Do you keep your Genny full of fuel?

[churchmouse]

Thanks for the replies.

How much load? I had a fan and two vacuum cleaners and a pedestal grinder on it and did not seem to show hardly any signs of being under load. Is that enough load?

Yup. Put some heat in the winding's is all you are trying to do.
I drop cord mine into the shop (shutting off the main of course) and light it up and run some equipment.

 

[Leadeye]

Buried hard line to 1000 gallons of propane.

 

[Papa]

I have a dual unit gas/propane. Propane for short outages gas for anything needing extended runtime. I use propane when I can, then I don't have to worry about gummin up the carb with old gas

 

[indyjohn]

Recently bought a bigger generator, I went with a dual fuel, gas and propane. Propane lasts forever, and doesn't gum up the carb like old gas. Picked up 5 used propane tanks on craigslist, had them filled, I should be good to go for at least a week. I don't plan to, but I can also run gasoline in a pinch.

Buried hard line to 1000 gallons of propane.

I have a dual unit gas/propane. Propane for short outages gas for anything needing extended runtime. I use propane when I can, then I don't have to worry about gummin up the carb with old gas

You guys have it right, let the gasoline guys roll their eyes in annoyance. LP doesn't go stale, is easily portable and readily available. Like nate, my genny will run gasoline if needed but I don't plan on it.

 

[trophyhunter]

I run a dual fuel Champion, the gas tank is stored empty and the carb is drained of fuel plus I keep a few 100 pound cylinders and a dual tank manifold on hand to prevent them from icing up it's a 9K unit.

It wont make full power on LP but it's much more trouble free to store that way and gas tank can be topped off for a prolonged outage if needed.

 

[churchmouse]

I run a dual fuel Champion, the gas tank is stored empty and the carb is drained of fuel plus I keep a few 100 pound cylinders and a dual tank manifold on hand to prevent them from icing up it's a 9K unit.

It wont make full power on LP but it's much more trouble free to store that way and gas tank can be topped off for a prolonged outage if needed.

This is the key. LP does not have the BTU capacity of gasoline so factor that into output. It will be down as to delivered HP.
But the upside is pretty much trouble free running.

 

[trophyhunter]

This is the key. LP does not have the BTU capacity of gasoline so factor that into output. It will be down as to delivered HP.
But the upside is pretty much trouble free running.

I keep a new carb and gasket set on hand for both my generators, used to keep spare recoil start assemblies as well but these newer Honda clone engines can have a rope wound around them to start.

Cheap insurance when you may need it most.

 

[churchmouse]

I keep a new carb and gasket set on hand for both my generators, used to keep spare recoil start assemblies as well but these newer Honda clone engines can have a rope wound around them to start.

Cheap insurance when you may need it most.

Well, yes. Good planning.
We have 5 genny's so there is a spare...

I am going to sell one of the smaller ones as we do not use them much anymore.

 

[yepthatsme]

I have found out the hard way that keeping a full tank of fuel in a generator that is NOT in a controlled environment is inviting trouble if using common, unleaded gas. Since the fuel tanks are vented and most gas contains 10 percent of alcohol, the alcohol attracts moisture from the atmosphere. I have experienced moisture buildup in fuel tanks when equipment is not in a controlled environment. I have had to remove carburetor bowls to empty the water and to bleed the fuel lines to get gas to flow again. This is why I try to keep most of my equipment in shelters and I keep the fuel tanks of my generators dry.

I will put enough gas in them to run them under load for a short while, until they run completely out of gas. I will keep my gas with Stabil in the unvented gas containers until they are needed.

 

[rhino]

Does anyone have a vehicle with standard 110V outlets in it? How much power can it produce?

 

[lonehoosier]

Does anyone have a vehicle with standard 110V outlets in it? How much power can it produce?

I don't have one but I've seen three fail to fill a Arrowbed with a 25 foot 12/3 gauge extension cord while camping. They were all newer vehicles. Chevy Silverado, Dodge pickup and a Chrysler minivan.

 

[rhino]

I don't have one but I've seen three fail to fill a Arrowbed with a 25 foot 12/3 gauge extension cord while camping. They were all newer vehicles. Chevy Silverado, Dodge pickup and a Chrysler minivan.

That's disappointing!

 

[churchmouse]

Does anyone have a vehicle with standard 110V outlets in it? How much power can it produce?

My Chevy conversion van (Magic Bus) has a 110 outlet and it puts out enough juice to at least fill a self contained air mattress. I am really not sure what the total KW is on the inverter.

 

[rhino]

My Chevy conversion van (Magic Bus) has a 110 outlet and it puts out enough juice to at least fill a self contained air mattress. I am really not sure what the total KW is on the inverter.

So unlikely to be able do the job of a real generator?

 

[indyjohn]

This is the key. LP does not have the BTU capacity of gasoline so factor that into output. It will be down as to delivered HP.
But the upside is pretty much trouble free running.

Noted.

But I'm trying to plan consumption so that I'm not reaching that 7200 watt number at any time (requiring max output). 5760 watts is 80%, so I would hope I could run a lean home within that number.

 

[churchmouse]

So unlikely to be able do the job of a real generator?

Absolutely not.

 

[churchmouse]

Noted.

But I'm trying to plan consumption so that I'm not reaching that 7200 watt number at any time (requiring max output). 5760 watts is 80%, so I would hope I could run a lean home within that number.

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Noted.

But I'm trying to plan consumption so that I'm not reaching that 7200 watt number at any time (requiring max output). 5760 watts is 80%, so I would hope I could run a lean home within that number.

We have 2 7500's delivered not max. If we use our noodles we could get by fairly well with both refrigerators and the furnace fan. Basic lighting. The other one would power up the kids place next door.
I have a small clean power for electronics.

 

[JayPea]

Does anyone have a vehicle with standard 110V outlets in it? How much power can it produce?

We have a Toyota 4Runner with an outlet in the back. Manual says max while driving is max 100W. In park or neutral it can get up to 400W. We’ve really just used it to charge the laptop or mobile WiFi device when traveling. It will see its use also for lights at wife’s trunk or treat event around this time of year.

 

[1DOWN4UP]

I usually run my Genny till it is near out of fuel.I then add some more 2 stroke oil to a little 50/1 mix that has Stabill for the chainsaw just to lube the upper stuff( ethanol free) add that and run it till it is dry....then as it starts to chug,I turn on the choke to clear it out.I still have a old Generac that is at least 25 years old,that I need to start now that I think about it. PS...learn how to jump the low oil shut down switch in case it fails at a very needed time.....but also do not forget to also repair it.

 

[bigretic]

This.

fuel and stabil here too.