http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/003428.php

12KW generator that runs on LP gas instead of diesel or gasoline.

Question, Is your house on LP and if so I hope you have a big tank. During bad time how are you going to get LP when you run out? at least with gas or diesel you can go to the corner station with a can. Just my thoughts

I plan to have a natural gas powered generator installed in the spring. Thanks for the info, Izzy.

The cost to run a 12KW generator per day is about the same as staying in a luxury hotel.

In the years that I've lived in my house, I've lost electrical service approximately twice a year, for (so far!) only a few minutes/hours at a time, due to equipment failure, accidents knocking poles down, squirrels committing suicide, etc. Being that natural gas is a commodity delivered to your house just like electricity, is it really reliable enough to depend on in an emergency? I don't believe I've ever lost delivery of natural gas, and even if I did, I probably wouldn't know it for a few hours. In winter, I'd notice sooner as the furnace wouldn't work, though in summer I wouldn't notice until the hot water wasn't as hot as it should be or the stove didn't work. Has anyone lost or know of anyone that lost natural gas delivery, for any reason? I'm just wondering if it's wise to depend on an emergency fuel source that you have no control over.

I looked at a 12kw generator, but after I did the math on operating costs, I opted for a 3000 watt Honda gasoline powered generator.

It can run:

2 refrigerator freezers
3 computers/networking equipment
several lights.
and our furnace.

This is more than enough for us. Best of all, it costs less than $20 a day to run.

When our power was out for almost two weeks, this would have been the result:

12kw generator = $7,500 in fuel
3000w generator = $280 in fuel

I'm glad I went the 3000 watt route. I do acknowledge that it is not as convenient as having an automatic cut-over, but since all of our appliances are corded, including the furnace, it really isn't that big of a deal to go on emergency power.

NG service has built in failsafes, they have NG generators at the pump stations so they are esentially self sufficient.
I can't decide on weather to get a generator or not now that we have moved. We would loose power quite often in the old neighborhood but now the lines are underground so it would take a lot to loose it.

When I get my 12kw or 15kw it will be an old school Detroit Diesel 2-71 based. < 5k$ rebuilt...

Someone I know has the 25kw version and it eats .75g/hr @ half power... I suspect the 12kw to eat the same since the generator head is just different and the motor is the same. .75g/hr is fine for me... WAY better than Gas, Propane or Natural Gas and the engine will last at least 15x longer than Gas, Propane or NG.

Seems like a no brain`r for me... assuming you have the room (They're large), and can enclose it away from the house (I can) to keep the sound minimal.

I don't need 12kw or 15kw but 15kw is only a couple hundred more than the 12kw, and I may need it to do some repairs (welder) in case of emergency


-Todd

Are you knowledgeable about diesel storage? If not you may want to research that first. Not just as pertains to the fuel, but local restrictions. I know it doesn't keep well long term.

The problem with Diesel storage are the "fuel critters" (algae) that will grow inside the fuel/fuel tank. There is an additive that is available to add to the fuel that stops "fuel critters" from growing.

That's been my experience!