Electric Generators - Part 1

**elcamino** · 09-21-2012, 09:34 PM

I cant wait to built a battery bank i have been saving up car batterys and alternators i gonna make a way to recharge to bank with a couple bikes my kids love to ride there bikes so trying to figure it out any thoughts and sorry if it seems like im hijacking your post thanks

**Iron mike** · 09-21-2012, 11:25 PM

You might look into deepcycle or golf cart type battries but either way keep us posted on your findings.

**RICHFL** · 09-22-2012, 12:59 AM

A couple of things based on experience:

1. Most gen sets tell you that they have 8 hours of fuel at 50% of load. What that means that you bought a 5500 watt gen set - your load can only be 2750 watts to manage your fuel load. Remember to refuel the gen set after it has cooled down.

2. Manage you appliances to use them as little as possible. when our last hurricane happened I transferred all our items in our refrigerator 25 cu foot to a 12 cu foot. my watts were cut in 1/2. I only ran it 1 hour out of every 3 hours. still kept everything cold. Since I'm in Florida (avg temp 94 avg humidity 90+ in Aug) we installed a window a/c and closed off the rest of the house staying in one bedroom. Reduced our cooling cost in watts from 8500 (Central a/c) to under 1500 (window) per hour.

3. If SWTHTF, You wouldn't want to attract attention in having too many lights on, or a noise level that can be heard from the street. It might attract someone to come knocking at your door, you do not want to open for!!!!

4. NEVER RUN A GEN SET INDOORS. They release toxic gases that can and will kill you!

**dalewick** · 09-22-2012, 08:05 AM

I have a flex fuel adaptor on my generator (Gasoline, propane, nat. gas) and have a methane conversion unit in storage, in case I ever need it. Want to be able to run my geney on methane or alcohol/gasahol that I can produce for true long term usage, if needed.

Dale