my uncle foot the 15K bill while i stay there

good call, brother!

 

yeah, that area is horrible about losing power. Parents have a 20kw Generac that runs on the natural gas line from the house. Driving down their street, EVERY house has permanent generator.

 

Especially if you run through DEMCO. I HATE that company!

Entergy is better, but still susceptible.

I'd rather rely on my own power in times like that. Smart move on your parents (and neighbors) part!

 

i have a 16kw generac (made in WI!) going in on the 17th. finishing my basement and want added piece of mind. will run off of lp. not cheap but we plan to live here forever and i have a young family. i also have a half a steer and some amount of freezer pork in freezers that would spoil with extended outages. was a no brainer for us.

 

Thanks for the write up. I've had plenty of folks recommend Honda gens because of reliability, costs and low noise. So good pick on your part. This was something we considered when we live in FL because of natural disasters like Law said. But here in CO, it's not much of an issue. I live in a new neighborhood where wires are underground, so heavy snow days is not a concern in our 'hood for downed power lines. Stove is gas so I can light without power too, so at least I can cook. But I do think of issues with our power grid (age and attacks) and this is an option. The only thing that holds me back is IF there were an attack on the grid and SHTF, do I want a gen calling attention that I have resources in my house? Or am I better off having a bug out location instead? But anyway, good choice and great info on a gen and don't want to jack this thread and start a survival convo when that is not what you intended

 

My father has a generac whole house generator. Natural gas, auto turn on after about 30 seconds w/out power. He's in MN where he needs power in winter.
I've got a 30 amp portable I used to run s toy hauler with.
Came in handy a couple years ago during football playoffs. Plugged tv, dtv, fridge and a fan and invited some neighbors over.
Luckily where I'm at the only absolute necessity for power is the fridge so the food doesn't go bad. And maybe a fan or two.

 

Ron, thanks Ron!
I roll it out of my garage onto the our concrete drive. It sits right next my garage about 8' away so exhaust and carbon monoxide gas is blowing away from our home.

 

If I had the money, time and resources, I'd go for a bug out house with a natural gas source.

Ok...back to generators!

 

Not at all, Very nice set up Steve! Hard to beat a Honda for sure.

 

Haha Law....this topic is headed down the full blown Prepper rabbit hole for sure brother! lol!
Don't get me started a bowl of Mountain House Chili Mac anyone?

 

I was originally really going to roll with a larger standby whole house unit here in Western NC foothills. I was going to be all in for approx $12-14 grand a few years ago for a 14 or 15 kilowatt whole house unit installed. I had a few estimates and this was on the high side. I have all natural gas heat, Rinai hot water, Xtrodinaire FP, stove top and oven. All three different techs told me I could expect to use $90-100 a day in natural gas fuel during a power outage. Seems big brother does not want you powering your home off the electrical grid lol. Now this is likely with full on use. Each tech said the only issues they occasionally see with most permanently installed units is the mother board goes out sometimes. I was like what? Each tech said its usually lighting strikes. I am thinking for the $$$$ it should have built in surge protectors etc. They now may have something to prevent this IDK.

My 81 yr old mom has a propane unit which as served her very well and excersises itself once a week for 10 min. She has had it long before my Dad past away in 2010. Never had an issue with lightning strikes or high snow. She has yearly maintenance done on the engine and it's gotta a medium size above ground propane tank.

This Honda unit I have so far will get done what I need. Honestly I hope I never need it ever. FWIW.

 

I'll take two! LOL

 

Wow. I thought 2-3 outages that last about 1-3 hrs a year was bad. Glad the only weather I have to deal with is heat.

 

Two coming up with a cold one until I run out of gas for my generator

 

I've installed quite a few standby generator setups. Definitely a good investment if you loose power often. If you have some working knowledge of how it works and do some research you can diy one of them. Then just have someone come in and check out your install and do the startup. I usually do it on the side for a small fee.

 

I myself have looked into a backup genset for the house. Auto transfer switch.

I found a nice CAT genset it's used but only has 10 hours of run time. 50kva unit. 1000 gal tank.

Other is a military turbine genset. Found one ready to go surplus down side is how loud it is. Piss off the neighbors.

 

Here's a good one just pick up one like this 500kw

 

we'd run out of beer before you run out of gas! LOL

 

Not my install but nice setup they spent some major cash at the building I'm working at. I installed the hvac.

 

I know it's sick and twisted, but part of me laughs inside when the power goes out and my wife complains about it. We live in the heat, so it's just an inconvenience for us. After spending years of living in crap hole countries with no power or plumbing, I feel it's good for my family to harden up every once in a while.

 

That's like a customer telling me I need to hurry up and get their Ac back on while I'm on the roof and it's 120 degrees I'm sorry I have any pity for you. And since you complained and me being the thorough technician I am. I will be testing your heat for at least 30 minutes buttercup.

 

Too funny. I used to do HVAC and same complaints. While you're crawling around in the insulation in the attic in El Cajon( some of you San Diego guys know the place) soaked from sweat. " how much longer?" A holes. I delivered sears stuff on weekends, we'd bring in a new fridge, plug it in and would get, "how long till it makes ice?" We'd look at them like they were idiots, then politely say, how long does it take water to freeze? Idiots.

 

We'd get along great! LOL

surprised only 30 minutes though!
Someone does that to me in that situation, id make them suffer as long as I could! Who the hell can be that dense? That would be like telling the waiter to hurry up with your food.....there's an increased chance he'd sprinkle something "special" on your food!

 

I just got a text from my wife saying the power went out

 

I just installled a 10kw (11kw surge) generac last fall, runs practically whole house, I do have natural gas stove, furnace and hot water tank, all of my lights are led, power went out for a hour about a month ago, wife was cooking a turkey in the oven lol, was great.
I poured the concrete pad and ran the gas line myself (i'm a pipefitter) cost me about $5000 CAN all in; well worth it.
I now have to get a hard start kit for my AC it bogs down the genny when it starts.

 

Me too!

 

I used a 1000 last time the power went out. Just to run the refrigerator Internet and television. I plan on getting a 2000i Honda. It should run all i need. Then eventually I'll get another so I can piggyback them and possibly a transfer-flow tank. Super quiet and very portable.