if your in one of the areas where hurricanes are a problem, and need a generator its a great time to add to your shop tools, they build good welders that are also good emergency generators, that makes getting a decent shop welder and possibly the TIG welding accessory package far more affordable in the wifes eyes when you explain that its mostly as an emergency power back-up so she can have lights, and a refrigerator working while everyone else does without power after a big storm, just be sure to get a good supply of oil and gas while your shopping for a self darkening welders helmet and welding rods
RELATED THREAD
viewtopic.php?f=67&t=7090&p=23671#p23671
etc.
I went thru several hurricanes with a portable back-up generator/welder like this (notice the shop welder/generator cost less than 10%) of what the wife wanted installed below...
http://www.welders-direct.com/merchant2 ... de=K2382-4
Lincoln Ranger 250 GXT (Kohler Engine)
Weight:602 lbs. (273 kgs. ) (empty)
Dimensions (in) H x W x D : 36.2 x 21.5 x 42.3
Dimensions (mm) H x W x D : 920 x 546 x 1073
it works great as both a shop welder and a generator, but it doesn,t come with wheels so your first project is going to be building or buying a trailer to easily move it, or you can buy and modify a trailer, but get a MINIMUM 800 LB capacity trailer, by the time you add a rack for a few 5 gallon fuel cans, oil storage, and a place to store the power cables 800 lbs is easy to reach or exceed,and having the ability to transport it on a trailer to a buddys house for welding jobs or just moving it on your property from storage to where you'll use it during any emergency, makes a decent trailer that can be used on the car almost mandatory you better buy or build it because the generator welder weights far more than one person can easily move without a trailer and your especially not moving it over dirt or grass without a decent trailer , with a trailer hitch under it, some near useless mover dolly just won,t work
http://www.harborfreight.com/1090-lb-ca ... 90153.html
btw with the correct options you can TIG weld or ARC weld with it, its a GREAT TOOL!! but its noisy and requires you fill the 5 gallon tank and add a bit of oil every 8-9 hours,the wife loved the power but hated the noise...I was happy she was not..
my local power company had package deals available , I got the price for my generator as a special order from home depot,and it was about 22K alone, the power company wanted $35k to do a package deal,on a similar but cheaper version and a much smaller fuel tank,(I probably would have got cheaper components from them than I did picking parts individually)but I paid over $40k when I was all installed...btw its a large v6 auto engine spinning the generator
Ive got a 45 K watt generator ,with aluminum housing (that's important as RUST is a big problem in Florida)that cost a good bit,keep in mind the electrical hook up and permits and the cng/propane tank install,and permits filling it with 2000cf of gas and building a 8' x 6' 8" thick concrete mount pad and permits cost almost as much as the generator alone
keep in mind there are different sizes available, something in the 20kw-40kw range will run most houses easily depending on the loads you need to supply, but keep in mind that having a bit of extra generating capacity puts less demands on the generator,
http://www.generac.com/Residential/Quie ... ies_36_kW/
that being said, its nice to have near instant reserve/replacement power during any power loss, you can barely hear it run and it comes on within 45 seconds of the power dropping off, keep in mind IM out in the sticks and it usually took 2 weeks to get power restored and women don,t like camping out and eating bar-b-q or packaged food for every meal for two weeks
thrust me I was happy with the welder/generator, Id paid $2500 for ,it was 100% the wife's idea to get a full blown near instant reserve power generator that allows everything in the house to run normally during extended power outages...at that time I could afford it, so we figured it added to the house value and we got it to keep her happy, I don,t regret it,(keeping the wife happy) but I fully agree that it was overly expensive
if your looking for a whole home stand bye generator,
15kw -20kw will run everything in most homes,
a small portable 5kw-7kw generator for emergency power, will easily handle the basics like a refrigerator,
several lights and maybe a small air conditioner
due too the hurricane damage in texas and the potential damage too florida that hurricane irma may provide,
I think a great many people will be looking into the potential purchase of a gas powered electric generator,
to keep the lights and refrigeration and possibly the air conditioning functional if the hurricane makes land-fall in their local area.
from experience I would suggest shopping carefully ,
and Id strongly suggest you get several 10Ga-12Ga extension cords that are at least 50-75 ft long as you want any generator to be as far from,
where you live as you can get it too limit the noise pollution,
and carbon monoxide entering your home as the generator MUST be used and run OUTSIDE in the fresh air,
never inside a home or shop or garage without really good ventilation and constant outside air flow.
even a open garage door will at times not provide adequate ventilation,
unless the generators directly in the opening and theres a decent breeze.
Id also point out that any generator will be a prime target for thieves if left un-attended so chain it to something substantial with a good lock and 3/8" hardened chain.
there were several cases of people stealing generators during the last few hurricanes in florida
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Duromax-...59632?cm_mmc=ola|criteo|28I-28-7-3|22037|D28I
http://www.homedepot.com/p/LIFAN-En...a001rw&cm_mmc=CJ-_-6154667-_-11210757&cj=true
http://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-7...-Start-Portable-Generator-DXGNR7000/206069299
like with most things you tend to get what you pay for.....
and honda and a few similar bigger name generators have a decent reputation for durability,
most of the Chinese imports are not quality units
https://www.maxtool.com/honda-elect...generator-with-oil-alert-and-one-piece-frame?
while this will be out of many peoples financial reach, buying a generator thats also an
arc welder and one that can be converted with an accessory kit to TIG weld is a better long term investment,
simply because you can continue too use it in your shop or garage, after the storms long gone,
as a major tool , that will constantly be useful
is an good option if you can afford too do so.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200383272_200383272?cm_mmc=Bing-pla&utm_source=Bing_PLA&utm_medium=Welding > Engine Drive Welding&utm_campaign=Lincoln Electric&utm_content=164593
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200622186_200622186
RELATED THREAD
viewtopic.php?f=67&t=7090&p=23671#p23671
etc.
I went thru several hurricanes with a portable back-up generator/welder like this (notice the shop welder/generator cost less than 10%) of what the wife wanted installed below...
http://www.welders-direct.com/merchant2 ... de=K2382-4
Lincoln Ranger 250 GXT (Kohler Engine)
Weight:602 lbs. (273 kgs. ) (empty)
Dimensions (in) H x W x D : 36.2 x 21.5 x 42.3
Dimensions (mm) H x W x D : 920 x 546 x 1073
it works great as both a shop welder and a generator, but it doesn,t come with wheels so your first project is going to be building or buying a trailer to easily move it, or you can buy and modify a trailer, but get a MINIMUM 800 LB capacity trailer, by the time you add a rack for a few 5 gallon fuel cans, oil storage, and a place to store the power cables 800 lbs is easy to reach or exceed,and having the ability to transport it on a trailer to a buddys house for welding jobs or just moving it on your property from storage to where you'll use it during any emergency, makes a decent trailer that can be used on the car almost mandatory you better buy or build it because the generator welder weights far more than one person can easily move without a trailer and your especially not moving it over dirt or grass without a decent trailer , with a trailer hitch under it, some near useless mover dolly just won,t work
http://www.harborfreight.com/1090-lb-ca ... 90153.html
btw with the correct options you can TIG weld or ARC weld with it, its a GREAT TOOL!! but its noisy and requires you fill the 5 gallon tank and add a bit of oil every 8-9 hours,the wife loved the power but hated the noise...I was happy she was not..
my local power company had package deals available , I got the price for my generator as a special order from home depot,and it was about 22K alone, the power company wanted $35k to do a package deal,on a similar but cheaper version and a much smaller fuel tank,(I probably would have got cheaper components from them than I did picking parts individually)but I paid over $40k when I was all installed...btw its a large v6 auto engine spinning the generator
Ive got a 45 K watt generator ,with aluminum housing (that's important as RUST is a big problem in Florida)that cost a good bit,keep in mind the electrical hook up and permits and the cng/propane tank install,and permits filling it with 2000cf of gas and building a 8' x 6' 8" thick concrete mount pad and permits cost almost as much as the generator alone
keep in mind there are different sizes available, something in the 20kw-40kw range will run most houses easily depending on the loads you need to supply, but keep in mind that having a bit of extra generating capacity puts less demands on the generator,
http://www.generac.com/Residential/Quie ... ies_36_kW/
that being said, its nice to have near instant reserve/replacement power during any power loss, you can barely hear it run and it comes on within 45 seconds of the power dropping off, keep in mind IM out in the sticks and it usually took 2 weeks to get power restored and women don,t like camping out and eating bar-b-q or packaged food for every meal for two weeks
thrust me I was happy with the welder/generator, Id paid $2500 for ,it was 100% the wife's idea to get a full blown near instant reserve power generator that allows everything in the house to run normally during extended power outages...at that time I could afford it, so we figured it added to the house value and we got it to keep her happy, I don,t regret it,(keeping the wife happy) but I fully agree that it was overly expensive
if your looking for a whole home stand bye generator,
15kw -20kw will run everything in most homes,
a small portable 5kw-7kw generator for emergency power, will easily handle the basics like a refrigerator,
several lights and maybe a small air conditioner
due too the hurricane damage in texas and the potential damage too florida that hurricane irma may provide,
I think a great many people will be looking into the potential purchase of a gas powered electric generator,
to keep the lights and refrigeration and possibly the air conditioning functional if the hurricane makes land-fall in their local area.
from experience I would suggest shopping carefully ,
and Id strongly suggest you get several 10Ga-12Ga extension cords that are at least 50-75 ft long as you want any generator to be as far from,
where you live as you can get it too limit the noise pollution,
and carbon monoxide entering your home as the generator MUST be used and run OUTSIDE in the fresh air,
never inside a home or shop or garage without really good ventilation and constant outside air flow.
even a open garage door will at times not provide adequate ventilation,
unless the generators directly in the opening and theres a decent breeze.
Id also point out that any generator will be a prime target for thieves if left un-attended so chain it to something substantial with a good lock and 3/8" hardened chain.
there were several cases of people stealing generators during the last few hurricanes in florida
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Duromax-...59632?cm_mmc=ola|criteo|28I-28-7-3|22037|D28I
http://www.homedepot.com/p/LIFAN-En...a001rw&cm_mmc=CJ-_-6154667-_-11210757&cj=true
http://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-7...-Start-Portable-Generator-DXGNR7000/206069299
like with most things you tend to get what you pay for.....
and honda and a few similar bigger name generators have a decent reputation for durability,
most of the Chinese imports are not quality units
https://www.maxtool.com/honda-elect...generator-with-oil-alert-and-one-piece-frame?
while this will be out of many peoples financial reach, buying a generator thats also an
arc welder and one that can be converted with an accessory kit to TIG weld is a better long term investment,
simply because you can continue too use it in your shop or garage, after the storms long gone,
as a major tool , that will constantly be useful
is an good option if you can afford too do so.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200383272_200383272?cm_mmc=Bing-pla&utm_source=Bing_PLA&utm_medium=Welding > Engine Drive Welding&utm_campaign=Lincoln Electric&utm_content=164593
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200622186_200622186
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