Home generator

[ancientgimp]

I understand the Briggs & Strattons are quieter now, they make a small generator (7K). If your neighbors are close you may want to consider shrubs or fence for sound deadening. In my neighborhood others have regular generators (not standby) which they pull out of garage and hook up during power failures. This makes me less self conscious about the noise. Sometimes I do feel guilty being nice and toasty warm while neighbors are freezing, however, I don't have enough K's to stretch a wire over to neighbors. I would not hesitate to write off most of the cost as a disability related cost, my wife and I are both chair users, we need garage door to work, need heat during bitter winters, my wife needs a BIPAP to sleep, etc. If you use a pwr chair it is critical that it get recharged.

[Kulea]

Does anyone have these who aren't plumbed for gas and so run them off of portable propane tanks (like for a gas grill)? I am curious how long each tank would last.

[ancientgimp]

Does anyone have these who aren't plumbed for gas and so run them off of portable propane tanks (like for a gas grill)? I am curious how long each tank would last.

I would think you would want a large propane tank delivered to home rather than use small grill size.

[Liz321]

I understand the Briggs & Strattons are quieter now, they make a small generator (7K). If your neighbors are close you may want to consider shrubs or fence for sound deadening. In my neighborhood others have regular generators (not standby) which they pull out of garage and hook up during power failures. This makes me less self conscious about the noise. Sometimes I do feel guilty being nice and toasty warm while neighbors are freezing, however, I don't have enough K's to stretch a wire over to neighbors. I would not hesitate to write off most of the cost as a disability related cost, my wife and I are both chair users, we need garage door to work, need heat during bitter winters, my wife needs a BIPAP to sleep, etc. If you use a pwr chair it is critical that it get recharged.

I never thought about my chair or lift. Thank you!

[SCIfor55+yrs.]

Does anyone have these who aren't plumbed for gas and so run them off of portable propane tanks (like for a gas grill)? I am curious how long each tank would last.

It would depend on the size of the generator. However, I doubt that the grill tanks would run even a small one for more than a few hours.

[SCIfor55+yrs.]

I never thought about my chair or lift. Thank you!

We had a power outage from a bad storm last night. I recently started using a low air loss mattress because of a skin breakdown and the generator saved me.

[Liz321]

It's one of the most obvious things, but you don't think about it till something happens.

[Liz321]

have an appt. for estimate next week
he said i'm looking at 7500k.......

anyone want to adopt me? i'm not toilet trained but fun at parties...

[garyv]

Hey Liz, they do make an emergency power back-up that runs an inverter off of a bank of deep cycle batteries as well , But you would need a serious one to run many items in the house but you could run a charger for a power chair and air bed.
Those are made for in house and apartments but are limited to how many batteries you have for backup, also limited on watts as well.
But if you go with a diesel generator you have less problems than with gas storage, the new methenol fuels just will not last that long in storage tanks so those you need to empty or run dry every few months or the gas will seperate in the tank then the generator will not run..
I have a large diesel generator that I got off of a yacht 5 years back and it is diesel but ussually here in Florida we have an idea that a storm is comming then I fill it but I have to run it to use all of the fuel out of it or even the diesel will go bad after a season of setting..its a 17kw that uses 1.1 gal of fuel per hour and I only have a 22 gal tank so I get 18 -20 hrs constant running so I shut down for a few hours when I can to save time.
They do have the propane ones but you would need to get a larger than a grill tank to run because just a 20 lb tank will only run a small generator for up to 10 hours.
I would get one for natural gas and hook it up to be saf you can use a small propane for a backup if they where to shut off the natural gas..
Gary

[SCIfor55+yrs.]

have an appt. for estimate next week
he said i'm looking at 7500k.......

anyone want to adopt me? i'm not toilet trained but fun at parties...

Liz,
Be sure to check company out with BBB, etc. before you sign anything. Find out if they have 24/7 emergency service in case it fails. Find out if they have service contracts to provide routine care. IMO, a reputable, reliable installer is more important than the generator brand. Ask if they have installations in your area that you can check out.Let us know what you find out.

[Liz321]

It'll be natural gas.
I'll check with BBB and my city as the plumber said he'd need to file with city for permits so that's a plus. He was one of three that were installer of the one SCI55 suggested.
I'll ask if they did any work here in town.

[Liz321]

BBB has given them an A Plus

[ancientgimp]

I recently had a generator failure diuring pwr outage for 1st time in 7 years. Called my generator guy after hours (I have his personal cell#) he called his electrician who arrived 1.5 hrs after my call at 8:30PM and fixed problem in 30 minutes. If you get a standby generator this is the kind of service you should arrange at time of sale. In addition, plan to have your company service the generator twice a year. It's a good investment. I claim 100% of these expenses as medical expenses as we have hospital beds, recharge pwr chairs and ny wife must use BIPAP for sleeping. I would also claim 100% of installation cost as well.

[Susqu]

You mention you have a fireplace?? Why not just use the fireplace for wood? or a woodstove insert?

[Liz321]

You mention you have a fireplace?? Why not just use the fireplace for wood? or a woodstove insert?

I could never sleep. I have MAJOR fire fear.
The fireplace would need work as well as I just had it inspected. It would cost a few thousand dollars.

I'm looking into gas if feasible.