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Across the Fence:  can we talk generators?  |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
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vegetarian farmer
True Blue Farmgirl
249 Posts
Jane
Freedom
pa
USA
249 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 25 2011 : 12:48:18 PM
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Well one of the first questions to ask yourself is what type of fuel do you want to run it on. Diesel, gasoline, natural gas, or propane. Natural gas is nice if you have gas service since you won't need to keep fuel to run it. In our area diesel gas and propane fuel are all selling for about the same price so we considered propane since that fuel keeps stable longer in storage. We only use a generator when the solar system can not charge the batteries after days of no sun. Then you will want to determine the amount of watts you will need to run the essentials or your whole house. That will help you determine what you want. Next consideration is what brand and what features. Do you want electric ignition or manual pull start? Once you decide what you want you can check prices or even look for a good used or refurbished one if price is an issue. I would suggest going with a reliable brand like onan or honda since nothing is worse than finding out your generator won't work in an emergency. Best of luck shopping.
http://hardworkhomestead.blogspot.com/ |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
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Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - Aug 25 2011 : 8:28:11 PM
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| I enjoyed your info, too, Jane. I keep thinking we should have one. There's a lot to learn! |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4238 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4238 Posts |
Posted - Aug 26 2011 : 05:05:35 AM
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We have one, and my husband has it hooked up right to our lines. We just flip a switch for off line power. It was spendy to put in, but well worth it.
Michele |
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CMac
True Blue Farmgirl
1074 Posts
Connie
Ashland City
TN
USA
1074 Posts |
Posted - Aug 26 2011 : 9:11:51 PM
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Ours runs off our propane tank and automatically kicks on if the power is out more than 2 min. We love it. It has saved our bacon a couple of times. LOL Literally and figuratively saved our bacon! Living here where we get more ice than snow we can be with out power for weeks if there is a bad storm. We are four miles from any major road and there are few homes out here so we are not high on the priority list for repairs.
Get on the web and see which manufactures have good reviews. Be sure to check out service and parts availability. Some are easier to service and some are hard to get parts for. Ask around and see what brands are being sold in your area. Talk to the stores that sell more than one brand and see which one has a good service record. If it isn't working you can't use it!
Good luck on your search!
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
Posted - Aug 27 2011 : 12:13:30 PM
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We are looking at emergency hand well pumps right now. Our well cap/pump/tank are all inside our house. It was outside for years, but the people who made the porch into a utility room, built around it. There is stone around it, with concrete slab for the rest of the room. It wasn't fun when the well foot lever broke. We had to drag it out past a hallway and out a door to the outside. That thing is heavy too.
Farmgirl #800
http://pioneerwomanatheart.blogspot.com/
http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com/
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Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - Aug 29 2011 : 09:25:05 AM
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Kristina, that's something else that's on my "wish-I-had" list. I'd like to have a hand well pump outside in summer for quick bucket fills, but mostly for getting water when power goes off and the electric (indoor) pump won't work. I don't love the idae of schlepping out into the snow and ice to pump water (doesn't the hand pump freeze up?) -- but alas, our 100 year old house also built out to cover up what was once a sheltered outide pump connected to a cistern that I imagine is still down there someplace. Not great for drinking, probably (our "real" well gives fabulous tasty water), but better than nothing for general use. This is a complicated issue, too. Where are you planning to put yours?
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GoddessintheGroove
True Blue Farmgirl
265 Posts
Heike
Sacramento
CA
265 Posts |
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oldbittyhen
True Blue Farmgirl
1511 Posts
tina
quartz hill
ca
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - Sep 02 2011 : 4:00:55 PM
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I vote for propane, I have one for the times we lose power, which is not often, but usualy in the summer when its 100 plus, is when we do. Propane has a long life in proper tanks and kept protected from the worst of the weather, heat on a tank is hardest. My generator is on a trailer, so we can move it easily, and put it in the shed when not needed, I have propane to my home for cooking, so I have a big tank if I need to hook up for any length of time, and I also have 2, 50 gal tanks that we keep full, and they are on a small ATV type trailer. I have a built in service so switching is quick and easy, shut off the electrical breakers and plug into the generator outlite, which runs my whole house. This is of course my opinion, do lots of research and decide which is best for you and what you need...good luck
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
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Across the Fence: can we talk generators? |
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can we talk generators?
