House Power by RV Generator...

[poppatello]

Has anyone added emergency back up electric using an RV powered generator? I've been kicking the idea around for the past year. We lost power three times this summer by storms and I panicked the last minute when my power company told me to expect to be powerless for @ least three days during Irene. I searched high and low and couldn't find even the lowest wattage generator. Well now I'm going to take my time and be ready. I was thinking about looking for an RV generator, building a pad, converting it to natural gas and using it as my back up. Just wondering if anyone else has done this???

[Mekanic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by poppatello Has anyone added emergency back up electric using an RV powered generator? I've been kicking the idea around for the past year. We lost power three times this summer by storms and I panicked the last minute when my power company told me to expect to be powerless for @ least three days during Irene. I searched high and low and couldn't find even the lowest wattage generator. Well now I'm going to take my time and be ready. I was thinking about looking for an RV generator, building a pad, converting it to natural gas and using it as my back up. Just wondering if anyone else has done this???

PAD? Nat gas?? Why not just run a cord to your house and levave it mounted to the RV?

[poppatello]

Right now the RV is @ a radiator ship. It's been there a while and I'm not even sure we are keeping it. There is still a lot to do to get it back on the road. So I'm thinking of maybe stripping the useable parts and scrapping the junk. Plus I have unlimited supply of NG as those that have it do. Gas stations around here ran out so that is a limited source. I am just thinking ahead. Winters have been getting a bit worst every year as well...

[Midniteoyl]

A 'RV generator' will cost too much... hit up Northern Tool and pick up a 6000W (nominal) one and have 50amps...

[Kurmudgeon]

A better choice would be a generator made specifically for residential backup. They have their own enclosure, your pad could consist of a half dozen concrete blocks, and are available in gas, propane and NG. They are pretty much plug and play.

Just make sure you have an electrician wire in a proper transfer switch on your house.

[poppatello]

The only problem with using a portable unit is the fact they aren't rated to run more then 8 to 10 hours max @ 50% power demand. So you take a 5,000 watt unit and cut it in half to run it's max time limit or cut the time in half and run it for the full wattage rating...

[Midniteoyl]

And an 'rv' unit is not the same?

I ran my Generac for 3+ days..

[SCVJeff]

Quote:

Originally Posted by poppatello The only problem with using a portable unit is the fact they aren't rated to run more then 8 to 10 hours max @ 50% power demand. So you take a 5,000 watt unit and cut it in half to run it's max time limit or cut the time in half and run it for the full wattage rating...

Where did you find that spec.?

[Shadowcatche]

I have a 7000W generator for the house and a 2400W Kipor for the teardrop. One thing you need to do is get either breaker panel that locks out the mains (so you are not feeding the entire neighborhood and running the risk of zapping the utility worker) or being religious about turning the mains breaker off when using the generator.
I installed a new mains panel with that lock out as our panel had been recalled 20+ years before.

[KJINTF]

Not sure how many RV gensets put out 220Vac - mine sure does NOT
Your house needs both legs of 115Vac and the 220Vac to operate properly.
2nd the Northern Tools suggestion or even less expensive "CHEAPER" Harbor Freight stuff
At a local yard sale I found a nice, however loud air cooled 5Kw house generator for $50.00

[edj]

Quote:

Originally Posted by poppatello The only problem with using a portable unit is the fact they aren't rated to run more then 8 to 10 hours max @ 50% power demand. So you take a 5,000 watt unit and cut it in half to run it's max time limit or cut the time in half and run it for the full wattage rating...

For an emergency, one can get by with the occasional power from a generator. Just need to run the generator for relatively short periods of time to keep the fridge cold, pump water from the well, run furnace, etc. I see no need to have a generator running 24/7 just to make it more comfortable. The basics to get by until the utilities are restored is really all one needs.

[Clay L]

Quote:

Originally Posted by poppatello The only problem with using a portable unit is the fact they aren't rated to run more then 8 to 10 hours max @ 50% power demand. So you take a 5,000 watt unit and cut it in half to run it's max time limit or cut the time in half and run it for the full wattage rating... *WARNING STAY AWAY FROM CLASSICWINNIEBAGO.COM*

I don't have a classic Winne (yet - it's only 8 years old) and have never been to the site but why don't you like them?

[Batman_777]

The Onan generator I have is equipped with a voltage loss sensor that will kick on the generator if shore power is lost.

[C-PHartley]

I've seen Generac NG products at Home Depot and Lowes for this application.