Generator question

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Britcit
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Location: Shetland

Generator question

Post by Britcit »

I'm sure this may have been asked before, so if it has, I apologise in advance.

My upcoming trip south will include me picking up many things, one of which will hopefully be a generator.
The problem is, I have no idea what to go for. I would need it mainly for keeping my freezers ticking over during our regular winter power cuts.
If any of you have a few pointers\tips that would be appreciated. Any tech speak needs to be like you are explaining to an idiot though. I'm mid 40's but don't have a clue when it comes to this sort of thing.

Thanks in advance.
Prepping for lifes little mishaps, and some of the bigger ones as well.
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unsure
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Re: Generator question

Post by unsure »

first you need to decide on deisel or petrol . in this case ,in my opinion is bigger is better . do you intend to tie it in to your house or as a stand alone and run mains leads around .
for freezers and a fridge , with out going to far into wattages and amps ect .i`d say a minimum of 2.7 kva . if you tie it in to the house then around 6.5 kva would be enough for you to carry on as normal .
YES i walked away mid sentence , you were boring me to death and my survival instincts kick in .
Yorkshire Andy
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Re: Generator question

Post by Yorkshire Andy »

Are your freezers modern fancy electronic controlled ones?

If so ideally you need a pure sine wave voltage regulated generator unit....

Remember without a licence you can only store 30l of PETROL without a licence in approved containers..
If your roughing it, Your doing it wrong ;)

Lack of planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on mine
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unsure
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Re: Generator question

Post by unsure »

Yorkshire Andy wrote:Are your freezers modern fancy electronic controlled ones?

If so ideally you need a pure sine wave voltage regulated generator unit....

Remember without a licence you can only store 30l of PETROL without a licence in approved containers..
on that thought , you can convert a petrol to run on propane gas , mine runs on a cylinder . and a far as i`m aware theres no limit on propane gas storage , but i do stand to be corrected on this .

given were you are , have you given any thought to solar power , that could be better option for you .
YES i walked away mid sentence , you were boring me to death and my survival instincts kick in .
Britcit
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Joined: Fri Apr 29, 2016 10:33 am
Location: Shetland

Re: Generator question

Post by Britcit »

I'd just be plugging in the freezer, not powering the house. We have a gas hob, and a wood burning stove for cooking and hot water if needed.

I think we have a mix of modern and older.
1 x fridge freezer approx 10 yrs old
1 x fridge freezer approx 7 yrs old (one of those big 'American' ones)
1 x chest freezer, 4 yrs old
1 x mini upright freezer 10 + yrs old
1 x mini fridge\freezer 10 + yrs old
Prepping for lifes little mishaps, and some of the bigger ones as well.
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unsure
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Location: st.helens , area 9

Re: Generator question

Post by unsure »

looking at the list , i`d say you would be fine with a normal genny .
YES i walked away mid sentence , you were boring me to death and my survival instincts kick in .
Britcit
Posts: 236
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Location: Shetland

Re: Generator question

Post by Britcit »

Thank you for your advice, I'll have a better idea what to look for next week.

A number of people here have got solar panels installed, and there is a lot of private wind turbines. The problem with solar for the reasons I need backup is that the power cuts are normally during the winter and the days here are very very short that time of year.
Prepping for lifes little mishaps, and some of the bigger ones as well.
poppypiesdad
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Location: Area 11

Re: Generator question

Post by poppypiesdad »

unsure wrote:
Yorkshire Andy wrote:Are your freezers modern fancy electronic controlled ones?

If so ideally you need a pure sine wave voltage regulated generator unit....

Remember without a licence you can only store 30l of PETROL without a licence in approved containers..
on that thought , you can convert a petrol to run on propane gas , mine runs on a cylinder . and a far as i`m aware theres no limit on propane gas storage , but i do stand to be corrected on this .

given were you are , have you given any thought to solar power , that could be better option for you .

No limit whatsoever , I've got a 2000l tank
Be Prepared.
Plan like its the last loaf on the shop shelves.
Plan like its the last beer in the fridge.
preparedsurrey
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Re: Generator question

Post by preparedsurrey »

If/ when we manage to buy a place with some land we will be having an lpg tank for the central heating and also a liquid tank off for filling up the vehicles, just need an appropriate pump. The amount we go through it should hopefully pay for itself readonably quickly
If guns are outlawed then only the outlaws will have guns....
poppypiesdad
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Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2012 9:48 pm
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Re: Generator question

Post by poppypiesdad »

preparedsurrey wrote:If/ when we manage to buy a place with some land we will be having an lpg tank for the central heating and also a liquid tank off for filling up the vehicles, just need an appropriate pump. The amount we go through it should hopefully pay for itself readonably quickly
I don't think you can do the two off the same tank (but I'm going to phone my supplier today for information)

Due to tax reasons
Home heating is taxed at 5%
Road fuel 15%
So how do you monitor / bill/pay your tax . Calor at one point was giving you a liquid take off and a free lpg conversion for your quad bike (aimed at farmers)

So I'll ask the question and find out for us
J
Be Prepared.
Plan like its the last loaf on the shop shelves.
Plan like its the last beer in the fridge.