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Home > Archive > Alternative Power sources > January 2006 > looking for small 8000w gen recommendations
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looking for small 8000w gen recommendations
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| Arlyn Merriman 2006-01-21, 2:21 pm |
| am looking to buy small (~8000w) gen, either gas or diesel
would anyone kindly suggest a couple models/makes you're happy with?
generatorsales.com or some other place on the web?
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Arlyn Merriman wrote:
> am looking to buy small (~8000w) gen, either gas or diesel
>
> would anyone kindly suggest a couple models/makes you're happy with?
>
> generatorsales.com or some other place on the web?
Well, first thing. An emergency backup generator is a pretty important
thing. I tend to like to buy stuff like that from people I can
physically meet.
Second. I prefer to buy that kind of stuff from a place that can fix
it/replace it if something goes wrong. When you have a problem with a
failed emergency generator, that brings you to a whole new level of
"emergency". A place that just sells them is no better than buying it
off the net.
Third. Fuel. In that range, you can also consider propane/natural gas
from folks like Generac and the like. Advantages being that if you
already have propane or NG in your home, you'll never "run out of gas"
for the generator. And prices are comparable with good quality gasoline
and diesel generators.
Fourth. Don't overbuy. You want a good quality generator, yes, but you
don't want to be spinning a 8kw unit to just make enough electricity so
you can run a few lights or run the fridge for an hour. The problem
with that is that very often, small generators are crap, so if you want
a good one, you need to buy a big one. The Honda "i" series is an
exception.
Feel free to ask more questions. Most of us in here like to answer!
DJ
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"Arlyn Merriman" <amerr@split.com> wrote in message
news:43fb7aF1nb0toU1@individual.net...
> am looking to buy small (~8000w) gen, either gas or diesel
>
> would anyone kindly suggest a couple models/makes you're happy with?
>
> generatorsales.com or some other place on the web?
8k is not exactly small.
The other poster had some excellent considerations.
I would add,
What is the connected load? Is the desired size genny in the 80% loaded
range?
Typically frequency control is rpm governed below ~13 kw. ( there are
exceptions)
The bottom end generators are going to be 3600 rpm. Better would be 1800
rpm, of course the cost goes up.
What kind of fuel storage issues are there?
I agree about the bricks and mortar especially when it comes to repairs.
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| philkryder 2006-01-21, 9:21 pm |
| is your need emergency only?
Or is this the only source of power that you will have at this
location?
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| Arlyn Merriman 2006-01-23, 4:21 pm |
| philkryder wrote:
> is your need emergency only?
> Or is this the only source of power that you will have at this
> location?
yes and yes
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| Arlyn Merriman 2006-01-23, 4:21 pm |
| SQLit wrote:
> What is the connected load? Is the desired size genny in the 80%
> loaded range?
yes, the load is calculated to supply for the items that must be powered,
about 65 to 75%
> The bottom end generators are going to be 3600 rpm. Better would be
> 1800 rpm, of course the cost goes up.
yes, I am aware of the advantage of the lower rpm unit(s)
> What kind of fuel storage issues are there?
I would only store about 10, maybe max 20 gal on site and have other
machines that use the available fuel supply, thus it's regularly replenished
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| Arlyn Merriman 2006-01-23, 4:21 pm |
| DJ wrote:
> I tend to like to buy stuff like that from people I can
> physically meet.
I prefer to buy online and do have access to backup (read: cheaper, smaller
units) if this one fails
> it/replace it if something goes wrong.
I don't mind and have no problem waiting as I know how to live without power
for up to 2 months if absolutely necessary
> Fuel. In that range, you can also consider propane/natural gas
> from folks like Generac and the like
I've determined that diesel or gasoline is best for me at this point
> don't want to be spinning a 8kw unit to just make enough electricity
> so you can run a few lights or run the fridge for an hour.
the unit will also power a single compressor of a dual-compressor heatpump
unit
> The Honda "i" series
tell me more about it?
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| philkryder 2006-01-23, 10:21 pm |
| We've been pleased with the Briggs and Stratton EXL8000 that we have.
Though thus far we only have put about 50 hours on it.
It is noisy but not really worse than the HONDA ES6500s.
It handles our load much better than the HONDA ES6500 water cooled
units which we had before - so I assume that is somewhat due to a
better fit for our load.
It has a very high "advertized" surge load - though, I have no way to
test that and don't know what it really means since there are no
standards that I know of for surge rating.
We bought our unit on the web (we wanted TRI-fuel Propane,NG, gasoline)
-
but,
Our plan is to buy our next unit at Home Depot.
They stock this model for $1199 at our store.
They appear to have a 2 year commercial warrantee.
Our plan is to run them about one year (1000 hours or so) and then
"dispose" of them while still under warrantee.
good luck!
Phil
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| Steve Spence 2006-01-24, 11:21 pm |
| Arlyn Merriman wrote:
> am looking to buy small (~8000w) gen, either gas or diesel
>
> would anyone kindly suggest a couple models/makes you're happy with?
>
> generatorsales.com or some other place on the web?
I have a 6200/8750 gas gen I use for backup. B&S Elite Series OHV,
sleeved unit. Bought it (new) locally (http://www.hackettsonline.com). I
use it when my detroit diesel 12.5kw veggiegen is down for maintenance.
Paid $1200 for the B&S, and $3100 (delivered, used) for the Detroit.
--
Steve Spence
Dir., Green Trust, http://www.green-trust.org
Contributing Editor, http://www.off-grid.net
http://www.rebelwolf.com/essn.html
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| Stuart 2006-01-25, 2:21 pm |
| I'm very satisfied with a Honda Tri-fuel that I bought from
www.northerntool.com. I normally run it on propane, but like having the
gasoline option in case I am out of propane. Bought it in 1999 - no
problems - very reliable - electric start works first time, every time.
Stuart//
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