C and I were talking about getting a small generator. We don't get crazy snow, but we get a lot of wind and lose power because of it. We would want enough power to keep a refrigerator running and the blower on our wood stove. They're on the same circuit, so and electrician could tie the generator into just that circuit. What I need figure out is how large of a generator would be needed.
The fridge is a modern 28 cubic foot, and wood stove runs a single squirrel cage fan on high. Any idea how large of a generator?
JM
How many amps is the circuit rated for?
Mike(lethe) could answer this one since he installed one in his place...
lethe, to the black courtesy phone, lethe to the black courtesy phone please
It's a very simple calculation.
15 amp circuit 1800 watts
20 amp circuit 2400 watts
P=IE...watts = amps x volts.
Thanks for the equation! Looks like we wouldn't need a very big one for just one circuit then. The circuit is only a 20amp. it has four outlets on it. All that is connected is the stove blower, fridge, and a lamp.
JM
What fuel(s) (if any) are piped to your house? There are generators that run off propane, etc if that's available to you-really anything that means you don't have to leave the house for fuel when the frigging thing runs out is nice.
There are multifuel options, and some that will exercise themselves automatically, depending on how much you want to spend.
Automated transfer switches are nice-just make sure to have it set up so you can't backfeed the system.
My last generator was a Honda and I was very happy with it.
No fuels piped in, we're a pretty small down. The only utilities that come to the house are water and electricity. We don't even have sewer, we have a septic instead.
JM
Quote from: Satellite smithy on February 17, 2015, 10:28:51 AM
What fuel(s) (if any) are piped to your house? There are generators that run off propane, etc if that's available to you-really anything that means you don't have to leave the house for fuel when the frigging thing runs out is nice.
There are multifuel options, and some that will exercise themselves automatically, depending on how much you want to spend.
Automated transfer switches are nice-just make sure to have it set up so you can't backfeed the system.
My last generator was a Honda and I was very happy with it.
Dave...stuff piped in...really?
Picture New Hampshire...just a little warmer with a southern accent. ;D
Buy a Honda!
^^^ Yep.
I've got an ancient Coleman 3500W gennie that has a Honda engine on it, never fails.
Just make sure there's a fuel shutoff on it and run the carb empty after every use.
Journeyman, I had purchased mine to do exactly what you are looking for - refrigerator & pellet stove.
Bought this generator and it has worked perfectly for that application:
http://powerequipment.honda.com/generators/models/eu2000i (http://powerequipment.honda.com/generators/models/eu2000i)
3 seasons now , pulls with 1-2 starts everytime, super quiet & runs for almost 10 hours on a full tank(1 gallon).
Quote from: Speedbag on February 18, 2015, 08:10:18 AM
^^^ Yep.
I've got an ancient Coleman 3500W gennie that has a Honda engine on it, never fails.
Just make sure there's a fuel shutoff on it and run the carb empty after every use.
I can't wait for my old Coleman 4000W (4400max) to die. It has a Tecumseh that really likes it's fuel...about 8-10 hours on 5 gallons. Runs at full tilt all the time.
Always runs though.
buy a used LS2 V8 motor and slap a motor on the end of the output shaft. Power your whole god damn house and have a party at the same time! [thumbsup]
how long does your power go out for? A buddy of mine has the freezers that open up inside of opneing to the side. he keeps blocks of ice there and never touches it, i the power goes out, he transfers the food to that freezer and lets it thaw out on its own. because cold air sinks, and the door isnt opened as often. It lasts over a week. He also leaves frozen meat in there (mostly deer from the hunting season).
Just an idea.
Sometimes hours, sometimes a few days if it's bad. The fridge is a bonus mostly, but we want to be able to run the blower on the stove even if it's only out a few hours.
JM
Both Yamaha and Honda make nice generators.
This site has an explanation of differences between a generator and inverter, and some help on sizing:
http://www.yamahagenerators.com/EF2800i-p/ef2800i.htm (http://www.yamahagenerators.com/EF2800i-p/ef2800i.htm)
The refrigerator may spike load pretty hard when the compressor starts, I'm sure a resident sparky here can give some guidance on that.
Before we put a whole-house natgas generator in, I had a harbor freight 4000/3200w generator that handled quite a bit very well.
I had a 6-circuit transfer switch which used an L14-30 plug-in from the gen.
I had it running two refrigerators, the furnace fan, and two light/outlet circuits in the house.
A typical home fridge uses between 5-8 amps. Modern ones use less and don't need a huge margin for startup.
Quote from: The Last In Line on February 17, 2015, 07:25:32 AM
Mike(lethe) could answer this one since he installed one in his place...
lethe, to the black courtesy phone, lethe to the black courtesy phone please
What I have is overkill for his intention.
He wants simple and what I have is complex and had I not done it all myself, pretty expensive.
We have a Generator down at the place in inglenook. It's a Kohler. The thing always starts by the third pull if not the first or second.
No fancy electrician work. There is an outlet in the pump house, so I made a double male pigtail to run half the house off of through that circuit.
I just shut off the main when the power goes out so as not to supply the rest of the neighborhood with electricity and then shut off anything else that isn't necessary. Mostly the refrigerators are the main concern, and I can run the well pump off it. So with the propane water heater (instant On) We can get a shower once a day and the fridge will stay cold if you run the generator two to three times a day for a half hour each or so.
The Kohler works fine but The Honda is better. But it's not like I use the thing all the time...
Up here in Klamath Falls I got nuthin. A few years ago the power went out for 20 minutes or so and I had to reset some of the clocks. I guess if the power went out for a long time i would shut off the water and leave town for a few days.