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Portable generator ?
ltcdoty
Member Posts: 4,184 ✭✭✭
I bought a Generac generator last October. It has the electric start and battery ....my question is, should I go out and start it now and then, and if so...how long should I let it run?
My wife put the manual in a safe place..
Comments
Yes, definitely run it. Is it gas? If so, I hope you are using Sta-bil or some sort of fuel stabilizer.
You should start it once a month, and let it run for 15-20 minutes. That will cook all the moisture out of the gas lines/tank/oil and keep things lubed up.
Good luck, today's Generacs are terrible quality, sorry to say.
Merc
My Kohler auto starts up once a week and runs for 20 minutes. It's a whole house unit, but any generator should have a regular exercise schedule.
Joe
I have a 5000 watt portable left over from my farming days . We used it to power equipment in a commercial broiler operation during outages. Unit is close to 35 years old . I store it with a full tank of gas , with stabilizing additives, and the gas cut off to the carburetor . It is run dry after each use I have had to clean the carb 3 or 4 times over 30 years . Usually takes three or four pulls for it to crank .
solved the bad gas problem by a propane powered engine....and fixed up a 20' set of jumpers so i can get a vehicle close to the shop to run it....smaller batteries have no life span...looking for a small trailer to mount it on with about a 40 gallon propane tank.....got a robber hose to fill it out of the big tank
I keep an old\new (never used on a car) extra car battery in the garage to jump start my generator. The small one that came with it will not hold a charge for more than a couple of weeks. The full size battery I use, I have had for over 10 years and only put it on the charger about once a year.
As stated above, definitely start/exercise it at least monthly. Run it under a load, portable spotlights, etc, to ensure a proper power output. I’ve run a portable Generac- 30 hp, 22500 surge/15000 continuous for years. It’ll power my whole house with enough leftover for the neighbors to run a cord or two over for their refrigerator, etc. Maintenance is the key. If yours has the two wheel set up for portability, I’d suggest re-mounting the unit on a heavy duty 4 wheel wagon available for not much $ from HF, Tractor supply, etc. This makes moving that heavy thing MUCH easier when it’s cold/wet/snowy. The Generac I have is so well balanced vibration is almost zero. You can tow it on 4 wheels easily with an atv or zero turn. Trying to push it like a wheelbarrow is a nightmare. Don’t forget to keep a battery tender on it too.
Thanks for all the info.
I converted my 5k portable emergency gen to tri-fuel for about $80.
Can use gasoline, Propane or Natural gas. Can switch from propane to gasoline easily.
Yes, your gasoline rig needs to be ran for at least 30 minutes monthly.
Not exercising a generator is what ruins most of them fast and if not exercised they won't usually operate when needed in an emergency.
I exercise mine on Propane so as the carb stays clean, no gas to the carb but I do check the gasoline operation also especially before winter. If you have ever had to survive for few weeks and keep your freezers and fridges from thawing and operating your water well from a emergency generator you will not ever forget such and won't mind doing the exercise. If you don't exercise the gen, you will pay for it eventually by exercising yourself if you ever really need it's use.
You can download the owners manual.
Good luck with your Generac they needs lots of TLC.
absolutely run it as often as you are able. also as others have said put it under load. doesnt need to be much , a shop fan, portable light, just something that keeps the generator excited.
I'm considering a generator and Generac is a name I see a lot. Apparently some of you folks don't think much of them. What brands are considered first-rate?
Thanks guys,
we have one maybe 15 years maybe 20 old nothing great but is a blessing when called on
we seem used it a few times a year some times not at all , after use I run it empty of all gas until it dies out , i use to start it at least once a year just in case but for many years just keep it in dry storage and in the winter keep about 30 - 40 gallons of gas in a old out building shed away from the house or pole barn ( full of stay-bil ) just in case never has let us down as for the gas I replace it by running the old thru our tractor and lawn mowers also in my old pick up truck in the summer .
I have a couple of totes full of heavy duty extension cords (10 ga nothing higher than 12) and have 220 8 ga plugs made up if I need to run the well or water heater . only twice we needed for more than a few days so we just switch what is being powered its like a 500 start up 3500 running work load
just a word of advise about the gas about a two year's ago I had a reminder about keeping gas away and out of the garage /pole barn I do not know the whole story but a very nice lady who worked at the credit union, her husband had just pulled the lawn mower into the garage rumor the mower backfired ? but any way lit off the gas they had stored in a can she ran in to help her husband (put him out ) but ended up burned well beyond what her husband suffered who got out easy ( if such a thing ) she spent months in hospital and rehab that's when I moved all the gas and propane not even the 5 gal I had by the lawnmower completely away
Over the years I have had several Generacs installed for homeowners. Not too many issues. Lightening and power surges are the biggest control board killers.
Do not use a screamer version, 2 cycle, use the quite running water cooled 4 cycle versions.
You will wear out 4 to one using a 2 cycle. 4 cycles cost more but you get what you pay for.
May use a Kohler on the next one. Price is very close on both makes.
Remember that someone already posted that the new Generac was not as good as the old.
Local service man also says he has more trouble keeping them running to.
Note, I am not talking about the kind you roll or carry around when you need power for the house.
Was thinking of the whole house generator, anyone have experience with a Honeywell?
Nope. Kohler or Generac.
Best to get the one that you can get the best customer support/service from.
Not much fun when you need it and it is just a yard ornament. Costly ornament to.
My Kohler is a 14KW running on propane. It's my 4th generator since we moved here in 2002. This one is the most trouble free, smoothest running generator yet.
It gets my seal of approval, (if that means anything). 😊
Joe
Edit; I would highly advise you to get a whole house lightning protector also. Those boards are expensive when the lightning strikes close to you. That's how one of my generators met it's demise.
I start my generator at least once a month during winter and less often during the "off season". I'd suggest you put a trickle charger on the battery for a while before attempting to start after 4 months. If you haven't changed the oil, you should do so after a 15 minute warm up. Fifteen minutes should be adequate warm up time for any air cooled engine. Keep the fuel charged with STABIL and run the gas out of the carb when shutting down for any length of time.
Propane or natural gas is the way to go with generators .Gasoline with alcohol destroys the carburetor if not treated,I heard propane can be stored indefinitely. I store mine dry because firing them up monthly is a hassle.
serf
Our local stations offer non-alcohol 90 octane gas. I use in all my small engines. Even the new ones that say they're ok for up to 15% alcohol. 20 min away I can get all 3 grades of non-alcohol. Just got tired of rebuilding or replacing carbs.
Google generac generator manual. Then enter your model number. Then down load the manual to your computer.
It's easier to read on your computer and a lot easier to find.
Be sure that you have CO detectors in the house. Keep genny at least 10' from any part of the house, attached garage, or overhang, & don't run near any open door or window.
Keep safe; CO is the silent killer.
Neal