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Help... Portable generator savyness

Discussion in 'Outdoors' started by TXRailRoadBandit73, Jun 21, 2017.

  1. Jun 21, 2017 at 12:12 PM
    #1
    TXRailRoadBandit73

    TXRailRoadBandit73 [OP] YOTAS,RAILROADER,RÖKnRÖLLN',BEER,MAX/GEMMA

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    Hey fellas...as some of you know I lost my Dad couple years ago...i gained all his tools n power equipment he had and he had everything...some items i know to use some i dont...and the generator i dont...i mean yeah i know how to turn on check oil air filter change out spark plug...but power wise i know nothing... how much can i support??? Its a Honda EB3000C Cycloconverter... AC 120V Freq 60Hz Rated output 2.6k VA Max output 3.0VA...DC 12V Current 12A...all that info is Egyptian hieroglyphs to me...what can i power up??? In case of emergency any help info greatly appreciated
     
  2. Jun 21, 2017 at 12:34 PM
    #2
    15whtrd

    15whtrd Mr. Blonde

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    I'm not a guru by any means. But I borrowed a 1000 W generator when my power went out and was able to power in the fridge, Wi-Fi, Internet, TV and cable stuff. The thing barely sounded like it was struggling. I would imagine that 3000 W would probably run your whole house depending on the size of your home. Careful when you getting the microwave if you've got a lot of other stuff going on at the same time. I don't think it could run your air-conditioning's unless maybe everything was off at this time of use.
     
  3. Jun 21, 2017 at 12:53 PM
    #3
    Scpringle

    Scpringle New Member

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    3000 watts will run a travel trailer w/ 1 ac unit.. You could run a good bit of your house but not all .
     
    Stormtrooper81, Bprose and Tomcat like this.
  4. Jun 21, 2017 at 1:11 PM
    #4
    B_brand

    B_brand New Member

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    Your generator is rated for a 2,600 watt continuous load. It also only generates 120 volts, so any load that requires 240 volts will not work. As far as a backup for your house or a camper it probably won't work, but will work well for powering up tools and other cord and plug connected loads. Your power tools will have a wattage rating on them as long as you are under the generator rating it will run them. It also looks like this generator has a DC output that can be used to charge 12v batteries.
     
  5. Jun 21, 2017 at 1:12 PM
    #5
    Tomcat

    Tomcat Ever see a motorcycle outside a shrinks office?

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    I don't know how big your house is but it's highly unlikely it would run a central air conditioning system. I have a 10000 watt generator that I can run my whole house on and i have a small house. be sure and turn off your main before trying to hook up anything in your house or you will overload your generator. Turn everything off in the house. Turn your main off. Hook up the generator to a 220 outlet. Then you can start turning things on one at a time to see how much your generator can handle. The good thing is your generator should just cut off when it overloads and you will know you reached the limit. I'm sure and electrical guru can tell you how to add up all the load ahead of time. Hope this helps.
     
  6. Jun 21, 2017 at 1:14 PM
    #6
    Scpringle

    Scpringle New Member

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    running boards , TRD sway bar and tundra 08 SR5 wheels. FRACmod, pop&lock and backup sensors installed .
    I use my Honda 3000 for my camper (with AC) all the time .
     
    Stormtrooper81, Bprose and 15whtrd like this.
  7. Jun 21, 2017 at 1:16 PM
    #7
    TXRailRoadBandit73

    TXRailRoadBandit73 [OP] YOTAS,RAILROADER,RÖKnRÖLLN',BEER,MAX/GEMMA

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    Would it power up 2 standard size refrigerators and a microwave??? Our inside fridge n one in garage and maybe tv???
     
  8. Jun 21, 2017 at 1:19 PM
    #8
    Tomcat

    Tomcat Ever see a motorcycle outside a shrinks office?

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    I agree your generator is not rated for 220. You would only be able use 110 on it
     
  9. Jun 21, 2017 at 1:20 PM
    #9
    TXRailRoadBandit73

    TXRailRoadBandit73 [OP] YOTAS,RAILROADER,RÖKnRÖLLN',BEER,MAX/GEMMA

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    1498076349250-686344681.jpg 1498076391470761135427.jpg this all it is
     
  10. Jun 21, 2017 at 1:23 PM
    #10
    TXRailRoadBandit73

    TXRailRoadBandit73 [OP] YOTAS,RAILROADER,RÖKnRÖLLN',BEER,MAX/GEMMA

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    Wasn't thinking that big...but like jus inside fridge outside fridge keep items frozen n cold and a couple light stands n maybe couple fans???
     
  11. Jun 21, 2017 at 1:32 PM
    #11
    Tomcat

    Tomcat Ever see a motorcycle outside a shrinks office?

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    You should be ok there. Your generator has overload protection. Im not an electrician just speaking from past expeirence. My electricity goes out with thunderstorms so i use mine regularly.
     
  12. Jun 21, 2017 at 1:40 PM
    #12
    T_dublecab14

    T_dublecab14 New Member

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    That's nice generator, honda is suppose to be quieter than any other.

    That would def power up fans, fridge, and window a/c, but I would not use all at same time. When the hurricane came thru southeast Texas we're out for a week. I would use it during the day for fridge and small appliance , after it got hot in the house I used it for the window a/c and portable fans, then after it cools down inside and out back to the fridge and small appliance and cell phone. I turned it off at 10-11pm. I kept it in the garage when not in use and wheeled it out when running. Would take out things out of freezer/fridge and placed in cooler to keep fridge and freezer cold when fridge is not powered up.
     
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2017
  13. Jun 21, 2017 at 1:55 PM
    #13
    Scpringle

    Scpringle New Member

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    @aramirez73 you will be good running 2 fridge , fans TV etc. The microwave my trip the fuse , if so just un plug a few things and try again. Its like green acres you can only run so much at once .....
     
  14. Jun 21, 2017 at 1:59 PM
    #14
    RLHULK

    RLHULK Too many gamma rays in all that BBQ smoke.

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    Generators are sized by running and starting watts. Starting watts are always higher than running, its the surge in the generator when a compressor or hvac system kicks in.
    Add up all the watts of everything you want to run, that will determine the size of the generator you need to safely provide the power you want.

    You can have a manual disconnect added to you house with a plug that you can run from the disconnect to you generator,

    Hope this helps.
     
  15. Jun 21, 2017 at 2:07 PM
    #15
    TXRailRoadBandit73

    TXRailRoadBandit73 [OP] YOTAS,RAILROADER,RÖKnRÖLLN',BEER,MAX/GEMMA

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    Thats why my Dad got it for hurricane purposes and we got this small one called Cindy outer bands coming this way late tonight n all of Thursday n weekend so just wana be prepared
     
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  16. Jun 21, 2017 at 2:08 PM
    #16
    TXRailRoadBandit73

    TXRailRoadBandit73 [OP] YOTAS,RAILROADER,RÖKnRÖLLN',BEER,MAX/GEMMA

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    Thanks to all who replied!!! Much appreciated
     
  17. Jun 21, 2017 at 2:31 PM
    #17
    Patriot

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    I have this, love it and it's a bullet proof Honda product. Pushes enough power to run nat gas heat, Renai water heater, gas cook top, oven, lights, garage doors and pretty much keep us comfortable in the cold months should our power go out. It will not run our 4 ton AC unit. It pushes approx 30 amps to our 200 amp breaker, will run approx 16 hrs on a tank of gas @ quarter load. Electric start and super quiet.

    image.jpg
     
  18. Jun 21, 2017 at 4:01 PM
    #18
    Over the LINE

    Over the LINE New Member

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    I'm going to simplify this a lot but electricity is basic math. In your house on line power if you try to draw too much from one circuit a breaker will trip. With the generator you have 2600 watts to use. Every item you plug in is going to draw some of that amount. If you turn on 26 @ 100 watt light bulbs you are out of power. When a motor first starts up it takes more power than when it is running. You can figure out what an appliance draws by reading the label and calculating on your own but it will not give you start up. You can use something like this to determine use:
    https://www.amazon.com/P3-P4400-Ele...98085173&sr=8-1&keywords=watt+usage+gauge#Ask
    At my house I have a 5000 watt backup generator. I run two refrigerators and two window unit AC's (it won't push my central units) misc lights, etc but...when I use my microwave, for instance, I shut down one window unit first. I'm careful about starting a lot of things together. I shut off breakers to oven, pool pump, dryer and other high draw non-essential items.
    If your generator does not trip out on its own, you should be able hear when you overload it. There is nothing wrong with running one refrigerator until cold then shutting it down and running the other for a while.
    I live in New Orleans, have been on offshore sailboats all my life and have an off the grid marsh camp with a generator so I have lots of hours under generator power. Its not that big a deal to live on a generator for a while.
     
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  19. Jun 21, 2017 at 4:32 PM
    #19
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    Over the Line covered it really nicely.

    My Honda EU3000i covers my camper AC and a couple lights, no AC and I can use everything else.
     

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