Home Generators-Need Advice

We have hopefully ended up with enough extra money from the farm to get a generator. Do any of you have one? Hopeing for advice as to brand, mode of powering, where to buy one, etc. We are certain we do want a new one for several agreed upon reasons. Thanks for any help anyone can give us. I'll post on HandyMan forum too.

I have two generators, EvaMae.

My favorite is a Coleman 5500 watt. There are many out there BUT some of the best features to watch for is a centifugal clutch (sure makes for easier starting), especially if you buy a pull start. (My next one will be an electric start though!)

One other most important feature is an "idle down" control. Very important. Most of the run of the mill generators don't have one. Without one a generator runs full blast and wide open (loud! and using fuel very fast). With an idle down control, if the generator detects that power is not being needed it will automatically idle down to a putt-putt (will burn less fuel, will be quieter, and will extend the life of the engine).

EvaMae, I don't know poop about generators, but I'd like to recount a small experience, if I may.

The older couple next door to my aunt's house where I was staying this summer put in a generator and a big propane tank. He was on peritoneal dialysis and died soon thereafter, and by mid-summer, she was put in Assisted Living.

When the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan knocked out our elec, the next morning I realized I was hearing their generator running even though the house was empty.

My neighbor on the other side and I managed to take off one leg of the 220v power and run electric wiring to my house and on to his so we could keep our refrigerators & freeezers running, and didn't have to keep running out to be sure there was enough gasoline.

If I can ever afford a generator, I will sell most of what I own for one that's propane-fueled and automatic like that. I'm not getting any younger, LOL.

morning leaflady, imho, as far as our experience with Onan generators, they are about as dependable as a person could ask for. The motor running speed is 1800 rpms which is half the speed of a lot of the others. This enables for more fuel efficency, quieter, and less maintenance.Ours is a 5000 watt, which allows you arround 45 amps of 110 volts. only drawback in ours is there is no 220 volt output, but we very seldom need that any way for power outages.( and yes, it will run a computer with not any problems) Deff get one, no matter, with electric start, you dont need to be pulling on a rope on a cold day. 6 gallons will run ours for about 12 to 14 hrs depending on the load on the generator. also, we have a remote start on ours which is mounted on the utility wall just inside the house and will crank gen with out having to go out in the inclement weather, and surprizenly not expensive at all to incorporate. what i am tellin you here is a permanent installation, and there are deff variations according to your needs.. wish you the best, regards, puldeau

Take a look here. check the specs on the Guardian units.
http://norwall.com/specials.htm?src=overture&OVRAW=home%20generator&OVKEY=home%20generator&OVMTC=standard

II have a 4500 watt colman it is noisey but has been real depenadable I've got the small gas tank on mine but would get the next one with the contractor s tank

... Leaflady ...

This info below - is related to Home Standby Generators ...

Heres the Onan generator website.
There's some mitey interesting info here > http://www.onan.com/onan/homestandbygenerators/generatorHome.jsp

And a booklet ... titled, How A Home Standby System Works >
http://www.onan.com/onan/homestandbygenerators/howItWorks.jsp

Another informative booklet .. Take Your Home To The Next Power >
http://www.onan.com/pdf/standby/HomeStandbyBrochure.pdf?Click+here+to+find+emergency+power.x=39&Click+here+to+find+emergency+power.y=59

No matter if you opt for any other system, type, or model and size generator - the info should prove somewhat valuable in aiding you guys, and, of what to expect .. and shop for!

==============================================================================

THIS .. is for the Portable Onan Generators ...
http://www.onan.com/onan/portablegenerators/generatorHome.jsp

Incidentally, there are 2 models with electric start . . . a 4.0 kw and a 6.0 kw portable !!

==============================================================================

Hope it, at least helps you guys to be better prepared as to what to shop for .. to 'power' what ever you may need ...

I may opt to post a lil pic of our Onan generator set-up outside ... It's not anything like the large 'built in' commercial models like in the Onan sites (above) .. but she sure serves our purposes quite sweetly, very well, and most quietly !!

Sure hope you'll let us know what you go with too .. if'n ya don't mind, that is ..

- Magpye

Jes checkin' in on ya leaflady . . .

Wanted to see if you guys've fetch'd yourselves a generator yet ? ...

- Magpye

Not yet, magpye. It seems the ones he thinks we need to handle the well pump, freezers, etc. will cost about $3000 and we don't have that much money. He is still doing research. He is mostly concerned with the above items. We can bring in a 2 burner LP gas stove and set it on top of the washing maching to cook with. There are gas lines coming into the house at that place. But the starting load for the 3/4-1 HP well pump is what has us stopped right now.

EvaMae...

I run a well-pump, our greenhouse heater/fans, a deep freeze (and usually a TV) very easily with our 5000 watt generator. I did NOT pay that kind of money for it. (Will send you links to some good deals tomorrow.)

Eva Mae,
Agree with Shoe the price you were quoted seems VERY high. We have a 5,000 watt generator and did not pay anywhere near the $3000 you are talking about. We have a generator panel right beside the electic panel in our house. With the flip of a switch and a yank on the cord for the generator we are in business. No fuss! We run our infloor heatin, freezers, micro, fridge, the well pump and various lights through out the house. After the Ice storm in '98 I would never be without a generator.
Will look later tonight for the specs on our generator and pass them on. We got it at Home Depot of all places and I do remember it was on sale. Once you have one you will never want to be without one.
Dianne

Leaflady ... I figure your hubby may have been lookin' at, or considering .. some of more efficient 'stand by' units.

Generators, such as the Onans, Generac, Kohler, Kubota, etc. 'stand by' units ... aren't in the same class as the 'portable' generators.

The slower the engine speed - the quieter, greater efficiency, less maintenance, and far increased longevity.

We too have used the portables in the past .. for emergency power outages and portable camp use.

But, one must certainly compare apples to apples ...

- Magpye

Here are some other links for you .. just in case ..

http://www.yamahagenerators.com/

http://www.generac.com/

http://www.norwall.com/specials9.htm

Keep us posted .. if ya don't mind ... And happy hunting/shopping !

- Magpye

I really appreciate all the information from everyone. He is doing hours of reading everyday. He thought he had found one on ebay but didn't get it afterall. It was a used military one, 10K, 2700 hours of use, Commings engine, Onan generator, $2,600 which we could do but would strip us of all emergency funds by the time we shipped it from MN.

He wants one that will take care of both us and our son and his family who live just outside our yard in a mobile home. Yes, they are here to stay. Someday our son will inherit this part of the farm if he wants it and either get this house or build their own.

leaflady .. Wanted to check in, to see how your 'winter' is hangin' in there? ... Rather, you guys .. with winter! (*hee*)

You guys managed to narrow things down a bit, 'bout a generator -?- or perhaps
you've opted to put things off a bit, for now .. with Spring right around the corner -?-

Yall stay warm .. despite some of the 'signs' we're seeing here in NW AR - I jes
don't believe Winter's over for us yet!!

Take care ..

- Magpye

Hi, now he thinks maybe we need to paint the house instead. That I can figure out how to do with the help of the
people at the paint store and whoever we hire to do the job for us.

... LOL ... Bless ya hearts! ... (*heehee*)

... Heck, as long as the two of you are happy !! ...

And, know too, that it usually means you're blessed .. that one can change their minds at random. hee

So, it's 'Happy House Painting' leaflady and hubby !!

((huggerooners))

- Magpye