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Landscape Doctor	I was looking for a small inverter generator to run a fridge and electronics during a power outage with clean power,,also low fuel consumption, runs on lp and not deal with gas going bad or having to drain it every year. This one fit the want list. Champion duel fuel 2500 inverter generator. At 39 lbs easy to carry, very quiet comparable to a Honda at 1/3rd the cost. $490 on sale from Amazon. Started the break in period today. Very happy with it so far. We heat with wood in winter so no need to run the furnace 24/7. We also have a 10k generator that runs the whole house that we can use periodically as needed.
garysss	Looks like a nice unit, hopefully does what you want. How long will it run on that size tank? I have a Honda EX 800 I bought in 1983 that will run some lights, tv and one frig. We haven't lost power for more then a few minutes in about 8 years. I drain gas after each use, but have had to clean the carb a couple times when I forgot. We use natural gas for cooking, dryer and hot water heater, oil for heat. This message has been edited by garysss on 06-06-2023 at 08:17 AM
Landscape Doctor	They say 34 hours on a 20 lb'er. Under cold conditions not sure of the tank freezing up,, could not find any info on that fact. Anyway I have 2 100's. 4 50's and about a dozen 20's. We have not lost power in a few years,,, probably because of this global warming going on,,,,lol. BUT when we do loose it,,it's for days if not a week at a time. We are in the woods so falling trees do some serious damage. Here is a pic of one of the storms,,,, this storm was 11 days without power. quote: Originally posted by garysss: Looks like a nice unit, hopefully does what you want. How long will it run on that size tank? I have a Honda EX 800 I bought in 1983 that will run some lights, tv and one frig. We haven't lost power for more then a few minutes in about 8 years. I drain gas after each use, but have had to clean the carb a couple times when I forgot. We use natural gas for cooking, dryer and hot water heater, oil for heat.
garysss	34 hours is pretty good. With all those tanks I think you have it covered. Hopefully never need to use it for no power problem.
Landscape Doctor	Prepare for the worst-case scenario and a very happy man is nothing happens. A win win in my book. quote: Originally posted by garysss: 34 hours is pretty good. With all those tanks I think you have it covered. Hopefully never need to use it for no power problem.
padroo	We bought our whole house generator back in 2009 and don't regret it. When the lights go out, I count to 10 and everything is right with the world. We have a water well and gas furnace. The only big thing is we lose the internet.
Landscape Doctor	Almost went that route 2 years ago. We where so close to pull the trigger and we changed our mind. For the amount of time we loose power we just could not justify the 18k. I was going to bury a 1000 gal lp tank in the ground with a 20kw generator. Where our panel is in our house there is no room for the switch over panel and it would have to be outside,,, I was going to build some kind of box over it on the side of the house. We have a 10kw portable now that works perfect and runs everything. That's why we bought the inverter,,, just for the fridge, a couple lights and electronics and not have to run the big guy. I might buy another one with a parallel kit and it turns into a 5kw. quote: Originally posted by padroo: We bought our whole house generator back in 2009 and don't regret it. When the lights go out, I count to 10 and everything is right with the world. We have a water well and gas furnace. The only big thing is we lose the internet.
padroo	We have a 20 KW Kohler generator and our transfer switch is mounted on a free standing service panel. Our electric meter is on the same panel and not next to the house. Our generator runs on natural gas.
Landscape Doctor	That's the gen I was going to go with,, great choice. We do not have ng in my area that's why I was going to go with the lp. quote: Originally posted by padroo: We have a 20 KW Kohler generator and our transfer switch is mounted on a free standing service panel. Our electric meter is on the same panel and not next to the house. Our generator runs on natural gas.
MDProwler	Tank should never freeze up but if temp drops below -50F you may not have enough pressure in the bottle to force delivery. At 70 deg it’s about 145psi, at zero it drops to about 50 psi, still good. Freezing up on propane bottles is caused by drawing more than the bottles orifice capacity allows. quote: Originally posted by Landscape Doctor: They say 34 hours on a 20 lb'er. Under cold conditions not sure of the tank freezing up,, could not find any info on that fact. Anyway I have 2 100's. 4 50's and about a dozen 20's. We have not lost power in a few years,,, probably because of this global warming going on,,,,lol. BUT when we do loose it,,it's for days if not a week at a time. We are in the woods so falling trees do some serious damage. Here is a pic of one of the storms,,,, this storm was 11 days without power.
MDProwler	Bought a 1 year old 8kw General for $800. It sat in the yard for 2 years until the patio was built. I eliminated the buried rental LP tank and bought 3 120# tanks and brought the gas into the back of the house. The regulator is right behind the generator. Installed sub panel and wired generator in myself(took awhile, lol). Extra taps on the incoming line to feed the grill and LP fire pit (still need to do this) I separated many circuits in the house to a 100 amp sub panel to power only what is critical. (No AC or wall oven). Heat,cook,hot water, dryer lp and we have a split unit ac in the master bedroom that is on the generator. Gave up wood heat this year and will be installing a propane insert.
Landscape Doctor	Great info, ty. We never get nowhere close to -50F. Might get -20F but that's windchill. Was talking to a friend coupe days ago and he pretty much said the same thing you described. quote: Originally posted by MDProwler: Tank should never freeze up but if temp drops below -50F you may not have enough pressure in the bottle to force delivery. At 70 deg it’s about 145psi, at zero it drops to about 50 psi, still good. Freezing up on propane bottles is caused by drawing more than the bottles orifice capacity allows.
Landscape Doctor	Nice setup. Love the walls, great job whoever installed them. quote: Originally posted by MDProwler: Bought a 1 year old 8kw General for $800. It sat in the yard for 2 years until the patio was built. I eliminated the buried rental LP tank and bought 3 120# tanks and brought the gas into the back of the house. The regulator is right behind the generator. Installed sub panel and wired generator in myself(took awhile, lol). Extra taps on the incoming line to feed the grill and LP fire pit (still need to do this) I separated many circuits in the house to a 100 amp sub panel to power only what is critical. (No AC or wall oven). Heat,cook,hot water, dryer lp and we have a split unit ac in the master bedroom that is on the generator. Gave up wood heat this year and will be installing a propane insert.
padroo	Even running natural gas my gas regulator has an optional heating pad that is thermostatically controlled that keeps the regulator warm in cold weather. I forget at what temperature it actually turns on. For new construction they make a combination transfer panel and main breaker box that can be installed when the house is being built that makes for a cleaner install. If I was building a new house I would have it installed if I planned to install a generator in the future. Some people don't know this even exists. http://www.generac.com/all-products/transfer-switches/automatic-transfer-switches/rxg42sha1
quincy	Please use due care and do not run this in your garage. Many folks wind up killing themselves running generators in the garage....the fumes get in the house various ways.
Landscape Doctor	I was born but not yesterday,lol. Thank You for your concern. It will be outside on the deck. Deck is second level with no stairs from ground level. I am in the process of buying a second one with a parallel kit. That will give me 4k which will do the 2 fridges, microwave and some lights. My 10k will do the 220 stuff as needed. Going to make some kind of a encloser with some metal mess screen for breathing when weather is snowy or rainy. quote: Originally posted by quincy: Please use due care and do not run this in your garage. Many folks wind up killing themselves running generators in the garage....the fumes get in the house various ways. This message has been edited by Landscape Doctor on 06-26-2023 at 07:34 PM