Quote:
Originally Posted by Paslode
TR,
Quite a few people I know have connected an exterior 220v recepticle to their existing breaker panel which they can then run a heavy cable from the generator to the recepticle and thus they have the capability of running their basic needs, refrigerator, gas furnance and possibly a few lights.
Only catch is you 'MUST' shut the breaker off prior to connecting the generator as the feed....and fuel.
How viable an option in your opinion, is a portable 5000 to 6500 watt gas generator as a basic needs electrical source used in this manner for such a senario as is being discussed?
|
That is the size gas generator I am currently running. I have a large panel with a manual switch that cuts the feed from the utility company and throws power to a second main panel with primarily emergency circuits in it.
I want to upgrade to an LP powered unit though.
Sizing is the real issue. A larger generator running at 50% load burns more energy than a smaller unit at a higher load. I need to total up the load for the circuits I want to energize, like the refrigerator, freezer, microwave, fans, a battery charger bank, selected lights and wall outlets, etc., decide what I can unplug occasionally to throw a heavy load on, like a hot water heater for an hour or so, and determine what size unit I ultimately need.
I would anticipate running it for a few hours in the morning, and a few in the evening, not 24/7. I have enough gas in the vehicles to run the genset on the above part-time schedule for at least a couple of weeks.
Hopefully, a bank of 12v. deep-cycle batteries, with an inverter or two, can provide me with any 24/7 needs and save the generator fuel for the surge periods. I do have a few solar panels, but they are just for recharging AA batteries, and even that is tasking them. When the generator fuel is low, if the emergency has not been resolved, then you could drop back to a very limited load for the battery bank and work to keep it charged.
An idea worth exploring would be a windmill generator, you could fab one up perhaps with a heavy duty vehicle alternator providing supplemental charge power to the battery bank. You could duplicate the system with a bicycle turning a similar generator set up to recharge the batteries if the wind was uncooperative or you needed more power. A hydro-electric generator would work if you have the water source and a water wheel.
Solar cells are currently just too expensive to be practical for anything but remote, low power requirements.
Solar hot water could be viable though.
HTH.
TR