Electric Generators - Why?

Frisco

Frisco

Well-known member
I picked up this little generator at Costco yesterday due to the threat of more PG&E shenanigans, but now I’m wondering if it’s worth it just to keep the fridge going and charging devices in a power outage. I know they are handy for track day junkies and RV folks, but I’m neither.

How do you use your small gas-powered electric generator?
 

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Butch

Butch

poseur
Staff member
Mine is 8750 kW so we can run the AC. Gotta stay cool. And the fridge and freezer. Power outage is not uncommon here.
 
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DTM74

DTM74

It's not my fault...
I was thinking of picking one up today. Just to run the fridge and tv...the essentials lol
 
Climber

Climber

Well-known member
If nothing else, you can always sell it for twice what you paid during the next power outage. :laughing
 
dravnx

dravnx

Well-known member
I live 5 houses down from a city water pumping station so theoretically, I won't lose power.
The PGE site confirms this.
If I wasn't this fortunate, I would have a genny to run my fridge and chest freezer to avoid spoiling food. My chest freezer is full of fish and smoked goodies and I would be bummed to lose any.
Phones can be charged in the car or with the various battery packs I have around the house.
 
bergmen

bergmen

Well-known member
Our power (rural Mendocino County) was turned off at 2:30 am on Wednesday the 9th. It didn't come back on until 9:45 am on Friday the 11th. Since it is just the two of us, we got by okay. I brought my 50 year old two burner Coleman stove up to cook and make coffee/tea. Ice in coolers for the perishables (milk, etc.). Freezers stayed cold, no losses there (lucky it was low to mid 70s).

Biggest annoyance was no hot water. Our hot water heater (and central heater) run on diesel fuel and requires AC to run the pump, atomizer and igniter. Cold showers suck!

Started looking at generators but have made no decisions yet.

Dan
 
CDONA

CDONA

Home of Vortex tuning
I have one, a Honda 2200. It will run my AC only, or most of my 30 amp rig, not both, although two of them will.
With my solar, with the help of propane, I can run everything but AC.
I have used my electric leaf blower with my genny, an electric chainsaw is on my want list to replace an ax.
 
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frozenduc

frozenduc

Well-known member
^ If you plan on keeping the generac, consider ordering spare circuit boards. Generac is the worst at stocking parts and customer support once the unit is a year old. *I know lots of people that worked at the revolving door known as Generac.
 
mrzuzzo

mrzuzzo

Well-known member
I have a Generac 5000W/6250 surge.. Looks like the carb crapped out during the last power outage. I used it with a kettle and toaster oven.

The upside with the non-inverter basic generators is they take under an hour for a full overhaul and they are usually good as new. Will probably do that tonight.

That said, am thinking of downgrading to a lower power genny, I never use the full 5000W or the 240V connections.
 
Free_Bird

Free_Bird

Highways
The Refrigerator was my main reason for a Generator. The Freezer can go without power for two days. The Refrigerator only two to four hours before some Foods go bad.
Isn't used much, so it is in long storage mode. Meaning no gas in the tank, fuel lines run dry and a fresh oil change.

Looks like a nice generator, the quiet type.
 
ctwo

ctwo

Merely Rhetorical
I wished I'd a bought that Costco generator when it was on sale a few weeks ago. I could use it to set a sag in my under-built garage shelving.

BTW, is PGE getting any kickbacks from the generator MFGs?

Anyway, a fridge full of food is very expensive when you can't replace it because the power is out everywhere...

Or use the gas to get the F.O.O.D.
 
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