I was wondering how much fuel do you use a day on average?
Been looking into generator options, brands, prices, etc. Any additional tips or advice you have for me, would be lovely.
Depends on the fuel and the type of generator you are talking about.
I have a rather large gasoline generator that I have converted to use both propane and CNG form the public utility here in town...
Gasoline runs about a gallon an hour,
Propane will run slightly more...
I don't have any way to track 'Gallon' volume of that.
If you get a larger, stationary generator for outside the home, hook it to city CNG or Propane supply.
Liquid fuel spoils, evaporates, draws moisture, ect.,
Even if you use 'Fuel Stabilizers' in it.
If you want a smaller, portable generator, go with gasoline or propane.
It's VERY easy to convert a gasoline generator over to use propane as a fuel, and then you have a 'Dual Fuel' unit that will burn either.
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Have a look around salvage yards, or online salvage yards that handle boats and RV's.
With the hurricanes and floods, there are TONS of low hour generators on the market from larger boats and RV's right now!
Great deals on gasoline, diesel fuel and LP generators!
Go with a larger generator, like an Onan brand rather than one of the smaller ones that uses a 'Lawn Mower' engine.
The larger generators use a low RPM engine that makes so much less noise, and the engines live MUCH longer...
The generators on the other end are usually U.S. made and are MUCH better than the 'China' versions that are usually found behind the 'Lawn Mower' engines.
Buy as much generator as you can afford!
It's VERY hard to buy 'Too Much' generator,
But it's VERY EASY to buy 'Too Little' generator!
Watch for 'Peak' or 'Surge' ratings!
A bunch of the smaller 'Import' generators are rated in their absloute MAXIMUM output, which they won't live very long at that output...
For instance, a 'Peak' rated generator at 4,000 Watts,
but it was only designed to produce 2,300 to 2,500 Watts for any sustained period of time
(Voltage X Amperage = Watts,
OR,
4,000 Watts ÷ 110 volts = 36 Amps)
SO! I though I was buying a 36 Amp generator, which will power most of a household, fridge, freezer, lights, fan, ect.,
But what I got was a 20 Amp generator, which would be hard pressed to keep up with fridge, freezer, lights, fan...
The larger U.S. made generators are usually have 'Working' amperage ratings, so if they say '7,500 Watts', they mean 7,500 watts all day long, every day if that is what you need...
Not just surging to 7,500 watts for a short period of time...
AND,
They lend themselves well to 220 volt hookups, like your fuse box or breaker panel is wired to accept... So they pretty much plug right in to your existing panel with the proper switching...