Generator/battery backup help please

[samnaz]

I need help picking a generator or some back up power plan for outages. It will only have to power the heater (150watt), return pump (varios2) and/or a power head.

This is about the cheapest inverter generator I could find. But is it way overkill or worth the investment?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074H5HGSX/?coliid=I2G0X3E2M2858N&colid=147CI8FVUSXCL&psc=0



What are my other options under $300? Backup battery or something else entirely?

 

[ndrwater]

Check Harbor Freight. Their generators rank pretty high, have a reasonable price point, but can be a bit noisy.
For me, the upsized output outweighs the noise. In a pinch, I could run my whole house for half the price of some other name brands

 

[ZoWhat]

turn your car and your cars battery into a gas power generator with a 100ft extension cord

https://www.harborfreight.com/1500-watt-continuous3000-watt-peak-modified-sine-wave-power-inverter-63432.html

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

turn your car and your cars battery into a gas power generator with a 100ft extension cord

https://www.harborfreight.com/1500-watt-continuous3000-watt-peak-modified-sine-wave-power-inverter-63432.html

For work I have a converter, 12v dc to 120v, powers all electric hand tools. Mines 2000 watts max. Continous 1500w

 

[jda]

Your choice will depend on how long and how often you plan on being down. Cheaper gennys work as well as expensive ones as long as you don't use them that often or give them some time off - the duty cycle is lower. If you are talking about a few hours or a few days, then a cheap one is probably fine. If you are expecting weeks at a time in an area with ice storms, hurricanes, etc., or 24 hour duty, then a better one might be a good idea.

I did not find cars to be all that handy when out for a few days or a week. First, cars have to leave. Second, car uses a lot of gas compared to a generator if you need to leave them on for hours at a time. Third, unless you have a deep cycle battery, every time that you run it down, it will lose some potency and shorten the life - this is nothing compared to losing fish and coral, but factor this into the cost. We were out for almost 20 days once... between going to work, get groceries and living life, we could not have done it without a generator. Plus, it could run my HWH, Furnace, a few TVs and some other stuff (the outage was over the Superbowl).

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

I bought a Generac generator that has 10.5K starting and 8500 continuous wattage. I can run my entire house on this minus the HVAC and I only burn about 5 gallons a day. Living in Florida this is a must with extended power outages due to hurricanes. Anyways I got it on sale at Lowe’s for $850 two years ago, what I’m getting at it for a few bucks more why not be comfortable also?

 

[Indymann99]

+1 on assessing your backup needs. I rarely have outages so I have 2 deep cycle marine batteries and a DC-AT inverter that will power my return pump (DC) for 24 hrs. Adding heaters reduces that time some but I can still go 12+ hrs.

 

[Mrs. Herbert]

Check Harbor Freight. Their generators rank pretty high, have a reasonable price point, but can be a bit noisy.
For me, the upsized output outweighs the noise. In a pinch, I could run my whole house for half the price of some other name brands

I agree with ndrwater, Harbor Freight has some nice predator generators at a pretty goood price. We had to get one for our house because PGE was cutting power to our house for 7+ hrs and our reef tank would not survive. We got the 8500 generator, ran the tank, fridge and a large swamp cooler with no issues. Get the easy start, saves your shoulder (I have a right shoulder impingement)

 

[Nano30]

I have that WEN generator for my tank. One advantage it has over some of the others is that it is an inverter/generator which means it delivers consistent power to sensitive electronics.

That is why it seems a little pricey for the power it puts out. It also seems to be a Yamaha clone which is desirable given its price point. It is also relatively quiet. I’d also recommend downloading an ethanol free gas finder app and only use ethanol free so your carburetor doesn’t have issues down the road.

 

[Captain Quint]

@samnaz

I do not know if you use Facebook but if so there should be local 'Buy Sell Trade' locations near you and you can probably find one at one used for a short time at a really low price.