JoeBlow5823
Well-Known Member
Even just the cheap 3500w unit i put up will run most everything in a house except maybe central ac or a well pump.
Should I get a generator just incase my power goes out?
- Thread starter Mr_X
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hotrodharley
Well-Known Member
Buy a good one. A reliable one. Take it from me and buy a damned Honda. Second choice Yamaha. We’ve been through the “affordable” ones.
Further you’ll require an electrician to connect the generator to the transfer switch and your panel.
And don’t buy the transfer switch until you talk to the electrician. They’re not a universal application.
Beehive
Well-Known Member
The Honda I had was 2500watt. 2200watt running. With one extension cord. I ran led lights, fans, blower and the generator didn't change idle.
Ran like nothing was plugged into it. This area is lucky to get a full six months without an interruption. Either a drunk knocks down a certain power pole. Or the thing on the power pole explodes.
Interruption of more then three hours in flower or veg. I get a generator. I'd keep the generator but have zero space to store it. So it goes back every time.
Ran like nothing was plugged into it. This area is lucky to get a full six months without an interruption. Either a drunk knocks down a certain power pole. Or the thing on the power pole explodes.
Interruption of more then three hours in flower or veg. I get a generator. I'd keep the generator but have zero space to store it. So it goes back every time.
hotrodharley
Well-Known Member
If you are going to stay where you’re at look into building a small enclosure for the generator. Sound and heat insulation both. Strongly suggest permanently wiring to the panel instead of trying to power your light directly. The electrician can connect it to certain circuits including the one with your major appliances without trying to power the entire house. Never buy a Furman or any other cheap generator. Total junk.
Beehive
Well-Known Member
Got lucky. Woke up to my air pump being off. Bubbling the fert solution. First thought, my pump finally died. Its about 5 years old. $45 bucks from pet smart. The best they had. I instantly planned a trip to the store and then...I notice.
It rained and the Christmas lights tripped a 20amp breaker. Luckily it was only the outdoor outlets and one in the garage. If my grow room breaker had popped. I was too blazed last night to make sure. But I'm good to go, now.
The Christmas lights were supposed to come down on new years. They're coming down now.
Man, if my grow room had went down. The only good would be it was during lights off. Only air circulation and replacement would have been effected. Close call.
It rained and the Christmas lights tripped a 20amp breaker. Luckily it was only the outdoor outlets and one in the garage. If my grow room breaker had popped. I was too blazed last night to make sure. But I'm good to go, now.
The Christmas lights were supposed to come down on new years. They're coming down now.
Man, if my grow room had went down. The only good would be it was during lights off. Only air circulation and replacement would have been effected. Close call.
Kerovan
Well-Known Member
Gas, there is no such thing as electric. That would be an inverter that uses car batteries. You would need dozens of car batteries to run your equipment for maybe an hour...
Renfro
Well-Known Member
If your crop is worth more than the generator costs it a no brainer to me, plus you can keep the fridge running so your food doesn't spoil.
When confronted with long term outages on a frequent basis you may want to go diesel because they last forever. If you have a home with natural gas you might want a NG generator because you won't have to run fuel.
When confronted with long term outages on a frequent basis you may want to go diesel because they last forever. If you have a home with natural gas you might want a NG generator because you won't have to run fuel.
Rurumo
Well-Known Member
Honestly, I don't recommend getting one to run your lights. The most important thing is maintaining a livable temperature, and maintaining a photoperiod. A small inverter generator will cover you for these things and you won't have to run it constantly. Look at the Wen inverter generators around this size, I've had one for a year and I love it, it's a well made knockoff of a Japanese generator and it was cheap too. Keep in mind, you're going to need a lot of gas AND oil...Also keep in mind gas goes bad, so get some stabilizer, and replenish your supply of fresh gas every year. I dump my gas cans into my car tank once per year then fill them up with fresh gas-Also, use Ethanol free gas if it's available near you. Ideally you should run the generator for 15 min every month or so to keep it in good shape. Look up a good "break in" procedure for when you first get it and follow it to the letter. If by chance you have a wood stove for heat, I would forget the generator and buy a battery "power bank" instead and get a cheap 3 watt LED to plug into it, then just hang that in your tent to maintain 12/12. Generators are good to have but you need to baby them and they are a bit of a PITA.
JoeBlow5823
Well-Known Member
I would drive a hundred miles to get it if it wasnt available near me. Ethanol DESTROYS small engines, they are not made to run on that garbage. Ethanol free gas with a splash of stabilizer will last a few years.
Nah buy a quality unit, run it every 6 months or so, and your good to go. Honda is definitely #1 but even they are starting to use more and more cheap chineese parts and their price isnt really reflecting what you get these days. Generac is the best bang for your buck as far as i can tell.
In the basement the temp really doesn't change right??... In the winter with 5 lights on that avg 4 watts each and a dehumidier running my temps are high 60's. If nothing was running down there I'm guessing the temps are about 60 degrees..... I'm right off a hospital electric line so If I lose power its the first line to get fixed. Lived at my house for 5.5 years and lost power once in the summer for 45 mins when it was a string of 95 degree days bc people were running AC.
Frankly Dankly
Well-Known Member
Living in Cali, with the goddamn PG&E cuts, I can definitely say get a genny. It saved my grow.