Portable Generators

[Clyde]

I thought I would start a thread on generators. I know in a bug out situation they may not be the most practical Item.

However, In the case of natural disasters where bugging out is not needed a generator might be quite useful. especially if you desire to reside in a FEMA camp or with the Red Cross.

I found the following buying guide from Harbor Freight Tools.

Portable generators are ideal for providing power to lights and home appliances during power outages, enabling power tool usage at remote job locations, and powering up electronics during camping trips and tailgating parties.

Two of the main considerations when selecting a portable generator are the running watts, also known as Output Watts, and starting watts, or Maximum Output Watts. Output Watts is the power needed to run a given device at normal functionality. Many devises need more power to start up (Maximum Output Watts) and then require less power (Rated Watts) to run continually. For example, a refrigerator requires 2200 starting wattage with a 700 running wattage, so you would need a generator with at least 2200 watt maximum output (Harbor Freight Tools, 2012).

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I hope this helps people out.​

 

[Krime]

Yes generators will be great, if you can syphon enough gas out of the parking lot of cars, which i will probably be doing lol.

 

[Clyde]

Yes generators will be great, if you can syphon enough gas out of the parking lot of cars, which i will probably be doing lol.

You and me both. I know the gas situation will be a problem. I figure gas will be one of the top things people will go out on recon missions for (next to food and water).

 

[Jhonny Yuma]

During Katraina my generator came in very handy but only if you know problems are coming can you stock up on gas I was lucky I got 40 gallons before she hit but the worst came after the gas staion couldnt keep up . My supply lasted pretty close to two week .Run you frig for three hour to keep freezer up and then let it rest and then at night had a small one room a/c and the frig at night when both are good you can sleep at night.LATER

 

[Clyde]

During Katraina my generator came in very handy but only if you know problems are coming can you stock up on gas I was lucky I got 40 gallons before she hit but the worst came after the gas staion couldnt keep up . My supply lasted pretty close to two week .Run you frig for three hour to keep freezer up and then let it rest and then at night had a small one room a/c and the frig at night when both are good you can sleep at night.LATER

I would like to get one as I live in earthquake country,
However with earthquakes you don't get any advanced warnings like you do with hurricanes. In fact we just had a small earthquake hit about 15 miles from me in a city called Yorba Linda. It was a 4.1 quake.

 

[Paul Mullet]

Generators are good to have, but not the best as far as prepping goes, it will draw a lot of unwanted attention to you and your location.

 

[Clyde]

Generators are good to have, but not the best as far as prepping goes, it will draw a lot of unwanted attention to you and your location.

True. They aren't the best things to have as far as noise discipline goes. I personally want one due to loosing power from an earthquake.

 

[Paul Mullet]

That is understandable, but what happens when your area is hit and you don't have a generator then what??????? Just asking.....

 

[Clyde]

That is understandable, but what happens when your area is hit and you don't have a generator then what??????? Just asking.....

luckily i have 2 friends who have them. all of us are super close by and have already discussed joining forces in the event of a major quake. Total I have 4 generators by me

 

[Colt 1911]

My concern is how loud my generator is, If the power is out, everyone in the city is going to hear it. Honda is the way to go, super quiet.

 

[Clyde]

My concern is how loud my generator is, If the power is out, everyone in the city is going to hear it. Honda is the way to go, super quiet.

Noise discipline is a concern when using one. I just used a 2000 watt yamaha this past weekend. I was not overly impressed with the noise.

 

[Krime]

i think you can also convert generators to take alcohol as fuel.
as far as noise goes, you can always dig a hole like 6' deep and make a small underground shelter for it, but remember to make an exaust shaft. that should quiet down the noise by alot.

 

[Colt 1911]

i think you can also convert generators to take alcohol as fuel.
as far as noise goes, you can always dig a hole like 6' deep and make a small underground shelter for it, but remember to make an exaust shaft. that should quiet down the noise by alot.

That is a great idea, thanks !

 

[Clyde]

i think you can also convert generators to take alcohol as fuel.
as far as noise goes, you can always dig a hole like 6' deep and make a small underground shelter for it, but remember to make an exaust shaft. that should quiet down the noise by alot.

You will also need to make sure you have some good air circulation as the majority of them are air cooled.

 

[booter360]

if your really worried about noise you may want to think about the rv gen exaust i know mines real quiet on it.and if need be i can install a fullsize car muffler

 

[Clyde]

if your really worried about noise you may want to think about the rv gen exaust i know mines real quiet on it.and if need be i can install a fullsize car muffler

Damn good idea!
What size RV do you have?
How many watt generator is required to run it?

I am wanting to buy a trailer in the not too distant future.

 

[booter360]

Damn good idea!
What size RV do you have?
How many watt generator is required to run it?

I am wanting to buy a trailer in the not too distant future.

i have an older 25 ft it has a 4000 watt generator.best part is its fully self contained

 

[Colt 1911]

i have an older 25 ft it has a 4000 watt generator.best part is its fully self contained

Sweet !!

 

[booter360]

Sweet !!

It will be if i can get it out of town!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Colt 1911]

Roger that !! Could be a nightmare, might have to hunker down for awhile.

 

[booter360]

It will be if i can get it out of town!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lmfao

 

[Clyde]

i have an older 25 ft it has a 4000 watt generator.best part is its fully self contained

Nice! That is the size i would like.

Roger that !! Could be a nightmare, might have to hunker down for awhile.

Getting out of california is not going to be an easy task.

 

[Krime]

It will be if i can get it out of town!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

get some camo netting, that could hide you from would be intruters.

 

[Clyde]

get some camo netting, that could hide you from would be intruters.

I am sure that stuff can be had at almost any Army-Navy surplus store. Though I am sure it won't be cheap. sometimes the military auctions off their old stuff fairly cheap.

 

[Ted1737]

Any ideas about fuel storage?

I have nice 6500 Honda genset that is whisper quite. I always have a 5 gal jug with fuel mainly used for the lawn tractor.
I'm thinking of storing a good quantity of fuel. I have a few nice clean 55 gal drums (originally used as for racing fuel). How long do you think the fuel would remain good? Would a fuel stabilizer help?

I also have a 7000 watt Onan genset in my motor home. Unfortunately it is setup for propane i can't afford to run it heck, I can't afford to fill the motor home with diesel.

 

[Colt 1911]

Any ideas about fuel storage?

I have nice 6500 Honda genset that is whisper quite. I always have a 5 gal jug with fuel mainly used for the lawn tractor.
I'm thinks of storing a good quantity of fuel. I have a few nice clean 55 gal drums (originally used as for racing fuel). How long do you think the fuel would remain good? Would a fuel stabilizer help?

I also have a 7000 watt Onan genset in my motor home. Unfortunately it is setup for propane i can't afford to run it heck, I can't afford to fill the motor home with diesel.

If it was me i would put the gas in five gallon containers and rotate it. Put the older gas in my car and then fill up the five container.

 

[booter360]

If it was me i would put the gas in five gallon containers and rotate it. Put the older gas in my car and then fill up the five container.

just be careful the new ethanol fuel will separate and go bad a lot quicker than the old gas would. I have seen our trucks at work sit for a few months and it actually eat the rubber pick up hoses in the tank.

 

[Krime]

i would agree with Colt here.
if the quality of gas is good/great the longer it will sit, but you cant trust gas qualitys these days, alot are mixed with water even.
gas inna 55 gallon could possably last 6 months to a year if air sealed, however it runs the risk of turning to turpintine, and if your inna sticky situation, can you really afford the risk?

 

[emp proof]

you cant bury a generator the guy who said about it bein air cooled is right BUT ALSO you will need an air feed to the air filter and all you will have is a buried generator over heating and the 2 noisy bits (the air intake and the exhaust) will have to be sticking out or screaming down some pipes, therefore reducing your decibels by about none lol

 

[emp proof]

however a genset from a ship is in a sound reducing box designed for the generator,,,, theyd do the trick........ sorry or from an rv