Profitable generator help

[matt62950]

Hello, I’m trying to get some advice on what portable generator I should get so I don’t half to worry about long outages, I’m mainly concerned with my filters and the heaters the wave maker and lights I’m not very concerned about, I’m wondering how big of a watt generator id need if my electric needs are about 3000 watts let’s say, how long would a 13000 watt generator run me before I half to fill it? And can anyone recommend me a good generator I have a decent bit of tanks but most are non reef so it’s rly just keeping the filters and heaters going I’m concerned with thanks

 

[Ron Reefman]

We have an 8000W generator and it cane run our entire house as long as we don't use the A/C or stove. I have to refill it a couple of times a day if we keep it running all the time. And we can turn off a fair amount of other things and then run the A/C if we need to. We've had a few hurricanes that have taken out our electricity for a week or two over the past few years. Our local electric company installed a plug at the meter where we can plug in the generator and it automatically cuts any feed in case the power comes back on. Then we pick which circuit breakers we want to turn on or off. Makes life pretty easy... but generator loud! :eek:

 

[matt62950]

So you

We have an 8000W generator and it cane run our entire house as long as we don't use the A/C or stove. I have to refill it a couple of times a day if we keep it running all the time. And we can turn off a fair amount of other things and then run the A/C if we need to. We've had a few hurricanes that have taken out our electricity for a week or two over the past few years. Our local electric company installed a plug at the meter where we can plug in the generator and it automatically cuts any feed in case the power comes back on. Then we pick which circuit breakers we want to turn on or off. Makes life pretty easy... but generator loud! :eek:

think a 13,000 watt generator would be great for me? I have 9 tanks most smaller but a few bigger ones, or would you recommend a bigger generator?

 

[Freenow54]

Hello, I’m trying to get some advice on what portable generator I should get so I don’t half to worry about long outages, I’m mainly concerned with my filters and the heaters the wave maker and lights I’m not very concerned about, I’m wondering how big of a watt generator id need if my electric needs are about 3000 watts let’s say, how long would a 13000 watt generator run me before I half to fill it? And can anyone recommend me a good generator I have a decent bit of tanks but most are non reef so it’s rly just keeping the filters and heaters going I’m concerned with thanks

I recommend Yamaha. I have a 2000. It can run a freezer with Yamaha e series you can put them in parallel as well doubling the output. I don't know what a 3000 will do but mine goes 8 hours

 

[FiX]

I am also looking for a backup portable generator and/or battery. I have narrowed down the generator to a dual fuel type that can run on propane. Propane is easy to store, has an indefinite shelf life, doesn't gum up the engine when not in use. I always have a cylinder on hand for the grill. And I won't smell like gasoline after a refill. So far I like the Champion 201050 Dual Fuel. About $600.

 

[BeanAnimal]

In the US - Honda is one of the best portable generator brands in anything under 10Kw or below. They are expensive, but extremely reliable, super quiet and easy to start and produce very clean power.

There is a reason that they are the only generators that you see on food carts, at cam sights, construction sites, etc.

I have a graveyard of harbor freight, and other "name brand" generators -- most being color match, rebadged import garbage with mechanical governors, gravity fuel, etc.

 

[BryanM]

I'm not sure if over sizing the generator is going to greatly reduce the amount you have to fill it.. It might, but if that's what you're really trying to figure out you might need to ask an expert.

Most portable generators have small tanks, and for long outages you're definitely going to need to refill them often.

 

[BeanAnimal]

In general - Inverter type generators (Honda for example) will adjust RPM based on demand. A mechanical governed generator runs at the same RPM with load or no load.

The Honda's have fuel pumps, so can use exsternal fuel cells. Some other brands can as well. Gravity fed generators are typically not setup for add-on fuel tanks.

 

[JayM]

I have a Predator 3500 with a natural gas conversion plumbed into my gas line near the meter. It will run indefinitely so long as we don't have a catastrophic earthquake. Over the last 5 years it's been every bit as reliable as the Honda 2000 that I have as well.

 

[matt62950]

I'm not sure if over sizing the generator is going to greatly reduce the amount you have to fill it.. It might, but if that's what you're really trying to figure out you might need to ask an expert.

Most portable generators have small tanks, and for long outages you're definitely going to need to refill them often.

Is

In the US - Honda is one of the best portable generator brands in anything under 10Kw or below. They are expensive, but extremely reliable, super quiet and easy to start and produce very clean power.

There is a reason that they are the only generators that you see on food carts, at cam sights, construction sites, etc.

I have a graveyard of harbor freight, and other "name brand" generators -- most being color match, rebadged import garbage with mechanical governors, gravity fuel, etc.

how Long do you think a 13,000 watt generator would last me if I need 3000 watts? And can I just refill it after it’s empty and get it al back going again?

 

[matt62950]

I have a Predator 3500 with a natural gas conversion plumbed into my gas line near the meter. It will run indefinitely so long as we don't have a catastrophic earthquake. Over the last 5 years it's been every bit as reliable as the Honda 2000 that I have as well.

I am also looking for a backup portable generator and/or battery. I have narrowed down the generator to a dual fuel type that can run on propane. Propane is easy to store, has an indefinite shelf life, doesn't gum up the engine when not in use. I always have a cylinder on hand for the grill. And I won't smell like gasoline after a refill. So far I like the Champion 201050 Dual Fuel. About $600.

About how long will that last per fill? And am I able to just refil and get back up and running?

 

[matt62950]

I have a Predator 3500 with a natural gas conversion plumbed into my gas line near the meter. It will run indefinitely so long as we don't have a catastrophic earthquake. Over the last 5 years it's been every bit as reliable as the Honda 2000 that I have as well.

Also, about how much did that cost to do

 

[BeanAnimal]

Is

how Long do you think a 13,000 watt generator would last me if I need 3000 watts? And can I just refill it after it’s empty and get it al back going again?

You are not going to find a true 13KW portable generator that is quality and affordable. You are getting to standby territory.

What makes you think you need 13kw?

Honda's can be teamed. So you buy two smaller generators and can parallel them if/when needed. But even then, why not run them separate, as there is no way you need that much power from single source.

 

[JayM]

Also, about how much did that cost to do

I don't remember exactly how much, but it was $150-$200 bucks. It'll run as long as there's natural gas available. It'll run at 10-12 hours on gasoline running the 13,500 BTU A/C on my trailer all day. I think it's about a 3 gallon tank.

 

[Freenow54]

In the US - Honda is one of the best portable generator brands in anything under 10Kw or below. They are expensive, but extremely reliable, super quiet and easy to start and produce very clean power.

There is a reason that they are the only generators that you see on food carts, at cam sights, construction sites, etc.

I have a graveyard of harbor freight, and other "name brand" generators -- most being color match, rebadged import garbage with mechanical governors, gravity fuel, etc.

I have no issue with Honda products just prefer Yamaha. The have the same features as mentioned. Also don't know if Honda can be plugged together in parallel . I saw an aftermarket generator hat had the 120 plug wired for 220 it took out the water heater in a microsecond

 

[W31Olds]

I also don't understand why you think you need a 13KW generator? That being said, I would go with an inverter generator as they are much quieter and more fuel efficient. I have a predator 3500W and a Robin 4300 Watt ( both inverters) and both are fine (Robin is top of the line). Either can run my tank and basic needs of my house. The gas type generators must be maintained or you will run into gas and carb problems.

 

[Freenow54]

I am an idiot I have a Honda eu2000i inverter generator was thinking ATVs duh has all features mentioned

 

[BeanAnimal]

I have no issue with Honda products just prefer Yamaha. The have the same features as mentioned. Also don't know if Honda can be plugged together in parallel . I saw an aftermarket generator hat had the 120 plug wired for 220 it took out the water heater in a microsecond

Any of the Japanese engines are reliable. Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki. I don't think kawasaki does portable, they do make standby though. Robin Subaru are also good, but I am not a fan due to parts being harder to find. Honda is universal, with Yamaha not far behind.

I think the Yamaha engines are a bit smaller on comparable models, so slightly lower output. But you should not be buying a generator to run at max output anyway.

Honda inverter generators (EU series) are designed to be paralleled. They even sell a version of the EU2200i with a 30A breaker to power RV transfer switches.

 

[matt62950]

You are not going to find a true 13KW portable generator that is quality and affordable. You are getting to standby territory.

What makes you think you need 13kw?

Honda's can be teamed. So you buy two smaller generators and can parallel them if/when needed. But even then, why not run them separate, as there is no way you need that much power from single source.

I have around 11 tanks, most are non reef so lighting isn’t something I’d be worried about during a normal length outage? But I want to be able to keep running all the filters on all my tanks(all 11) and intermittently power all the heaters(2,400 watts in all(6 300 watt heaters, 6 100 watt heaters) so it’d be around 3000 total watts of power needed and I want a generator capable of powering all of that for as long as possible(I’m perfectly okay with refilling gas and propane but was wondering how long it has to be off to do so) so basically I just need some advice on a portable generator capable of keeping 11 aquariums live(heat and filters are my highest priority) thank you

 

[W31Olds]

Matt, you live in Houston so the heaters would not be running much. I would be more concerned about cooling during a summer outage, and do you need to power a fridge and a couple of lights in your house? Harbor freight has a 5KW dual fuel inverter and Honda also makes a 5.5KW inverter ($) that might work but you really need to calculate the load. Mine is gas powered so I never turn it off and fill it while running (not recommended) and ran for 3 days during our last outage so I would have lost everything in my tank. Also, a 5K portable is a heavy beast.