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Generators

Wesley

Wesley

Clownfish Pimp
Location
Huntington Station, Long Island, NY
Rating - 100%
45   0   0
I have one of those small portable Coleman generator. I bought it 20 years ago when I lived in Manhattan. Used it once back then when the apt building were doing some electrical work. Dig it out from the shed 2 days ago and it was stuffed with grass and mud and a couple of mice in there. Use a garden host to wash it down. Check the oil and fill up the gasoline. Half a pull and it started up. I was amazed since this thing was abandoned for years.

I basically just unplugged the 2 main power lines for my 2 fish area and plug them into the generator. I was surprised that it can handle that much. The one that concern me the most was the Quiet One 15000 since it draws a lot of power. After all the fish stuff is running, I even routed the kitchen power to the generator so that the stuff in my fridge won't gone to waste.

Before I dug out my old generator, I bought a new one from Home Depot as well since I thought my old one probably wouldn't work any more. But they took their sweet time to ship it out. The generator is still in transit from Ontario today. This is the one I bought http://tinyurl.com/3nl697u Very good review and has true sine wave alternator. Can run any delicate electronics on it.

By the way, your link doesn't work. It should be like this: http://www.harborfreight.com/engine...atts-generator-with-electric-start-98839.html
 
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thirty5

thirty5

A Little Annoyed!
Manhattan Reefs
Location
Bergen County, NJ
Rating - 96.6%
84   3   0
Glad you guys had your "work" I had bought a brand new Briggs and Stratton 5500W at Home Depot. I had all the wires run in my house and was all ready! Then United Water opened the dam in WoodCliff Lake and flooded the PSEG Sub Station, so they had to turn off the power. So I went out and started up my generator and up and running.

My 28g tank, my full size fridge, my Fios Panel, 67" TV, lights computers. I could have even put on the AC if we were in the basement (wall unit).

30 mins later I hear the generator just stop. I was like WTF!!!! From there on would not start, but the problem is the water coming into my sump pump! No power no pump.

There is me and my wife and 5 gallon bucks and all my rubbermaid water changing tubs. Bailing water in the basement. We probably went at it for almost 3 hours. I finally got a hold of a family member who had a generator and brought it to me. From there on we were ok, it was a smaller one just like the one that Wesley bought. But did the job, just could not have run as much!

Luckily Home Depot took it back today. In the box it says that you cannot bring it back to the store. But I went there and talked to the manager I told him that I really wanted to swap it out and get a new one. But they didnt have any in stock, so I just got my money back. They normally won't take it back if you put fuel in it.

Now to research to see what kind of generator to buy, unless I just get the same one.

Luckily my wife and I were able to barely keep up with the water or my finished basement would have been toast!
 
kres1024

kres1024

SPS KING
Manhattan Reefs
Location
astoria,new york
Rating - 99.5%
204   1   0
thirty5 said:
Glad you guys had your "work" I had bought a brand new Briggs and Stratton 5500W at Home Depot. I had all the wires run in my house and was all ready! Then United Water opened the dam in WoodCliff Lake and flooded the PSEG Sub Station, so they had to turn off the power. So I went out and started up my generator and up and running.

My 28g tank, my full size fridge, my Fios Panel, 67" TV, lights computers. I could have even put on the AC if we were in the basement (wall unit).

30 mins later I hear the generator just stop. I was like WTF!!!! From there on would not start, but the problem is the water coming into my sump pump! No power no pump.

There is me and my wife and 5 gallon bucks and all my rubbermaid water changing tubs. Bailing water in the basement. We probably went at it for almost 3 hours. I finally got a hold of a family member who had a generator and brought it to me. From there on we were ok, it was a smaller one just like the one that Wesley bought. But did the job, just could not have run as much!

Luckily Home Depot took it back today. In the box it says that you cannot bring it back to the store. But I went there and talked to the manager I told him that I really wanted to swap it out and get a new one. But they didnt have any in stock, so I just got my money back. They normally won't take it back if you put fuel in it.

Now to research to see what kind of generator to buy, unless I just get the same one.

Luckily my wife and I were able to barely keep up with the water or my finished basement would have been toast!
Click to expand...



Look into a propane generator ..I have both a gas one and propane ,propane is a lot easier no need to hassle with gas ,just any 20lb propane tank that home depo has and your good to go...Sportsman makes good generators
 
thirty5

thirty5

A Little Annoyed!
Manhattan Reefs
Location
Bergen County, NJ
Rating - 96.6%
84   3   0
They make small ones that are Natural Gas, but they are expensive... But portable, but portable only where you can connect them.

I would prob go with propane, only cause NG can actually go out... Just want to look to see how long a 20lb propane tank will last.
 
thirty5

thirty5

A Little Annoyed!
Manhattan Reefs
Location
Bergen County, NJ
Rating - 96.6%
84   3   0
I am going to stick with gasoline. LP is more expensive. You need to have multiple tanks on hand. I would rather store empty gas cans. How readily available is popane vs gas? Most propane places are smaller stores at least in my area. At least gas you can get all over. NG sounds good also but don't forget that floods can affect NG. And you also can only use that generato where you have a hook up. So when your family memeber loses power you can't loan them the unit.

There are pros and cons for each unit. I think that the fuel source is most important along with portability. So the answer for me is gasoline!

Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
 
moneypit

moneypit

Experienced Reefer
Location
brooklyn
Rating - 100%
40   0   0
I bet it was a little noisy for the neighbors but I was watching tv so I coldnt hear anything. I didnt go with propane because I dont bbq enough to use it all and I dont want to store full propane tanks. I spent 100 bucks in gas that wouldve bought me about 30 hrs and I only needed 12 so the rest goes in the car.
 
kres1024

kres1024

SPS KING
Manhattan Reefs
Location
astoria,new york
Rating - 99.5%
204   1   0
Keep in mind power goes out you cant get gasoline pumped..
I rather store a propane tank than gasoline...no fumes either...
And all home depos carry them..
Price wise almost the same 20lb propane around $14-$15
Gasoline generators are usually around 4-5gallon capacity depending on the unit so depending how much gas is around you close in price
 
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moneypit

moneypit

Experienced Reefer
Location
brooklyn
Rating - 100%
40   0   0
thirty5 said:
I am aware now of the water powered backups. I went today to try to get one but all gone. Gona order one online.

Sent from my SPH-D700


If its a sewer backup your concerned with then you might want to look into a waste pump (aka pooper shooter) and not just a sump pump. Again, all depends on what you expect coming in.
Click to expand...
 
thirty5

thirty5

A Little Annoyed!
Manhattan Reefs
Location
Bergen County, NJ
Rating - 96.6%
84   3   0
moneypit said:
thirty5 said:
I am aware now of the water powered backups. I went today to try to get one but all gone. Gona order one online.

Sent from my SPH-D700


If its a sewer backup your concerned with then you might want to look into a waste pump (aka pooper shooter) and not just a sump pump. Again, all depends on what you expect coming in.
Click to expand...

Nope not worried about sewer back up... Just ground water.


kres1024 said:
Keep in mind power goes out you cant get gasoline pumped..
I rather store a propane tank than gasoline...no fumes either...
And all home depos carry them..
Price wise almost the same 20lb propane around $14-$15
Gasoline generators are usually around 4-5gallon capacity depending on the unit so depending how much gas is around you close in price
Click to expand...


HD does carry them. But not sure about by where you are, but gas stations are PLENTY around here.

I have a NG grill so I don't even have a use for Propane tanks.

I do not plan on storing gasoline. Just empty containers. I have 2 20 gallon tanks that are usually half full at all times (2 vehicles in my garage) that I could just siphon off about 7 gallons which will get me like 10 hrs of run time. Then just run to the gas station fill up the vehicles and plenty of gas. :)

moneypit said:
I bet it was a little noisy for the neighbors but I was watching tv so I coldnt hear anything. I didnt go with propane because I dont bbq enough to use it all and I dont want to store full propane tanks. I spent 100 bucks in gas that wouldve bought me about 30 hrs and I only needed 12 so the rest goes in the car.
Click to expand...

I went outside last night all you heard was generators running. My whole neighborhood was out, I slept with the windows open, it was actually a nice white noise. I slept like a baby.

I am definately looking at a Generac Machine I am liking this one.....
http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com/Generac-5940-Portable-Generator/p5506.html
Click to expand...
 
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