Equipped To Survive Equipped To Survive® Presents
The Survival Forum
Where do you want to go on ETS?

Page 3 of 4 < 1 2 3 4 >
Topic Options
#138126 - 06/29/08 10:15 PM Re: Generator [Re: SwampDonkey]
dougwalkabout Offline
Crazy Canuck
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 02/03/07
Posts: 3219
Loc: Alberta, Canada
Mike, I seriously doubt that you'll need 20 amps to run a forced-air gas furnace. Mine is rated at 9 amps, and heats an old 1200 square foot farmhouse with capacity to spare.

9A x 120VAC = 1080 watts. In theory, a 1200 watt generator should be able to handle that (but nothing else). In practice, though, there's a big momentary current draw when the fan motor starts. If you read the fine print, you'll find a lot of generators rated at 1500 watts are in fact 1500 watt peak, and 1200 watt continuous. And 1200 watt generators are 1000 watt continuous, etc. Buyer beware.

BTW: a couple of gas fireplaces plus an efficient wood stove saved the day after my parents had a serious garage/house fire in -35C weather. All power was knocked out for two days, but with a bit of antifreeze in the traps and these heaters, we kept things from freezing up and causing more damage. The heaters were natural gas, and were the type that had didn't require electricity to run.

Top
#138133 - 06/29/08 11:15 PM Re: Generator [Re: dougwalkabout]
bws48 Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 08/18/07
Posts: 831
Loc: Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Yeah, 20 amps seemed high to me also, but I went and actually checked the breaker, which I had thought was 15 amps, and was surprised when I found the 20 amp breaker. My system covers about 2500 sq ft, which may account for a larger system and thus a more powerful fan. I suspect the breaker is larger to account for the power surge of the fan kicking in, but that just a guess.

In any case, best to see what is actually called for in actual application.

+1 on checking the continuous and surge power ratings. When my sump pump kicks on, there is a big surge and you can hear the generator react to the sudden load.
_________________________
"Better is the enemy of good enough."

Top
#138134 - 06/29/08 11:28 PM Re: Generator [Re: bws48]
SwampDonkey Offline
Veteran

Registered: 07/08/07
Posts: 1268
Loc: Northeastern Ontario, Canada
OK, I got off my lazy butt and checked my breaker panel, my furnace is on a 15 amp breaker.

Thanks,

Mike


Top
#138143 - 06/30/08 12:21 AM Re: Generator [Re: SwampDonkey]
BobS Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 02/08/08
Posts: 924
Loc: Toledo Ohio
Watts law, P= I times E

P= Watts
E= Volts
I= Amps


That means 120 volts times 15 amps comes to 1800 watts.
Honda recommends you don’t run their generators more then 80% for a constant duty. That means a 2300 watt generator would run your furnace. 80% of 2300 is 1840 watts. That’s just for the furnace, I’m sure you would want to run other things along with the furnace. Figure out total watts by using the formula above.



Edited by BobS (06/30/08 12:25 AM)
_________________________



You can run, but you'll only die tired.


Top
#138145 - 06/30/08 12:46 AM Re: Generator [Re: BobS]
Nishnabotna Offline
Icon of Sin
Addict

Registered: 12/31/07
Posts: 512
Loc: Nebraska
So... how easy would it be to build your own generator? I'm about ready to junk my car. It's got a 2.3 4 cyl that runs good. Are we talking a heavy duty alternator, battery bank, and a big inverter?

Top
#138150 - 06/30/08 01:22 AM Re: Generator [Re: Nishnabotna]
BobS Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 02/08/08
Posts: 924
Loc: Toledo Ohio
There are a lot of sites on the net with free plans that show you how to do this with lawn mower engines. But for the most part they are lower amperage output, and almost always 12-volts.

I thought about making one of these for camping / portable use till my brother bought a 2000-watt generator for $125.00. for that price it’s not worth the time to make one.

I’m sure it can be done on a larger scale with larger, higher output. But it may be more cost effective to buy a pre-made one for the higher output.


A 5000 watt inverter sells for several thousand dollars. So an inverter is not a practical part of a generator. You need to find some kind of motor or alternator that puts out your desired voltage & amperage.
_________________________



You can run, but you'll only die tired.


Top
#138153 - 06/30/08 01:37 AM Re: Generator [Re: BobS]
Hacksaw
Unregistered


A home brew 12V generator is more practical than is used to be because good inverters are cheaper than they used to be...and inverters in general are better than they used to be.

Top
#138156 - 06/30/08 01:43 AM Re: Generator [Re: ]
BobS Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 02/08/08
Posts: 924
Loc: Toledo Ohio
I was looking at inverters a few days ago, can’t remember who it’s made by but a 750-watt sine wave inverter was $1100.00

Still pricy compared to what a 750 watt generator would sell for.

My brother has a 2000 watt generator that cost $125.00, he bought it last winter. Yea it’s Chinese made, but I would make a guess that the inverters will also be made in China.


Edited by BobS (06/30/08 02:11 AM)
_________________________



You can run, but you'll only die tired.


Top
#138163 - 06/30/08 02:25 AM Re: Generator [Re: BobS]
SwampDonkey Offline
Veteran

Registered: 07/08/07
Posts: 1268
Loc: Northeastern Ontario, Canada
Thanks Bob, I had no clue how to do that conversion!

Mike

Top
#138170 - 06/30/08 04:09 AM Re: Generator [Re: SwampDonkey]
dougwalkabout Offline
Crazy Canuck
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 02/03/07
Posts: 3219
Loc: Alberta, Canada
A 15 amp breaker is the standard size for house wiring in Canada. That doesn't mean the furnace actually draws 15 amps. It's always best to check the documentation or contact the manufacturer.

Top
Page 3 of 4 < 1 2 3 4 >



Moderator:  MartinFocazio, Tyber 
March
Su M Tu W Th F Sa
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
Who's Online
0 registered (), 456 Guests and 71 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
GallenR, Jeebo, NicholasMarshall, Yadav, BenFoakes
5367 Registered Users
Newest Posts
What did you do today to prepare?
by dougwalkabout
03/27/24 11:21 PM
Zippo Butane Inserts
by dougwalkabout
03/27/24 11:11 PM
Question about a "Backyard Mutitool"
by Ren
03/17/24 01:00 AM
Problem in my WhatsApp configuration
by Chisel
03/09/24 01:55 PM
New Madrid Seismic Zone
by Jeanette_Isabelle
03/04/24 02:44 PM
EDC Reduction
by EchoingLaugh
03/02/24 04:12 PM
Newest Images
Tiny knife / wrench
Handmade knives
2"x2" Glass Signal Mirror, Retroreflective Mesh
Trade School Tool Kit
My Pocket Kit
Glossary
Test

WARNING & DISCLAIMER: SELECT AND USE OUTDOORS AND SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES AND TECHNIQUES AT YOUR OWN RISK. Information posted on this forum is not reviewed for accuracy and may not be reliable, use at your own risk. Please review the full WARNING & DISCLAIMER about information on this site.