Generator for emergency back up

[Ross]

For all those looking for emergency power supplies.

I was at Canadian Tire today and they have 1500w gas generators on sale for $199.99. Not too bad a price, but if you spend $200 in store today, you get a $50 gift card for use next week.

http://www.rona.ca/images/06025000_L.jpg
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/champion-1500w-gas-generator-0550314p.html (http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/champion-1500w-gas-generator-0550314p.html)

[Aquattro]

Think I'm going to grab one of these!

[Jaws]

Do you think that's got enough juice Brad? I've been looking at one too but the model up has 4 outlets instead of 1 and has a lot more operating power.

[Aquattro]

Do you think that's got enough juice Brad? I've been looking at one too but the model up has 4 outlets instead of 1 and has a lot more operating power.

Ya, I figure I need one outlet to plug a 25' cord into. Cord comes in house, has 4 outlets, one for return pump, one or two for heaters. That's all we need on our area, power is usually quickly restored.

[reeferfulton]

I am thinking about this too.
I had a scare with the power out for 4 hrs a month back.

I borrowed a friends at the 3.5 hour mark.

So this is probably a cheap backup.

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Its 1200 watts maximum rated watts and ONLY 1500w at start up. Still a good back up generator. Just wanted to make sure anybody interested knows the sustained wattage.

Anthony

[Craigdillman]

Thanks this is a good idea

Right now for my backup plan I have a car inverter that can run

Both heaters
DC return pump
1 maybe 2 pumps(maybe the wp25 in there)
And I have a battery air pump

Just need to keep the car running ... Lol

[spit.fire]

I am thinking about this too.
I had a scare with the power out for 4 hrs a month back.

I borrowed a friends at the 3.5 hour mark.

So this is probably a cheap backup.

Phhh 4 hours is nothing

2 years ago mine was out for 28hrs
Last month I had a 5 day power outage but I had a generator for that one

Ps: champion generators are garbage I've had 4 fail in a row with under 12hrs of use on them

[H2o2]

I had a 3500 w under a big pine tree on stand by , made up a cord with 2 male ends on and then they came and stole it . I am going to Costco to get a 3500 again and this time I am chaining it to the tree and put some bells on it . They probably needed it to charge there crack habit I guess

[don.ald]

Bought one five years ago...still in the box. Every year about this time the topic of power failure comes up and I get anxious and think it time to open the box and see if the thing works. So if I fuel this thing up and don't use it does it go rotten? I guess it needs to be maintained.

[Borderjumper]

Bought one five years ago...still in the box. Every year about this time the topic of power failure comes up and I get anxious and think it time to open the box and see if the thing works. So if I fuel this thing up and don't use it does it go rotten? I guess it needs to be maintained.


Same thing here! Got a honda 4-5 years back and it's never been out of the box. Art says its just fine as long as you haven't fueled it up. The innerds are coated in something when it's manufactured allowing it to sit safely on the shell until it's sold.. Ours just sits longer than most.

[gregzz4]

I guess it needs to be maintained.
Once it's had fuel in it;

Use a Fuel Stabilizer, but make sure it's suitable for Ethanol blended gas (ethanol vs alcohol based stabilizer) as most now have it

And if it's stored where it's exposed to fluctuating temperatures, it's a good idea to give it an annual run to warm up the motor then an oil change to remove moisture from the crankcase

[Ross]

Another thing that needs to be considered is your electrical cord size.

I killed a similar cheap generator a few years back by pulling full load on a 50 ft 16/3 cord. The line losses pushed the generator over capacity and blew something up inside.
Cost as much to fix as to replace.

If your going to be pulling 3/4 capacity make sure you have a 14 or better yet a 12 gauge cord.

[The Guy]

Bought one five years ago...still in the box. Every year about this time the topic of power failure comes up and I get anxious and think it time to open the box and see if the thing works. So if I fuel this thing up and don't use it does it go rotten? I guess it needs to be maintained.
Once it's got gas in it just store it with fuel stabilizer in the gas and your good to go. If you store it outdoors it's a good idea to fire it up every month or so in the colder times of the year.
I too had one sitting in the box for a couple years before it got used, that's a great buy at Canadian tire for the Champion generator I have the same except one step up and good for 3000 watts with the 4 outlets so I can run some house lights etc. as well as my tanks. And yes make sure your extension cords are minimum 14 gauge or 12 gauge even better.