bought a gas generator for myLiFePO power station

[6zfshdb]

I actually do get some advantage from the waste heat generated by my Kubota GL11000. It's installed inside the garage with a thru wall exhaust. It's liquid cooled and the heat from the radiator keeps the garage warm during winter power outages. No advantage during warm weather though since I have to keep the doors & windows open.

 

[sc00ter]

Keep in mind that a gasoline engine is just like an ebike motor, and is most efficient at about 80% of it's maximum output.

This is the generator that I wanna get,..


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It runs for 3 hours at maximum output (900 watts continuous), so if all things are equal, it should run 4 times longer at 25% output, but it only lasts just over twice as long.



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It's only about 30 pounds with gas, so it's easy to carry, and it's just under 50cc so I can use it legally as a bicycle engine.

It is more than the 500 Watt Canadian ebike limit, but if it's powering the ebike with 500 Watts, and charging a battery with the remaining 400 Watts, I might be able to float through the legal gray area.

I bought one of those Honda generators a few years ago, put it in a Tupperware tub and have NEVER used it. Have no idea how it works. I think the wife and I are going to do a Generac natural gas back up.

A co-worker said to run the Honda because the poles could sag or something if left unused. I don't even have any large capacity fuel cans anymore.

 

[spokewrench]

If you can also take advantage of the heat they produce, pretty efficient!

That 5,000 W diesel is water cooled. I guess that coolant could be piped to an indoor heater. For each W of electricity, it produces approximately 5 W of waste heat. I don't know if it would prevent colds, but a 25 kW heater is nothing to sneeze at!

 

[Roamers]

I guess the heat that could be piped to an indoor heate

Not quite as efficient as @6zfshdb 's setup.

 

[PCeBiker]

I bought one of those Honda generators a few years ago, put it in a Tupperware tub and have NEVER used it.

That's exactly why I am hesitating from getting one.
I don't really have a need for it.
It's just something that's kinda cool to have.

It's got enough power to run my fridge, but not enough to start my fridge, so I'd need a battery and a high power inverter to go along with it.

Then all the stored fuel to make it useful if there ever is a lengthy power outage.

Then I'd have to babysit everything to make sure it's going to work when I need it.

I've already got hundreds of dollars worth of brand new e-bike parts that I have never used, but at least they don't go bad by just sitting there.

 

[sc00ter]

If I pull it out and try to start it I'll post the date purchased and if I had any issues. I have a small house (900sq. ft.) and a small fridge, so this little Honda will run what we need. I also hate storing fuel. But I still hate the hassle and would love to swap to a natural gas hardwired generator. But if we go that route we need to get some wiring work done to the house. Old house, built in the 30's, has old problems.

Longest power outage we ever had in this house was 3 days. The power company does us first because the power companies main office is right down the street AND if they leave us in the dark for to long bullets start flying! This neighborhood used to be really rough but time, concerned neighbors and higher rent has really made it much more quiet.

 

[PCeBiker]

If I pull it out and try to start it I'll post the date purchased and if I had any issues.

I'm just guessing, but if it's never been filled with fuel and started, then it might be better to keep storing it the way it is.

IIRC, it doesn't even have oil in it, the oil is in a bottle.
It might have longer shelf life that way and help with resale value?

Unless your poles got all saggy or something?
I don't know that means??