Honda EU generators have built in inverter. Does this mean I don't have to buy an inverter? Can I plug the generator power cable directly to the apt power switch? <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

No.

First, as martinfocazio says, NEVER, EVER plug a generator into the wall. You MUST plug EACH device you want to run INTO THE GENERATOR.

Second, don't confuse the inverter on the generator with the inverter I'm talking about. Yes, they're both called the same thing, but they aren't the same.

Here's an example of the type of inverter I'm talking about:



Click on the picture to get more information. Note that these will only power small stuff... a small tv, a laptop computer, a radio, etc. But they can be a lot more convenient than running a generator all the time.

The RV people seem to overwhelmingly pick the Honda generators.

If you're living in an apartment building I don't think a generator would be a good idea. Is there some special medical reason, like a ventilator, that would require 24/7 emergency power?

In wide-spread power outages, generators can be trouble magnets, as I have first-hand experience with. One needs to plan ahead carefully to reduce the potential problems and that's way beyond this conversation.

We do have a generator and we have seriously used it for emergency power twice. Of the consumer grade generators, I completely agree that the ones with Honda engines are in the upper range of overall quality, particularly those gensets made by Honda. I've used those "commercially" around the world and like them. But for all the time it probably sits in the garage doing nothing for ahomeowner, that would be an expensive choice. We have a conventional US-made 4kw genset in the garage and it was a good value.

But we don't HAVE to have the genset - it just makes some potential situations a bit more comfortable for us and gives us more options.

My 2 cents.

Tom

The inverter that groo is refering to is used with a 12 volt battery and does not require an engine to be running. The Honda inverter generators need to have the generator running to make the inverter work. The honda EU series of gen sets are very good, quiet, fuel effencient, long life (some of the RV crowd claim 10k hours), and very clean power. The inverter gen sets are also expensive when you compare it to a common generator of the same size.

If you want to know more about the honda inverter sets try here,

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Honda_EU2000_Generators/

Thanks for the tip groo. I will get the inverter too. I hope it isn't too expensive

Honda generators are inverter-design which means they generate DC and convert it to AC with an electronic module built into the generator. That gets better frequency stability and stuff like that. It's also apparently somehow related to the motor being quieter and smaller. But the generators are relatively expensive, like $1000 for a 2kw unit.

More traditional generators make AC directly, and are bigger, noisier, and cheaper than Honda-style generators. You can often buy them used fairly cheaply. Checking local online classifieds I see a 5kw unit for $700, etc.

Most generators have a "surge" capacity that's higher than their steady capacity, that takes care of turn-on transients and the like.

I do like the idea of diesel generators if your house is heated with fuel oil, since you'd normally have a pretty large supply of fuel on hand that you could tap into if needed. Diesel powered cars are attractive for the same reason.

In general, though, I think of "survival" as meaning "staying alive through a dangerous emergency". That could include using a generator to get a furnace going in order to not freeze (I'm just amazed anyone makes furnaces that won't start without electricity). I'd extend it to general emergency preparedness which would include keeping refrigerators powered so food doesn't spoil (even if buying a $1000 generator to protect $50 worth of food is not that financially wise). However, unless someone has special medical needs, I wouldn't consider running all the random electrical stuff in a house (A/C, lights everywhere, home entertainment center and waffle iron) through an outage to have much to do with survival.

So while I've found generators interesting from a tech view, I just haven't felt the need to buy one myself. Some flashlights and spare batteries, warm sleeping bags, etc., should be enough to get through power outages without extreme discomfort. If things get boring without the TV, rediscover reading.

I suspect that one of our more survivalist-oriented members may supply the link I am missing after installing a new computer this last weekend. [MS transfer agents - not]

It has to do with using ordinary Briggs & Stratton motors with ordinary GM alternators and an invertors to product prodigeous amounts of electricity. Am I alone in this?

I freely admit my generator was bought mostly for comfort. But, dang... Florida is freakin' hot in August. And humid. I bought the generator and the window AC unit the same afternoon. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I don't disagree with what you wrote.

AFAIK, only the EU line of Honda generators (3kw max) are DC-invertor type gensets. All the rest (the majority of models) are conventional gensets. I have not used any of the EU line myself, but the specs are impressive. However, they are 120v only, so if you need one to power a 220v well pump, this is not a viable option. The majority of domestic well pumps these days are 220v. Likewise, many A/C units (Groo's post comes to mind!) are 220v.

As for frozen food - well, that depends on the household. We will have more than $1,000 worth of frozen food on hand at various times of the year, and usually no less than $300+ worth of frozen food - plus a few hundred in the refers. The genset paid for itself the first time we used it... I have not used it for environmental purposes (forced air furnaces) so far, as we were able to manage with burning wood, pickling portions of the house, etc. My family can manage a few days of expedient camping at -25F (real) that I know of (and wife and I have camped much colder), but it's not a good idea to let a house & contents freeze up, so it's also peace of mind for that potential use. Despite the mild winters we've had lately, it does get nippy from time to time in Northern Illinois.

But everyone's circumstances are different, eh? I don't recomend rushing out and buying a genset, in any event.

Regards,

Tom