Kuz89 said:
I did not see this group referenced elsewhere in the thread. SIAP
Facebook Group - Generators: portable generators to power entire house
Yes, it's Facebook (one of the only reasons I keep my FB account) and it requires joining. One of the best all around forums for DIY home generator setup with guides and references. Standard setup is a DuroMax 13K with MicroAire softstart and Interlock on the panel. Covers NG setup and has recommendation for plumbers and electricians for those who need it.
So this is what I have (softstart is next on my list now). I got it after the 2021 freeze and this was its first time in action. What I learned this week:
-Keep the battery charged when not in use. Should have known better, having had a motorcycle. I had kept the battery disconnected but not charged, so I picked up a new one before the storm came.
-Practice running your system and teach your family how to use it.
-Have a fuel stock and think about just how much you could use in a day. I had 3 propane tanks and about 10 gallons of gas before the storm. Even though I was still able to find plenty of propane, more is better. I'll look into getting a 100lb tank and some more quality gas cans.
-I hesitated using gas the first couple of days b/c I didn't want to go through the winterizing steps if the outage was gonna be brief. I did switch to gas yesterday (details below), and found the post-use steps simple enough to follow.
-I have a 5-ton AC unit, and when I initially wired in my generator system a couple of years ago tested it with my electrician to make sure the genny would run it off propane. It
did but was finicky once the outdoor temps climbed. Starting it in the morning was fine, but it just kept tripping when I tried to run it in the evening.
Once I switched to gas yesterday it had no problem running my AC, two refrigerators, a chest freezer, fans, and other stuff. And from what I'm reading about the soft start, that will make it even better.
-The manual says to change the oil every 20 hours. Fortunately I had some onhand, and changed around 35 hours. So I'll stock up on oil, as well as an extra spark plug.
All in all I am happy with my setup. I'm sure the "automated" nature (when it works) of a standby system is very convenient, but I like the control I have with the portable. And with the cost difference I can put a lot of $$$ into fuel storage. Certainly enough to last a few weeks.