Anybody use a generator?

[Classicvette63]

I have a hunting camp that just recently had the electric service taken out. When I get everything straightened out should I just use a generator instead? I know some are loud, but are the new ones fairly quite? I have a pump house away from the trailer that could house the generator. In actual usage how long do they run on a tank of fuel? Thanks, Classic

[FIJI]

my lil 1000 kW Honda runs all night when we use it to charge the two deep cycle batteries on the travel trailer. So quiet you can set it right outside and not lose sleep - no complaints from other campsites either. Runs the microwave at 20% power...but not much more. Two units and be "pigtailed" together to run in tandem too.


Our 5000kW Coleman ER (extended run) Plus runs about 7-9 hrs on a tank with a heavy load. It runs our entire house (except the AC). I just plug it into the side of the house and run though a GenTran. Considerably louder....but worth it

[fabsroman]

Fiji,

What is a GenTran? During hurricane Isabel, my parents lost electricity for a week and my dad had a generator running for almost the entire week; however, he had extension cords running throughout the entire house. Some downstairs to the fridges and TV and some to the kitchen for the fridge in there and some lights. Would the GenTran be a way to get around those extension cords?

[tooldummy]

There are several good generators out there anymore, and a few pretty marginal ones also. For a deer camp, I would think a generator should work pretty good. I buy several brands through my job and have had good luck with Kubota and Honda. Not quite so good of luck with Coleman.
One thing I might mention though. Fabsroman mentioned his parents using a generator during a huricane. Check with your power company about how to hook up a generator to power your entire house. You should use some sort of disconect that will isulate your house from the outside powerlines. If you are doing anything other than powering something with an extension cord from the generator, you can put voltage back onto the power lines if you don't. If I understand what the linemen I work with are telling me, the transformers that step the voltage down from the power lines to your house, actually do the reverse and increase the voltage when it is coming from the house back onto the line. Linemen out repairing lines they think are dead for miles around are then working on energized lines. Linemen are suppose to ground the lines before they work on them though as a precaution to protect theirselves, which will either blow your generators breaker or damage your generator. But if you are only powering something from a generator to the appliance via an extension cord, you should not have to worry about it.

[denton]

If you turn off the top breaker on your breaker panel, you are disconnected from the power company. You can then hook the 240 volt outlet of your generator, via male/male "suicide cord", to a 240 volt outlet in your house, and power your whole house, provided you do not exceed the current rating for the circuit you plug in through.

It's called a "suicide cord" for a good reason: You have to do things in the right order, else you will kill yourself. First, pop the top breaker, then plug in both ends of the cord, and only then, start your generator.

If you want to run a pump, or other "high load" device, you definitely need a generator. If you're only going to watch some TV, or need a reading lamp, then use an RV battery, and about a 700 watt inverter. My whole 35" TV and sattelite dish draws 9 amps from the battery, so a 120 amp-hour battery will carry that load for quite a while.

[Valigator]

5500 KW for hurricanes,,,havent had to use it yet because I am in the hosital grid but the huntin camps have a power line to each...

[FIJI]

is a brand of "Generator Transfer" switch that is required by law (here) if you're going to use a generator. Too many ppl screw up and "backfeed" juice to the power lines endangering workmen and other neighbors.
It's not cheap, but not hard to hook up either

http://www.gen-tran.com/about_us.htm

from their site

"A transfer switch makes using a generator more safe and convenient – no matter what size. The National Electrical Code mandates that a transfer device be installed with all standby power systems including portable generators. During a power outage, a transfer switch safely isolates those circuits using generator power from the rest of the house, so the danger of back feeding the electrical utility is eliminated. By installing a transfer switch with your load center and connecting a portable generator to the transfer switch, you can run selected appliances such as a furnace, well pump (which cannot be run with standard extension cords), sump pump, refrigerator, television, computer and more during a power outage, depending on the capacity of your generator. "

[FIJI]

forgot to answer your ? directly ! LOL
Yes !

with GenTran your gen powers your fusebox via Romex - not cords. You decide which circuits you want power to go to (depending on the limits of the kW produced). I selected those circuits that power my fridge/freezer/sump pump/furnace etc)

Flip switch from main line to Generator. Plug gen into the side of the house (weather proof connector ) Fire up gen and youre good to go !

No more extension cords (they are VERY dangerous anyway - esp with power loss with longer cords)

Also.....give your home owners insurance company a call (anonymously if need be !) and ask what their policy is. MANY will void your insurance if a switch like a GenTran is not used.

WARNING.,....having the only gen in your family means that everytime there is a need...your house is going to become CROWDED ~!!!

[Rocky Raab]

One thing that I'd never have thought about...

My neighbor had a big generator and the appropriate isolator panel installed because we have power failures due to high winds here - especially in winter.

So the winds came and the power failed for three days. My wife and I moved to a motel, but the neighbor had power all warm and snug. I envied him - for about two weeks.

Seems like the local crooks cruised the neighborhoods during the failure. When they saw a house with lights on (and that thrumming generator sound) they noted the address. Later on, when all was back to normal, they came back and liberated the generator right out of his garage! They got some other stuff, too, but I suspect it was the generator they came for. Cops said that at least five such generators got stolen two weeks after the power failure.