Jim,
Our power here on the North Coast has gone out twice in as many weeks.
This time it was out all day Saturday and Sunday, for a total of 40
hours. (Some are still
without power, and may be for days.) I intend to be ready for the next one. In
a few weeks I plan on purchasing the Northstar 5500 Watt professional. http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=6970&productId=448&R=448 That
is unless you raise a red flag. But I thought the topic of emergency power might
be a good one at this time, since so many are without power. BTW, I might
add that the power outage was just an inconvenience, as I was still warm, dry
and fed. <Grin> But still, why go without all the goodies when you really
don't have to? Take care, - Gung-Ho
JWR Replies: With a shipping weight of 203 pounds, you are probably better off buying locally, unless you live in a state with high sales tax. (The savings on which would offset the freight charges.) I prefer propane or diesel-engined gensets, due to the longer storage life of their fuels. Low RPM diesels last the longest, by far. (Roughly 20,000 hours for a diesel versus only 3,000 hours for a gas genset.) And that is precisely what I recommend to nearly all of my consulting clients. Looking at things from a "big picture" perspective, you pay a lot more for gas engines in the long run, because you'll be buying one every four or five years. In contrast, a diesel may last you 20+ years. And, in fact, if you shop around diesels don't cost any more than a gas genset with the same output. OBTW, I often see 5 KW diesel gensets with electric start sell for as little as $700 or $800 on eBay. You might also consider getting one with an extra co-axial 12 or 24 VDC winding, so that you can charge a battery bank more efficiently. (Plan ahead for the future, when you might have a PV power system.)
4,500 watts continuous and 5,500 watts peak is about the right size for a home backup generator, unless you have both a refrigerator/freezer and a chest freezer. (You can always alternate between the two, with a little cord shuffling.) However, if you live in a typical suburban housing development, I'd recommend that you get a 10 KW, if you can afford it. Why? Odds are that the next time you have lengthy power failure there will be neighbors tapping on your door--with extension cords slung over their shoulders! Believe me, they will hear your generator running. (And you will want to be charitable, right?)
Gensets on wheels that are over 6 or 8 horsepower tend to "walk" when operating, but you can overcome that either by strapping it down or by temporarily removing the wheels and bolting the frame to something solid. For a mid-size genset at a fixed site, you might just skip getting a wheel kit if you have a strong back and a sturdy wheelbarrow.
In my experience, recoil starters are generally the weak link with most low-priced mid-size (8 to 12 horsepower) gensets. Be prepared to pay a bit more for one with an electric starter (and manual backup.)
