Generator

[bungee]

Ok,

So I have decided this year the main bit of equipment I want to get my hands on is a generator. I guess I would at a massive push, go up to £400 to buy one but id rather spend a lot less if I could.
Nothing to big, essentially I would like something reasonably portable (fit in a medium sized car) and ideally as silent as possible (no point in advertising the fact I'm living the highlife) - in the event of a prolonged blackout for instance I want to be able to run lights, a cooker, a radio, tv or computer for a few hours of an evening or to top up the chill factor on the fridge freezer while I werk my way through its contents.
I don't know anything about generators or electricity past rewiring a plug so suggestions and advice on any peripherals I may need to do this would be welcome.

Please and thankyou

[Yorkshire Andy]

First off spend the most you can...

Avoid cheap china 2 / 4 stroke units (been there done that)

buy a honda


Buy a Honda

BUY A HONDA (with a branded generator coil) Paramac or similar....


ok errrr

Cheap china 2 stroke ... i erm overloaded it (not intentionally the power drill i was using was in its upper limit but under load it took more power and took the coil windings and it then no longer produced electricity....


Cheap china 4 stroke was a bugger to start then ultimately despite been very careful about overloading it the stator coil went within about 24 hours absolute maximum use and again no power.....


I bought a second hand "site" generator of a contractor i know (he had gone up to a bigger diesel unit so was selling) its been abused but looked after and it starts first pull 95% of the time.....


this is it:

http://www.elliotts4tools.co.uk/Pramac- ... p-149-676/

but just looks more battered and it will run a 9" angle grinder (those who dont know these take a lot of power at start up)


If you want silent err save about a grand but that will only get you 1.6kw continous (be very wary of generators stating "2000w" ensure thats running and not start up some cheaper ones the start up current can be twice the actual running rating)




http://www.seddondirect.co.uk/honda-eu2 ... wwodeTcNbw




watch the lookalike generators

http://www.tool-net.co.uk/p-347966/clar ... wwodhrAHzA

the noise levels vary obviously but so does the testing distance and "load" eg how fast its running depending on what you have plugged in

Least Honda has a established spares and service network too...

If your planning on running sensitive stuff look for atleast a AVR (auto volt regulator) or Inverter pure sine wave based technology)


Oh and without a petrol licence you can only store 30 litres in approved cans at home... (fuel in use doens't count eg fuel in generator tank / car / lawnmower



Also modern petrol contains bio ethanol which attracts moisture so a fuel stabliliser is a worthy investment to protect the carburettor / fuel system if its not regularly run........

mate of mine whos a farmer also swears by a shot of Red-x in the fuel and ive had no issues since adding both.....

[Yorkshire Andy]

http://www.familyhandyman.com/smart-hom ... r/view-all

http://www.justgenerators.co.uk/power-chart.html

http://www.powerproduct.co.uk/which-generator.html

http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com ... rator.html

[bungee]

Thanks for the info It looks like I can hope to save enough for a cheap, noisy genny this year. Still at least the mrs will be able to charge her electric toothbrush in the event of a major grid down situation

[Deeps]

Thanks for the info It looks like I can hope to save enough for a cheap, noisy genny this year. Still at least the mrs will be able to charge her electric toothbrush in the event of a major grid down situation

I know you're being tongue in cheek but I've seen these on Amazon, a solar panel will see you straight.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reminder-Chargi ... toothbrush

[jansman]

Like Yorkshire Andy says, get a Honda. On the other hand, don't get a genny at all. Way back when I started out I felt I had to get a generator. Bought a cheap Chinese job. That lasted ten minutes! Bought a Honda.

Now mine is a big sod, ex site job. It is capable of powering the fridges and freezers. And more. However, although it has been useful, I would not bother again. Mainly because I have many other ways to light , heat, entertain myself etc.

[HBP]

Just to reinforce the point:

Buy a Honda

If you want quiet and efficient get a 1,2 or 3KW Inverter Generator
http://powerequipment.honda.com/generat ... advantages

They are not cheap but they will last a very long time. The last thing you want is a 5 day power outage and 10 minutes in your cheap gennie dies and your freezer starts to defrost. Been there and made the situation a lot more stressful having to fall back on to other sources of power.

My first backup power solution was a decent inverter wired up to the car (I have a big anderson plug on each car so I can swap it over). When the power went out, the car sat idling and anything important ran off that. Later, I looked at Generators.

[poppypiesdad]

Honda I hear the cry , Briggs and Straton is just as good , but cheaper , their cast iron vanguard engines are solid as any .But everyone has there own favourites.

Just steer clear as Chinese are truly awful
J

[Mortblanc]

Your cheap genny dies ten minutes in because you did not break it in properly and ran it under full load or overload conditions without the break in.

They must be run for 20-24 hours at only small load or partial load for proper break in before putting them under full load stress.

Several years ago I built a whole house completely off grid using one of the cheap Chinese generators as power source for my power tools, recharging for my cordless tools and a couple of portable lights. It did the job well and I still have it and it is still running. It gets a workout a couple of times each year during snowstorms when it gets to the point when I need to recharge everything.

It also gets use for its original service when I need power for tools and light somewhere on the property too far to run an electric line.

Not much bigger than a lunchbox, and much smaller than a beer cooler, it is easy to carry short distances to where it is needed and pack about in the vehicle.

A six hour run on 2 liters of fuel is also a bonus.

The proper break in is the price one pays to have a couple thousand watts emergency power for 50-75 pounds your money, instead of paying several hundred pounds for 5kw power and trying to keep up the entire house.

[jansman]

Ok,

So I have decided this year the main bit of equipment I want to get my hands on is a generator. I guess I would at a massive push, go up to £400 to buy one but id rather spend a lot less if I could.
Nothing to big, essentially I would like something reasonably portable (fit in a medium sized car) and ideally as silent as possible (no point in advertising the fact I'm living the highlife) - in the event of a prolonged blackout for instance I want to be able to run lights, a cooker, a radio, tv or computer for a few hours of an evening or to top up the chill factor on the fridge freezer while I werk my way through its contents.
I don't know anything about generators or electricity past rewiring a plug so suggestions and advice on any peripherals I may need to do this would be welcome.

Please and thankyou

r

Your cheap genny dies ten minutes in because you did not break it in properly and ran it under full load or overload conditions without the break in.

They must be run for 20-24 hours at only small load or partial load for proper break in before putting them under full load stress.

Several years ago I built a whole house completely off grid using one of the cheap Chinese generators as power source for my power tools, recharging for my cordless tools and a couple of portable lights. It did the job well and I still have it and it is still running. It gets a workout a couple of times each year during snowstorms when it gets to the point when I need to recharge everything.

It also gets use for its original service when I need power for tools and light somewhere on the property too far to run an electric line.

Not much bigger than a lunchbox, and much smaller than a beer cooler, it is easy to carry short distances to where it is needed and pack about in the vehicle.

A six hour run on 2 liters of fuel is also a bonus.

The proper break in is the price one pays to have a couple thousand watts emergency power for 50-75 pounds your money, instead of paying several hundred pounds for 5kw power and trying to keep up the entire house.

Well I disagree. You obviously had a good experience with yours. The first one I bought had a knackered carburettor before I even bought it! The company exchanged it no problem. 3 months later the recoil starter collapsed. Replacement parts? Not a chance!

I took the advice of my Brother who uses a generator every single day. Honda. Btw Briggs and Stratton ARE good old bits of kit too.