I'm looking into getting a generator to keep at the house. The winters have been getting windy out here. I live out in the country so when the power goes out so does the water. I have a 1hp pump in my well. Just looking to run the well and maybe a few lights without spending a fortune. Anyone recommendations would help, I don't know much about watts and what not.

 

I have a 5,000 watt portable that runs my well and freezers etc.. It is my second one. I will tell you DO NOT buy one with a Tecumseh engine. I had one with nothing but problems and so did a co worker who also had one. My current one is a Briggs and Stratton. it works well.

You are gonna want a transfer switch unless you want to run a bunch of extension cords. Then you won't be able to run your well. Also, be sure to have the switch hooked up correctly or you could fry an unsuspecting utility worker down the line and that wouldn't be good...

 

Do you possibly have Natural Gas out in your part of the country? or just a big tank of LPG?
Get an 8-10kw genset that'll run on one of those fuels... No stored gasoline is the HUGE plus.

HONDA engines!!! You'll be able to pass that one on down to your heirs.

Of course, you COULD get a ~6kW-10kW diesel genset and use the same fuel from your CTD...

 

Looks like a pretty good deal for a diesel generator.

http://www.duropower.com/item.asp?PID=419&FID=1&level=0

MikeyB

 

Lots of different options available depending on your power needs. I own a travel trailer and wanted a generator to run the A/C in the summer when a full hookup wasn't available so I got a generator that was RV ready. I haven't used it a whole lot but when I have, I've been pleased and I paid right at or less than $350 for one with a Honda clone engine. Easy to start, relatively quiet, and not too bad on fuel. I loaned it to a relative when they lost power for a week because of an ice storm and they ran it almost non-stop to keep the essentials on using extension cords.

Obviously, natural gas or propane would be a better choice for one that will sit most of the time but sometimes cost is a factor too. There are numerous Honda clone generators out there but Champion seems to have the best customer service based on my research the other year. I bought mine at TSC but they also are sold at some Checker or Advance Auto Parts stores too as I recall.

 

You will need to do a little investigating on your well pump motor to decide on how big a generator is needed. A 1 HP pump motor may require 5 to 7 times the running amps to get it started. Here is a good link that walks you through the process of sizing a generator. If you can determine the motor NEMA code, you can be sure it will start with the generator sized for that motor. If you have to guess about the motor code, buy a bigger generator. Nothing is worse than losing power and not being able to get the well pump running.

Here is the link:

http://www.northern-lights.com/PDFs/...tion_guide.pdf

 

Where's the Cummins loyalty!?! Buy ONAN! Hahaha! Seriously tho, buy Onan. I have a Microquiet 4K Onan on my toyhauler and it's been great! Quiet and reliable...

 

seriously enough, I have a Hobart Champion 10,000 welder/generator combo on the work truck.

When the power goes out... A lot here. I simply hit the master D/C that I had installed, and plug my 50 amp 240 into the panel outlet I had installed, and I have all the power I need, 14 hours at a time.

This is with a 22 hp ONAN engine for power.

 

Do the same with a Miller Bobcat (mine is trailer mounted). Also have a Coleman 3500 (as a backup) that has seen a lot of abuse on job sites..........has a BS engine............still runs like a champ.....over ten years young. Lose the power quite a bit out here.

 

what they said but a lincoln 305 10.5kw 120v/240v single phase
these things go 10000hrs wide open throttle -40 and live on
gas model under 4k

or get a onan

 

i would have to vote propane or natural gas. have an old military gen. 30 kw. storing gasoline or diesel is a pain. converted it to propane, buried a 500 gallon tank. hopefully i did my home work right no stale fuel to worry about

 

My wife came home from her and the kids evacuation from Hurricane Ike with a 10KW Hobart Generator/Welder. Only thing she could find for a decent price. About $100 in parts later it was wired to the breaker box and we had the whole house powered. Now I need to learn how to weld!