Anyone thinking twice about getting a generator? Stop thinking!

[wrott]

If it saves your tanks just one time its worth it.
In an apt you need to concider that neighbors may have windows and doors open during outage--dont gas them w/ CO. And they may call manager to complain.
Don't forget that you also need a chiller and extra heaters, outage happen during hottest and coldest times.

[thirsty saltine]

My house came with a backup generator and automatic transfer switch that runs on propane, only thing I had to do was figure out how to move the power to backup the outlets that were going to power the tank. I figured that out and will never look back now. A few days ago was the first time it was tested, emergency repairs in my neighborhood and the grid was off for about 5 hours, I know that my tank was running perfectly the whole time and I didn't have to worry about it.

[LX20000]

How much gas you run through to keep the tank going and maybe the fridge... It always seemed like you'd be running to get the 5 gallon gas tank filled every 8 hours.... how much do you use ??

[soulpatch]

I run most of my house (just not my HVAC but everything else) and I run for around 10-11 hours on a tank. So I refill perhaps twice a day. I can go longer if I am not running my home theater and such but see no reason to not enjoy myself for a few bucks in gas...

If gas is hard to find though I do limit what I run so as to conserve fuel. IE after Sandy I had to run 2 days before I could easily get gas locally. I have roughly 10 gallons in tanks, fill my genny, and ALWAYS fill my cars so I could drain them if needed...

[Stolireef]

Generators are a great addition to a reef tank but if you want a poor man's version, get an inverter for your car and a really long extension cord. Either plug it into your cigarette lighter or connect to your car battery and your car becomes a generator. I had to do this several years ago and it was a life saver. Ran a couple of circulation pumps and the tank heater for about 10 hours.

[FishN00b83]

i dont have one at the house, but I do have one available to me if I can pick it up and bring it home. I just have to rent a van and pick it up, which I havent done yet.

[LX20000]

Originally Posted by Stolireef

Generators are a great addition to a reef tank but if you want a poor man's version, get an inverter for your car and a really long extension cord. Either plug it into your cigarette lighter or connect to your car battery and your car becomes a generator. I had to do this several years ago and it was a life saver. Ran a couple of circulation pumps and the tank heater for about 10 hours.

Damn... great idea for a last ditch effort.....

[Stolireef]

Originally Posted by LX20000

Damn... great idea for a last ditch effort.....

Note that the car doesn't have to be on the entire time. You just need to make sure to keep the battery sufficiently charged.

[hkgar]

With many newer cars cigarette lighters do not function with car off.

How many watts can you get from an inverter?

[f3honda4me]

Few problems with using an inverter on your car. To start, the power being provided isn't regulated/clean like with a regular generator, so your equipment will use and need more power than normal. Also, your average car's alternator probably only generates around maybe 600-ish watts and maybe 20-30 amps at idle, which means if you are using more than that, the battery will drain faster than the alternator can recharge it. Plus, you're stressing your alternator pretty heavy if you're constantly pulling that much power through an inverter. And replacing an alternator will probably cost more than a $350 gas generator.

[Stolireef]

Originally Posted by f3honda4me

Few problems with using an inverter on your car. To start, the power being provided isn't regulated/clean like with a regular generator, so your equipment will use and need more power than normal. Also, your average car's alternator probably only generates around maybe 600-ish watts and maybe 20-30 amps at idle, which means if you are using more than that, the battery will drain faster than the alternator can recharge it. Plus, you're stressing your alternator pretty heavy if you're constantly pulling that much power through an inverter. And replacing an alternator will probably cost more than a $350 gas generator.

I don't disagree with your point but in a pinch, it works. Think about your post. 600W and 20-30 amps will power quite a few powerheads and a modest heater. You're not gonna run your lights or a high powered pump but like I said, in a pinch, the inverters are very handy.

[f3honda4me]

Originally Posted by Stolireef

I don't disagree with your point but in a pinch, it works. Think about your post. 600W and 20-30 amps will power quite a few powerheads and a modest heater. You're not gonna run your lights or a high powered pump but like I said, in a pinch, the inverters are very handy.

No I get what you mean but if you're going to spend thousands on this hobby, $350 is sort of a drop in the pan for a gas generator, especially if you consider that you might fry equipment or your alternator using the inverter. :/ Plus if you have a larger tank, your heaters alone could require 600 watts.

[breck]

My next purchase is going to be a whole house generac. The $7-9K will suck, but it will nice not to have to worry about it when the power goes out...Not only for the aquariums, but just less interruption in general.

[abrooks12376]

Originally Posted by breck

My next purchase is going to be a whole house generac. The $7-9K will suck, but it will nice not to have to worry about it when the power goes out...Not only for the aquariums, but just less interruption in general.

They're an excellent system. Well worth it imo

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

[shellsea]

I finally got a 5500 watt Roybi generator. Wondering if I can use it with Archon controller and or other D.C. Pumps and such. Will power be "clean" enough to not damage electronics?


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[Ron Reefman]

We have used a 5000 watt portable for the last 13 years, since hurricane Charlie in 2004 had our power out for 10 days. We had issues with it after hurricane Irma so we just ordered a new Briggs & Stratton 8000 watt and our local electric outfit LCEC (Lee County Electric Cooperative) will install a plug behind the meter so the generator can feed the entire house. We need to shut off circuit breakers to the A/C and electric stove but the rest of the house runs thru the normal circuit breakers. When the power comes back on, all I have to do is unplug the generator from the single plug. No need for an extra box or picking which 4, 6 8 or 10 circuits I want. In fact, I can turn everything else off and run the whole house A/C if I want.

[heuerfan]

I am thinking about a dual fuel generator, but is it necessary to get an inverter generator?

Only plan on running jebao powerhead and heater in case of outage.

[Potatohead]

Originally Posted by heuerfan

I am thinking about a dual fuel generator, but is it necessary to get an inverter generator?

Only plan on running jebao powerhead and heater in case of outage.

I wouldn't worry about an inverter generator unless your power goes out for days at a time and you have very expensive DC pumps (Red Dragon or Abyzz etc).

[heuerfan]

Originally Posted by Potatohead

I wouldn't worry about an inverter generator unless your power goes out for days at a time and you have very expensive DC pumps (Red Dragon or Abyzz etc).

Glad to hear that because they cost so much more, thanks for the reply!

[Hal]

I have a 5000kw portable for my house. I bought it when living in Michigan where we lost power once or twice a year due to falling tree limbs. Now I live in Colorado where all the powerlines are buried. The only way we lose power is if a car runs off the road into a transformer box or something happens to the substation.

We haven't lost power in the last year, although I know that is too short of a sample period. My wife has suggested we sell the generator as it is just taking up space in our garage, but I think I'm going to give it another year or two.

[hkgar]

Originally Posted by Hal

I have a 5000kw portable for my house. I bought it when living in Michigan where we lost power once or twice a year due to falling tree limbs. Now I live in Colorado where all the powerlines are buried. The only way we lose power is if a car runs off the road into a transformer box or something happens to the substation.

We haven't lost power in the last year, although I know that is too short of a sample period. My wife has suggested we sell the generator as it is just taking up space in our garage, but I think I'm going to give it another year or two.

You and I both know that selling the generator is playing right into the hand of fate. There will be a power failure the next day.

Survey the neighbors about power losses, or maybe theree is a local reef club to speak to.