bought a gas generator for myLiFePO power station

[spokewrench]

Is it an inverter generator? They seem to be a lot more efficient than the regular versions.

I don't think I used the word "inverter." My generator must have an inverter because the RPM can change, but it still puts out AC at 60 Hz (I presume). Inverters may be 75 to 98% efficient. I don't know the inverter efficiency of my generator or the power station I bought.

 

[PCeBiker]

Is it an inverter generator?

If it's got an AC outlet then it's a generator with an inverter.

If it only has a 12V DC output (or 24, 36) then it's just a generator.

I didn't know that there was a DC only gas powered generator until now.

But I know how to make one,..

Remove blade from your gas powered lawnmower, and replace it with a Huge bicycle chain wheel.

Drill hole through deck of mower.
Install alternator through hole in deck with an 11 tooth Shimano sprocket on it.
Connect sprockets with bike chain.

I haven't done the gear math on it yet, but you might need two freewheels and two chains to spin the Alternator shaft fast enough?

 

[PCeBiker]

Those Hondas work great for small loads. Strapped to the back of a bike, you're nuts.

I was thinking of installing it on top of my top battery to move the weight forward and get it fully sprung.

 

[LandoftheGiants]

I wouldn't use ethanol fuel to start a fire. There is plenty of good fuel out there, let the beta testers buy ethanol and put it in their cars.
The whole thing is a myth really and wouldn't exist if it wasn't for all the federal subsidies. There are plenty of papers out there on the fossil fuel fertilizer and irrigation inputs, the powering of the plants crushing and distilling it. It doesn't make sense either from an economic or environmental view but it's been touted for so long everyone believes it's a winner.
@PCeBiker What do you know about "pole sag"?? I've never heard of it, but Honda is pretty smart, they'll have it covered. The secret with any machine is to keep it well serviced and don't over-drive it, that goes for ebike motors as well imo. But the trouble with ebike motors is that many people overdrive them without even knowing they are. A lack of rigorous study on the subject no doubt, they just jump on them, tear up steep hills, and then wonder why the motor has died.

 

[stompandgo]

If it's got an AC outlet then it's a generator with an inverter.

If it only has a 12V DC output (or 24, 36) then it's just a generator.

Not completely true.

An IC motor powering an alternator doesn't need an inverter.

 

[6zfshdb]

Isn't that stuff gasoline? To quote the AI guy,
"Running a diesel generator on gasoline can cause severe damage to the engine and fuel system, as gasoline lacks the lubricating properties of diesel fuel, leading to potential failure of critical components."

Sorry for the confusion.
Yes, it's synthetic gasoline and not meant for use in diesel engines. I don't use it in my diesel generator, just the small gas portable, as well as my other small gas engines.

 

[6zfshdb]

I still

Inverters are the best, and the hi end ones with smart throttles are very efficient. When people talk to me about buying a generator I ask them how long to they want it to last. They give me that funny look you know. "What do you mean?" Well, I say, do you want it to play up in 6 months and be totally useless in 2 to 3 years or are you wanting it to be reliable for a few decades. Obviously they have never really ask this question but their assumption is that it will just be reliable and last for years and years. Alas the review sites are full of angry people who paid $500 for a generator and $800 for a camping fridge only to discover they got lumbered with a pile of crap.

Here is a worthless $350 800W Chinese generator, but it has a really 'Tough' name so would buy it on the basis of that
I did, I got 6 months out of it. It still works but it takes 10 minutes to start and believe me I know a lot about small engines and have been right through it, just a crap design.

View attachment 209972

Here is my Honda, Starts first pull, even after sitting idle for 3 months.

View attachment 209973

View attachment 209974

And this little sweetie is a 1966 Honda DC only. 6, 12 and 24V. It takes typically two pulls to start. I use it as a jump started if needed or I could charge my offgrid Trojan battery bank in a blackout if there was no sun was on the solar panels for it. Sniff around and you'll find these, I paid $60 for it but it wasn't running, I needed to clean out the carb bowl is all. It puts out 20A on the 12V setting

View attachment 209975

I still have my old Honda EX750 from the early 1980's. Still starts on the first pull and quiet enough where you can have a normal conversation with it running next to you. I actually prefer using it rather than my Honda EU2000i for short remote electrical needs.

 

[Chazmo]

Inverters are the best, and the hi end ones with smart throttles are very efficient. When people talk to me about buying a generator I ask them how long to they want it to last. They give me that funny look you know. "What do you mean?" Well, I say, do you want it to play up in 6 months and be totally useless in 2 to 3 years or are you wanting it to be reliable for a few decades. Obviously they have never really ask this question but their assumption is that it will just be reliable and last for years and years. Alas the review sites are full of angry people who paid $500 for a generator and $800 for a camping fridge only to discover they got lumbered with a pile of crap.

Here is a worthless $350 800W Chinese generator, but it has a really 'Tough' name so would buy it on the basis of that
I did, I got 6 months out of it. It still works but it takes 10 minutes to start and believe me I know a lot about small engines and have been right through it, just a crap design.

View attachment 209972

Here is my Honda, Starts first pull, even after sitting idle for 3 months.

View attachment 209973

View attachment 209974

And this little sweetie is a 1966 Honda DC only. 6, 12 and 24V. It takes typically two pulls to start. I use it as a jump started if needed or I could charge my offgrid Trojan battery bank in a blackout if there was no sun was on the solar panels for it. Sniff around and you'll find these, I paid $60 for it but it wasn't running, I needed to clean out the carb bowl is all. It puts out 20A on the 12V setting

View attachment 209975

Honda is god when it comes to small engines. You are totally right to avoid other manufacturers and just get the best.

 

[PCeBiker]

@PCeBiker What do you know about "pole sag"??

Nothing at all.
I never heard of it until I saw this post from scooter,..

A co-worker said to run the Honda because the poles could sag or something if left unused.

All my input about magnets and impotent generators is from what I remember about magnets in general, and speculation.

Honda is god when it comes to small engines. You are totally right to avoid other manufacturers and just get the best.

Unless Honda is the same sort God as Specialized.
I don't want to worship any false Gods.

I did notice that I can't seem to buy a Honda generator on-line.
It only seems to be available at a dealer.

I think that I might be OK with that, but it sounds a bit fishy to me.

I should just buy a used one.
One from the early 70's with only a DC output would be Fricken Cool !!

I don’t need no stinkin warranty.
I'm gunna be taking the thing apart the day I get it anyway, whether it's brand new or 50 years old.

 

[6zfshdb]

I can't buy a Honda generator on line here in the US either.
eBay is an option, plenty listed in the US. Maybe you could find a seller who will ship to Canada.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=honda+generator+&_sacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313&_odkw=honda+generator+canada&_osacat=0

 

[Chazmo]

I can't buy a Honda generator on line here in the US either.
eBay is an option, plenty listed in the US. Maybe you could find a seller who will ship to Canada.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=honda+generator+&_sacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313&_odkw=honda+generator+canada&_osacat=0

Do they even sell direct, 6? I’ve never looked. I’ve always bought from dealers/shops.

 

[6zfshdb]

Do they even sell direct, 6? I’ve never looked. I’ve always bought from dealers/shops.

AFAIK, Honda only sells through dealers.

There are eBay vendors who sell new ones. Not sure how the warranty works though.

 

[PCeBiker]

AFAIK, Honda only sells through dealers.

There are eBay vendors who sell new ones. Not sure how the warranty works though.

I'll just get a used one.
I'll be taking it apart anyway.
I have to find out how it works.


I found a local used EU2000I for $650 no tax, no warranty, no problem.
It's a Honda.
They are always fixable.

(I'm sure that I'll be breaking things when I take it all apart.
I'll probably lose some parts too. They'll need to be replaced.)

 

[LandoftheGiants]

Honda is god when it comes to small engines. You are totally right to avoid other manufacturers and just get the best.

I ran my own garden maintenance business for 25 years and the Honda self-propelled was the only mower we contractors would touch for city street work. Shindaiwa brush cutters and Stihl blowers and hedge trimmers. The Stihl stuff is ok... But it's made all over the world now and a bit of a crap shoot. The Honda and Shindaiwa are/were made in Japan. Honda motorcycles are touted as the most reliable on the planet, not always the most stylish, but bullet proof typically.

I bought a big "Detroit" brand chainsaw once, basically a $250 chinese copy of something. 8 hours in it had trouble starting and would conk out after 5 minutes of use. Good fuel, clean filters, just some useless carburetor fault. I had a large fire burning on this property at the time and I simply walked over and threw it on top. I wasn't going to go through the BS to get a refund, what I wanted instead was a watershed "aha moment" to teach me a lesson. I got it, and I have never bought a cheap tool since! 2 days later I bought an $800 Shindaiwa chainsaw and it's NEVER missed a beat, An amazing tool.

Who would go to the trouble of riveting a serial number plaque on the side of a modern chainsaw?

Buying cheap small engine gensets is false economy because you'll end up replacing them 5 times over the life of a Honda. Or if you store it you'll pull it out one day when you really need it only to find it doesn't start. One Honda dealer I used to go to for mower parts had a mountain of small engines piled up out front. "What are these I asked?" They are all the cheap Chinese engines people brought in for me to repair, he told me. There were cases with holes in the sides and all manner of faults. Yamaha makes an ok generator too or at least they used to, but why bother when the shelves are full of Honda's. "But I can't afford a Honda!" Well then you can't afford a generator, so don't waste money on a cheap imitation, plain and simple

 

[LandoftheGiants]

I actually prefer using it rather than my Honda EU2000i for short remote electrical needs.

View attachment 209986

I don't blame you, it's a classic, I don't typically get jealous but I am a little at the moment. Keep up those oil changes

 

[PCeBiker]

Honda motorcycles are touted as the most reliable on the planet, not always the most stylish, but bullet proof typically.

Made in Japan always meant something, and still does.

I had the first portable Sony Discman available.
$500 in 1982 money.
And the first waterproof Walkman.
$340 in 1985 money

My first CD was $50 in 1981
It was the only CD I had for over 5 years.
( vinyl albums were six bucks)




It came with a warning label, and the first track was some dude talking, saying to turn down your stereo so you don't blow it up.

In the days of vinyl, you knew it was loud before the song started because of all the pops and noise.




And my 1983 Honda 550 Nighthawk, and my 1982 Honda XR200R




My Nighthawk was raked out like a downhill bicycle, but I didn't do any hill climbing with it.

It was Super Stable because of the rake, and just floated in and out of corners.
(I was all pissed off cuz it would only go 193 kph. The Honda 500 Interceptor would do 240, but my bike was more comfortable and stable.
My XR would go 72 MPH but it was Fricken scary. It was floating with almost no control. )

 

[PCeBiker]

Here is my Honda, Starts first pull, even after sitting idle for 3 months.

View attachment 209973

I just found this,..
Honda invented clean AC power.
Maybe they really are God??

 

[sc00ter]

All I have to say is Masonna! I have a Relapse Records demo on CD and the band Masonna is on it near the end. No warning at all but its intentionally above the Red Book recording standard. As soon as this wall of terror noise starts it completely destroyed a PPI DeArt series 4 channel amp! If I ever go to Japan and see this guy live I'm punching him in the face!

 

[PCeBiker]

All I have to say is Masonna!

I've never heard of him??




I was into Kraftwerk and their electronic sound.




I was right into electronics in high-school.

This is the only university textbook that I have.
I bought it in 1981 when I was in grade 11




I spent dozens of hours reading through it.
You can't just skim through it.
It takes forever to understand it.

 

[spokewrench]

It arrived. 1024 Wh. 2-year warranty. I registered, which should increase the warranty to 7 years.

It appears to be 92% efficient charging from 120 VAC and 86% efficient turning battery energy to 120 VAC. If battery discharge is 92% efficient, the inverter must be 93% efficient.

They recommend not discharging below 10%. So from a charged station, you can use 922 Watt hours. At 86 % efficiency, that's 793 Watt hours output. That could run a refrigerator 12 hours or more.

With an 8% input loss and a 14% output loss, that's 80% efficiency. My generator can get 18% of the energy in gasoline to charge this battery. The station can return 80% of that, or 14.4%. If I kept the generator running for small household needs like refrigeration and lights, it might be 1% efficient. Using a generator to charge this power station might get me 2 weeks from a gasoline supply that might otherwise be gone in 1 day.