Portable Generators

[Dipper9]

I've decided that after losing power for a day from the blizzard, and 4 days and counting for Irene, its time to invest in a portable generator.

I need it to power my meat freezer (regular 120V), my kitchen fridge (120V) and possible my sump pump (120V but turns on and off when needed.)

So HangOuters....help a brother out. What should I go for?

[ScottieBaseball]

I've decided that after losing power for a day from the blizzard, and 4 days and counting for Irene, its time to invest in a portable generator.

I need it to power my meat freezer (regular 120V), my kitchen fridge (120V) and possible my sump pump (120V but turns on and off when needed.)

So HangOuters....help a brother out. What should I go for?

What's your budget? For around $1000 you can get a 7000+ watt generator. For a few extra bucks you could have an electrician install a transfer switch adjacent to your panel with an outdoor connection. That makes the setup quick and painless and eliminates the need to drape extension cords through the house. If there's potential for a power outage, gas up the generator, plug it in outside, and wait. If the power goes out, throw the switch (you can even get a transfer switch that senses a power outage and will throw the switch for you), start up the generator, and you're good to go.

[Dipper9]

What's your budget? For around $1000 you can get a 7000+ watt generator. For a few extra bucks you could have an electrician install a transfer switch adjacent to your panel with an outdoor connection. That makes the setup quick and painless and eliminates the need to drape extension cords through the house. If there's potential for a power outage, gas up the generator, plug it in outside, and wait. If the power goes out, throw the switch (you can even get a transfer switch that senses a power outage and will throw the switch for you), start up the generator, and you're good to go.

Your method with the transfer switch and electricians sounds expensive?

[Miller192]

Dipper, Go get a Storm Responder for $799. Sears in White Marsh Mall has them.

They will probably be sold out by today.

[Dipper9]

Dipper, Go get a Storm Responder for $799. Sears in White Marsh Mall has them.

They will probably be sold out by today.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...1&blockType=G1

The first review says he ran his furnace off of it? How the hell do you do that?

[Miller192]

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...1&blockType=G1

The first review says he ran his furnace off of it? How the hell do you do that?

I don't know, maybe he wired it off the box.

My neighbor ran his hot water heater, fridge, upstairs lights and tv/computer off of his.

My other neighbor got his all set up, oiled and gassed it up and hooked everything up. 20 minutes later, power came back on.

[RHall31]

Buy a generator with the most wattage you can afford. Second most important factor is warranty.

I'm going to be in the generator market soon myself. I haven't decided on whether to go portable or permanent.

I would think prices just went up on everything generator due to demand.

[allstar1579]

I don't know, maybe he wired it off the box.

My neighbor ran his hot water heater, fridge, upstairs lights and tv/computer off of his.

My other neighbor got his all set up, oiled and gassed it up and hooked everything up. 20 minutes later, power came back on.

Yep, you can set it up to run right into different breakers and run strategic parts of the house off of it. (one of our engineers at work was explaining it to me yesterday, he said he took the 30 min to wire it, got it started and 15 min later power came back.)

[gallden]

My dad has one that runs a constant wattage of 6500 and that powered just about all of his house except for his second floor heat pump and air handler. Seemed to run everything in his down stairs ok.