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Electric Generators - Why?

mrzuzzo said:
Has anyone had experience with generators destroying their electronics?

I've heard of this but never actually met someone who this happened to...
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my laptop and TV gets plugged into my Honda EU every race weekend. no issues.

I wouldn't be surprised if name-brand inverters supplied cleaner power than home outlets.
 
Anybody have experience with the Honda EU2000i? I got a new one in a trade a few years ago, have never actually run it. Anybody know what I can power with one of those? A refrigerator and a TV maybe?
 
The better generators, specifically the Honda and Yamaha inverter based ones, are safe for electronics. The non regulated ones, cheaper generac and such, are pretty risky for anything with a sensitive power supply.

The EU2000i will easily run a TV and a fridge.
 
mrzuzzo said:
Has anyone had experience with generators destroying their electronics?

I've heard of this but never actually met someone who this happened to...
Click to expand...

Yes, we lost a mainframe computer system once back in the rolling brown outs of the late 1990s. But it was running an early 1980s stand alone simulator so not a great loss. Well past the time for an upgrade anyway.

You'll be okay if you run a UPS for sensitive electronics. Motors and heaters aren't as picky regarding power. But with modern components EVERYTHING is run or controlled by sensitive electronics.

I'd really like to get an old 6-71 Detroit Diesel gen-set but can't justify the $7k cost and will never use the 60kW power. I did see a cute little 3-71 on a tug boat once. That would be old school cool.
 
stangmx13 said:
my laptop and TV gets plugged into my Honda EU every race weekend. no issues.

I wouldn't be surprised if name-brand inverters supplied cleaner power than home outlets.
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Absolutely. PG&E power is filth. It has 5k Volt micro spikes and worse. For many years computers were too fragile for power from the mains and needed isolated power sources. They electronics are pretty tough now.

Remember that 120 volts you are using in your house is connected, at some point, to power lines supplying massive pumps, massive capacitors, and lots of electronic power supplies, which all disrupt the clean sine wave power. You Honda power is crystalline next to PG&E's.
 
Honda EU is like the most top of the line generator.

I just fixed up my Generac 5000. For some reason my UPS wouldn't charge off of it earlier. I'll try it again when the power goes down. I think it has something to do with it not being properly grounded.
 
My UPS has issues too. Sometimes it'll recognize power and work for hours, then just kick off into battery usage like there's no power.
 
My opinion is having a generator is better than none, when needed. That said, in use, most offered in this thread will be too small to be convenient. Depending on your needs, 3000 - 6500W. Would be typical for a house generator. A propane or LP generator will store better than a gasoline unit. A breakout box / transfer switch to connect the generator to the house breaker panel will be an improvement over long extension cords.

Something is better than nothing, but planning for your true needs will be better than attempting to get by with the minimum. <— my opinion
 
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Mine is 5000W continuous/6250 peak. Enough to run the house except for the AC.

Getting a whole house hookup is too expensive, IMO. Electricians are way too expensive and permits are annoying.

Backfeeding is another option, but somewhat sketchy if you don't know what you're doing.
 
Anyone have a generator transfer switch set up? How much was it to install?
 
If you backfeed a home without a transfer switch, you can electrify the PG&E mains and find yourself the target of a manslaughter or murder criminal indictment. It's highly illegal. It's illegal to feed ANY home circuit without a disconnecting means that simultaneously disconnects the home circuit being fed from the PG&E lines and to the generator.

Do it right. Get a small generator and run a few extension lines. Get a larger generator and pay a licensed and insured electrician to install a transfer switch with a permit. Save yourself a crippling lawsuit.
 
Mangoat said:
Anyone have a generator transfer switch set up? How much was it to install?
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You can easily spend as much as you spend on the genset and more.

I've done a couple home size 35-50kw gensets. Prolly ran $50k-$75k to do the entire job in 1994. Probably 2-3 times that now.
 
Some idiot on Reddit said he was using an inverter plugged into the 12v outlet of his Prius to power his fridge and electronics :laughing
 
My900ss said:
My opinion is having a generator is better than none, when needed. That said, in use, most offered in this thread will be too small to be convenient. Depending on your needs, 3000 - 6500W. Would be typical for a house generator. A propane or LP generator will store better than a gasoline unit. A breakout box to connect the generator to the house breaker panel will be an improvement over long extension cords.

Something is better than nothing, but planning for your true needs will be better than attempting to get by with the minimum. <— my opinion
Click to expand...

Shopping for a ~5,000w range for my sister's place at the moment - any recommendations? She averages ~12.5 kWh / day. Most of her stuff is gas but it's a decent sized ~1700 sq ft place. Fridge, wine fridge, couple other things + charging phones are her main concerns.
 
afm199 said:
If you backfeed a home without a transfer switch, you can electrify the PG&E mains and find yourself the target of a manslaughter or murder criminal indictment. It's highly illegal. It's illegal to feed ANY home circuit without a disconnecting means that simultaneously disconnects the home circuit being fed from the PG&E lines and to the generator.

Do it right. Get a small generator and run a few extension lines. Get a larger generator and pay a licensed and insured electrician to install a transfer switch with a permit. Save yourself a crippling lawsuit.
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I don't think that's true. If you shut off the main breaker, I don't see how you can electrocute anyone.
 
Abacinator said:
Some idiot on Reddit said he was using an inverter plugged into the 12v outlet of his Prius to power his fridge and electronics :laughing
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Why wouldnt that be a desirable feature of your hybrid? It would be the first thing a Prius ever did that impressed me!

:laughing
 
mrzuzzo said:
I don't think that's true. If you shut off the main breaker, I don't see how you can electrocute anyone.
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If your system neutral is properly grounded, it will reduce the neutral current, but not eliminate it. It still exists, and that neutral goes from house to house via the overhead, and continues for miles. The neutral carries real, actual, electricity.......... If it's properly grounded the risk is small. IF. I have seen residences where the owners were shocked by improperly grounded neutrals.
 
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